These and Those

Musings from Students of the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem

Tag Archives: blemish

על ויקרא, on vayikra

Posted on May 25, 2011 by Avi Strausberg

i was scared to begin the book of vayikra.  for that matter, others were scared for me.  sefer vayikra, which primarily deals with laws surrounding ritual purity, sacrificial offerings, as well as other priestly business, is often written-off as that dry middle section of the Torah necessary to skim through in order to get back on Continue Reading »

אמור

Posted on May 5, 2011 by Barer

I would hesitantly posit, without verification, that this week’s parsha is the parsha that is read from the most in a Jewish yearly cycle, due to the inclusion of a summary of the major Jewish holidays in the middle.  However, upon reading through the parsha closely, what struck me was exactly how little the holidays Continue Reading »

אמר, emor

Posted on May 4, 2011 by Avi Strausberg

in parshat emor, God instructs moshe regarding all the rules and regulations that distinguish the life of a cohen from that of an ordinary bnei israel.  and these rules are not to be taken lightly.  the cohen gadol (high priest), in order to maintain his ritual purity, is unable to be around the deceased bodies Continue Reading »