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Rabbis for Human Rights is the Jewish voice on human rights.
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Weekly Torah Portion
Call of the Heart
Thoughts for Parashat Vayikra / Evyatar Guzner, Israeli Rabbinic Program, HUC
Parashat Vayikra opens with the verse: “AND the Lord called to Moshe, and spoke to him out of the Tent of Meeting, saying:” (Leviticus 1:1).
Note that God does not start by speaking to Moses [the common form of divine address in Leviticus is “The Lord spoke to Moses”]. Instead, God calls to him. This seems to be an invitation from the Divine for closeness and listening.
Note that God does not start by speaking to Moses [the common form of divine address in Leviticus is “The Lord spoke to Moses”]. Instead, God calls to him. This seems to be an invitation from the Divine for closeness and listening.
Wisdom of the Heart
Thoughts on Parashat Vayekhel-Pekudei / Elliot Vaisrub Glassenberg
What does it take to create something completely new – something that has never existed before?
In this week’s Torah portion, Vayekhel-Pekudei, we arrive at the much awaited construction of the Tabernacle, the very first sanctuary of the Children of Israel, through which they are to gain ongoing closeness to the Divine Presence. One noteworthy aspect of the Tabernacle’s construction is that the work is performed not by one specific tribe or professional guild but rather by all those who are wise of heart (khakham/at lev – חכמ/ת לב), both men and women alike. The work is overseen by Bezalel and Ohaliab, who themselves have been especially endowed by the Divine with wisdom of the heart (khokhmat halev – חכמת הלב).
Ezekiel’s prophecy and Kiddush Hashem
Parashat Ki Tisa, Parashat Para / Rabbi Yehiel Grenimann
After the narrative of the sin of the golden calf that we read in this week’s Torah reading we read how Moshe Rabbenu reacts to God’s threat to wipe out the people of Israel. Moshe presents a unique argument against this that the prophet Ezekiel subsequently refers to as will. Ezekiel develops a unique theological idea regarding the meaning and purpose of Jewish existence of which we learn in this week’s haftorah, which is read because it is also Parashat Parah this coming Shabbat. Ezekiel’s basic claim is that the survival of the Jewish people and their return to the promised land and their future prosperity there are outstanding examples of the Sanctification of God’s name (Kiddush Hashem.) Let us look at the texts to broaden our understanding of this.