Sabbath & Holidays
Sh’lah L’kha: Send Yourself
Wednesday, May 29, 2013 by Torah Talk with Michael Carasik | Jewish Ideas Daily » Weekly Portions
"Send men to scout the land"—and the mysterious word that's missing from that translation. (Click here for source sheet.) Download B’haalot’kha: Missing Miriam
Thursday, May 23, 2013 by Torah Talk with Michael Carasik | Jewish Ideas Daily » Weekly Portions
Miriam—and how surprisingly little we know about her. (Click here for source sheet.) Download
Was the Torah Really Given on Shavuot?Tuesday, May 14, 2013 by David Glasner | Jewish Ideas Daily » Daily Features
In Jewish tradition, the holiday of Shavuot is said to commemorate the giving of the Torah at Sinai. But, as the Talmud often asks, mena hani mili, how do we know this?
Tuesday, May 14, 2013 by Torah Talk with Michael Carasik | Jewish Ideas Daily » Weekly Portions
The straying wife of Num. 5:13—was she "seized" or was she "caught in the act"? (Click here for source sheet.) Download B’midbar: Names and Numbers
Wednesday, May 8, 2013 by Torah Talk with Michael Carasik | Jewish Ideas Daily » Weekly Portions
The names we still use and the names we don't. (Click here for source sheet.) Download B’har-B’hukotai: Walk This Way
Wednesday, May 1, 2013 by Torah Talk with Michael Carasik | Jewish Ideas Daily » Weekly Portions
What does it mean to "walk" in God's laws? (Click here for source sheet.) Download Emor: Saying Without Speaking
Wednesday, April 24, 2013 by Torah Talk with Michael Carasik | Jewish Ideas Daily » Weekly Portions
This time, when Moses speaks to Aaron, he must say it—and say it again. (Click here for source sheet.) DownloadAharei Mot-K’doshim: The Stranger, the Fatherless, and the Widow
Wednesday, April 17, 2013 by Torah Talk with Michael Carasik | Jewish Ideas Daily » Weekly Portions
How much of the harvest can you \"forget\" before you\'re allowed to go back and collect it instead of leaving it for the poor? (Click here for source sheet.) DownloadTazria-M’tzora: Sin and Skin
Wednesday, April 10, 2013 by Torah Talk with Michael Carasik | Jewish Ideas Daily » Weekly Portions
Leprosy! (Not.) Is it caused by sin? (Click here for source sheet.) Download Sh’mini: The Clean and the Unclean
Wednesday, April 3, 2013 by Torah Talk with Michael Carasik | Jewish Ideas Daily » Weekly Portions
Kosher creatures, non-kosher creatures, and what the difference has to do with the priestly calling. (Click here for source sheet.) Download
Editors' Picks
Voice in the Wilderness Nathan Lopes Cardozo, Cardozo Academy. "Avraham found God in the desert and so the people of Israel received the Torah in a place of ultimate authenticity: The Desert of devastating conditions and great opportunities."
A Love Letter from God Jonathan Sacks, Jewish Press. "In giving the Torah to Israel, God was not asserting His power, dominance or lordship over Israel. He was declaring His love."
Children of the Revelation Gil Student, Torah Musings. From equality to heresy via dueling mountains, here is your guide to Revelation at Sinai and its aftermath. (E-book)
Where Worlds Collide Eli Rubin, Chabad.org. "At Sinai—the Torah tells us—'God descended upon the mountain.' From this point on, man would be able to enjoy a direct relationship with the essentiality of the divine self."
The Theology of Cheesecake Ben Elton, Jewish Chronicle. "It is anything but trivial to turn eating cheesecake into a religious experience, it is an example of the Jewish genius."
Remembering Bar Yohai—and Bar Kokhba Ari Enkin, Torah Musings. On Lag BaOmer, which begins tomorrow night, we commemorate not only the yahrzeit of Tannaic rabbi Shimon Bar Yohai but also the Bar Kokhba revolt.
Mimouna: Gold and Leavened Bread Ari Enkin, Hirhurim. The traditional post-Pesach celebration by Moroccan Jews may commemorate Maimonides’ father—or the Egyptian gold that washed up on the shore of the Red Sea.
Another Post-Pesach Celebration Gabriel T. Erbs, New Voices. Two craft brewers near Portland, Oregon, celebrate Passover’s end by making Matzobraü, with crushed-up leftover matzah added to the fermenting mash. Only whole wheat matzah, of course.
Israeli Natural Gas Field Comes on Line Associated Press, Times of Israel. Gas from the offshore Tamar reservoir began flowing this week, moving Israel toward energy independence. Questions have been raised about why the journey had to start on Shabbat.
The Mighty Hand Lazer Gurkow, Chabad. Why does the Torah tell us that God rescued the Israelites with both a mighty hand and an outstretched arm? Because our redemption was not only physical, but spiritual.