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Torah Talk for Parashat Korach

June 12, 2018 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

This week’s parasha is about the rebellion of Korach and his men against Moshe and Aharon, whom they felt should not be the heads of the Jewish people. The rebellion failed miserably, and Korach and his men are “swallowed by the earth” in an earthquake. Hashem then instructs Aharon regarding laws of the priesthood. The […]

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Torah Talk for Parashat Shlach

June 5, 2018 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

In this parasha, Moshe sends scouts to explore the Land of Israel; ten of them convince the people that it will be too difficult to conquer the land; Hashem responds to their lack of confidence by punishing Bnei Yisrael with 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. The people are given the commandments of meal […]

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Torah Talk for Parashat Beha’alotecha

May 30, 2018 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

In this parasha, the Bnei Yisrael receive instructions regarding Pesach; they journey forth from Sinai and complain to God on several occasions, provoking God’s anger; Miriam and Aaron speak against Moshe. The episode of Miriam and Aharon speaking against Moshe sounds like something any of us might involve ourselves in. Read more >

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Torah Talk for Parashat Naso

May 23, 2018 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

In this parasha, Hashem outlines the service of the Gershon family of Levi’im (Levites), gives the laws relating to the sotah (suspected adulteress) and the nazir (nazirite), and describes to Moshe and Aharon the birkat cohanim (priestly blessing); the heads of tribes bring gifts to the Mishkan (Tabernacle). An interesting mitzvah, derived from this parasha, […]

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Torah Talk for Parashat Bemidbar

May 15, 2018 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

In this parasha, Moshe conducts a census of the Israelites and the Levites, and sets up the structure of the wilderness encampment; Hashem describes the unique duties of the Kehati family from which the cohanim (priests) come. This week’s parasha, Bemidbar, begins the fourth of the five Books of Moses. The book of Bemidbar focuses […]

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Torah Talk for Parashat Behar-Bechukotai

May 8, 2018 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

In these parashot, Hashem tells Moshe to instruct the people in the laws of the Sabbatical and Jubilee years, as well as how to relate to those in the community who become impoverished. Hashem then enumerates the rewards for keeping the commandments and the punishments for violating them; the laws of tithes are listed. Parashat […]

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Torah Talk for Parashat Emor

May 1, 2018 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

In this parasha, Hashem gives Moshe a series of laws specific to the cohanim (priests); Hashem then instructs Moshe to tell the people about the festivals, in addition to the laws of blasphemy and murder. Maimonides (12th Century Spain/Egypt), in his introduction to his Mishneh Torah, a code of Jewish law, writes about different kinds […]

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Torah Talk for Parashat Acharei Mot-Kedoshim

April 24, 2018 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

In these parashot, Hashem instructs Moshe regarding the procedures for Yom Kippur (the Day of Atonement); Hashem then tells Moshe to give the people a series of ethical and ritual laws instructing them on how to be holy. MILTON’s core value of m’dor l’dor, “from generation to generation,” is reflected in this week’s parashot. The following […]

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Torah Talk for Parashat Tazria-Metzora

April 17, 2018 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

In these parashot, Hashem instructs Moshe on the purification rituals for mothers following childbirth, describes to Moshe and Aharon the procedures for identifying and responding to those infected with tzara’at (usually translated as leprosy) and the purification ritual for people and homes afflicted with leprosy, and instructs Moshe and Aharon on the laws regarding emission […]

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Torah Talk for Parashat Shemini

April 10, 2018 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

After the dedication of the Mishkan (Tabernacle) and the ordination of the cohanim (priests), two of Aharon’s sons bring a strange fire before God and are consumed by fire; God then instructs Moshe and Aharon regarding which animals, fish, and birds may be eaten by the Bnei Yisrael. At the end of the story of […]

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