A Taste of Torah - D'varim

In the first portion of the book of Deuteronomy, D'varim, Moses reminds the Israelites of God's vow not to let any of the Israelites of the generation that left Egypt into the Promised Land because of their complaining and asking to go back to Egypt, except for one of them, Caleb. Caleb was one of the 12 scouts who checked out the Land of Israel. Instead of coming back with a report like 10 of the others talking about how they'd never be able to succeed, Caleb - along with Joshua who would succeed Moses - said the people had God on their side and they would be successful.

The Talmud (Sotah 34b) tells us that when Caleb scouted out the land, he saw things that the spies did not see, that he prayed at the graves of our ancestors, and drew strength from our collective past to get him through the difficulties of the moment. When you find yourself in a tight spot, to what do you look back to find strength to move forward?

A Taste of Torah - Matot-Masei

This week we finish the Book of Numbers, the fourth book in the Torah, with a double portion, Matot-Masei. In the latter portion, Masei, God asks us to establish what are called 'cities of refuge,' places to where someone who unintentionally causes the death of another person can run in order not to be killed by someone seeking revenge. As long as the person who has caused the death remains in the city, the people of that city are required to protect him or her. Of course, the way we in modern society handle manslaughter - causing the death of another person by accident - is different. Nonetheless, these cities of refuge create an important model for us. What are the places where you seek refuge? To where can you run to be safe and seek sanctuary? Who are the people who protect you when you need to be safe?

(And since this is the last portion of the Book of Numbers, we say, "Chazak, chazak v'nitchazeik - Be strong, be strong and let us strengthen one another!")

A Taste of Torah - Pinchas

This week's Torah portion, Parashat Pinchas, includes the case of the daughters of Zelophehad, who are Mahlah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milcah and Noah. When their father dies, the five of them bring their case before Moses to see if in spite of the fact that they don't have brothers, that they should be able to inherit their father's land. Up until this point, only men could inherit from their families when others died. Moses, not sure of what to do, brings their case before God. God sides with Mahlah, Tirzah, Hoglah, Milcah and Noah and says that they should be able to inherit.

Because of the daughters of Zelophehad, there is a step in the right direction towards equality among men and women in Jewish tradition. Since them, more has been done, but there's still a lot to do. There are still ways in which we need to ensure equality among men and women, even in Reform Judaism.

A Taste of Torah - Chukat-Balak

This week we have a double portion, Chukat-Balak, and Parashat Balak has one of the best stories in the Torah, in my opinion. King Balak, after whom the portion is named, sends Balaam to curse the Israelites, but God intervenes and places an angel in the path of Balaam's donkey, an angel that initially only the donkey can see. When Balaam gets angry with the donkey, the donkey asks Balaam (Yes! The donkey talks!) if she has ever disobeyed him before. Only when the donkey helps him realize that there's something special going on does the angel appear to Balaam. Instead of cursing the Israelites, Balaam says the words that become part of our morning worship: How lovely are your tents, O Jacob, your dwelling places, O Israel - Mah tovu ohalecha Ya'akov, mishkenotecha Yisrael. This week's Torah portion reminds us to pay attention; when something isn't the way it usually is, look for miracles and blessings.