Exodus (Shmot)

What if the redemption had come, and no one noticed? At the start of this week’s Torah portion, Beshalach, the Jewish people are fleeing for their lives – running away from Pharaoh, ready to cross the Red (or Reed) Sea, and leave Egypt behind.  We are at the climax of “Yetziat Mitzrayim,” the Exodus...
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What is the nature of sacred space? Is it intrinsically holy?  Or does it become holy because of the actions of people? This week's Torah portion, Terumah, is about sacred space.  The major spheres of holiness in Judaism are time — as in Shabbat and the holidays; deeds — doing various mitzvot (commandments); and...
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This coming week’s Torah portion is Terumah, which includes among other things detailed instructions for the construction of the mishkan which I used last year as a launching point for a discussion of the protection of intellectual property under halacha.  You can read it here .  I’m happy to report this year that my...
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For people who witnessed a lot of miracles, like the plagues in Egypt and the parting of the Red Sea, our ancestors did not show a lot of faith. Not long after the miracles of leaving Egypt, Moses went up on Mount Sinai to receive the 10 Commandments from God. This week’s Torah reading, Ki...
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God is a stickler for details. This week’s Torah reading, Terumah, contains all the design details for the Tabernacle, the portable Temple, and its contents. Look at all the details given in the instructions for building just one of the ritual objects, the menorah: “And you shall make a menorah (lampstand or candelabra) of...
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וְאֵלֶּה הַמִּשְׁפָּטִים  “And these are the judgments.”  And in this week’s Torah portion, Mishpatim, there are many judgments, or commandments — 53 to be precise.  Most of the laws in this week’s parsha are in the category of mitzvot “bein adam l’chaveiro,” between people.  There are laws relating to prosecuting capital cases, and there...
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