Torah Study Date Saturday, May 25, 2024 Verses Covered Exodus (Sh’mot) 22:25-23:1 Next Session Saturday, June 1, 2024 Starting at Exodus 23:2 Last week we had an interesting discussion about the law requiring that a garment taken as a pledge be returned before sunset. We assumed it means that, if you lend money (or an […]
How to Treat the Vulnerable
Torah Study Date Saturday, May 11, 2024 Verses Covered Exodus (Sh’mot) 22:20-24 Next Session Saturday, May 18, 2024 Starting at Exodus 22:25 Last week we discussed the prohibition, “You shall not wrong (toneh) or oppress (tilchazenu) a stranger (ger), for you were strangers in the land of Egypt” (Exodus 22:20). R. Sara explained that toneh […]
Law, Bride Price and Witches
Torah Study Date Saturday, May 4, 2024 Verses Covered Exodus (Sh’mot) 22:15-22:19 Next Session Saturday, May 11, 2024 Starting at Exodus 22:20 Last week we had a wide-ranging discussion. We discussed why all the minute laws being established are important (rather than just finicky). Rabbi Sara mentioned that the Israelites are creating a civil society. […]
Unveiling Nuance: From Kidnapping to “Eye for an Eye”
Torah Study Date Saturday, April 13, 2024 Verses Covered Exodus (Sh’mot) 21:16-21:27 Next Session Saturday, April 20, 2024 Starting at Exodus 21:28 Rabbi Sara started off by saying that this is a very difficult section of the Torah. We should keep in mind that the Torah is talking about a hierarchical society which does not […]
Slavery and Murder
Torah Study Date Saturday, March 23, 2024 Verses Covered Exodus (Sh’mot) 21:5-21:15 Next Session Saturday, April 13, 2024 Starting at Exodus 21:16 Last week we discussed the fact that if the (male) slave came with a wife, he leaves with a wife, but if he was given a wife by the master, he leaves without […]
A Simple Altar and the First Laws
Torah Study Date Saturday, March 16, 2024 Verses Covered Exodus (Sh’mot) 20:21-21:4 Next Session Saturday, March 23, 2024 Starting at Exodus 21:5 Last week–when noting YHVH telling the Israelites to make an altar out of earth and to sacrifice on it and that wherever YHVH’s name is commemorated, YHVH would come to them and bless […]
Mitzvot Regarding Human Beings
Torah Study Date Saturday, March 9, 2024 Verses Covered Exodus (Sh’mot) 20:12-20:20 Next Session Saturday, March 16, 2024 Starting at Exodus 20:21 Last week we discussed the transition from mitzvot regarding God and mitzvot regarding human beings, the first one being to honor your father and your mother. We discussed the result of doing so, […]
God’s Jealousy, Our Sins, and Holy Shabbat
Torah Study Date Saturday, March 2, 2024 Verses Covered Exodus 20:5-20:11 Next Session Saturday, March 9, 2024 Starting at Exodus 20:12 Last week we discussed the different way the ten sayings or utterances (often called the “ten commandments”) are numbered by Jews and Christians of different denominations. The main difference is that Jews consider the […]
CCAR Translation-in-Progress 3
Torah Study Date Saturday, November 11, 2023 Verses Covered NONE Next Session Saturday, November 18, 2023 Starting at Exodus 14:6 We continued our departure from our normal Torah Study and instead discussed parts of the draft of the Central Conference of American Rabbis new Torah translation-in-progress. Moses Parts the Red Sea (Ethiopian Jewish Embroidery Project) […]
CCAR Translation-in-Progress 2
Torah Study Date Saturday, November 4, 2023 Verses Covered NONE Next Session Saturday, November 11, 2023 Starting at Exodus 14:6 We continued our departure from our normal Torah Study and instead discussed parts of the draft of the Central Conference of American Rabbis new Torah translation-in-progress. Red Sea (Offenbach Haggadah) Plagues (Offenbach Haggadah) Torah Study […]