PunkTorah

Independent Jewish Spirituality Online

  • Convert to Judaism
  • Online Rabbinical Program
  • Donate

Re’eh: Out Of Step With The World (Deut 11:26 – 16:17)

July 29, 2013 by Jeremiah

Parsha Re’eh stresses the importance of never turning away from Hashem and turning towards a god or who has never lived. We are also reminded which animals are kosher. Laws regarding farming and having servants are covered and we are once again told to observe Sukkot, Passover, and Shavuot. We Jews are assured if we continue to do these things and if our children continue to do these things then only blessings will be reaped. Not a bad deal if you ask me.

While Re’eh may seem repetitive it is important to note the ancient Hebrews turned away from Hashem at the foot of Sinai, and when your food source is daily manna and quail its really easy to keep a palate kosher. Same with holidays when everyone around you is celebrating the same thing the same way it is easy not to slip up in observance, but the times well the [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community Member Blogs, Jewish Text (Torah/Haftarah/Talmud) Tagged With: Circle Pit The Bimah, convert to judaism, convert to judaism online, darshan yeshiva, Deuteronomy, hinju, jeremiah, jewish hindu, minor threat, online conversion, out of step, Parsha Re'eh, patrick "aleph" beaulier, patrick aleph, Promised Land, punktorah, rabbi beaulier, rabbi patrick aleph beaulier

Parsha Va‘etchanan: The Ups And The Downs (Deut 3:23 – 7:11)

August 1, 2012 by Jeremiah

The upside to this week’s Torah portion is Moses’ continued sermon reiterating the commandments Hashem has revealed to the Jewish people. Va’etchanan reminds us to never add or subtract from the Torah, never bow to other gods, the Big Ten are repeated, and the importance of marrying other Jews is stressed. Deuteronomy or Devarim is a book whose biggest contribution, in my opinion, is presenting all of the commandments given throughout the Torah in one book. For the ancient Hebrews this is Moses’ way of reminding a people who can generally be assumed as largely illiterate Hashem’s divine commandments, for the current day Jew Deuteronomy makes everything easy to find and convenient. Talk about a timeless win win.

For every upside there is undoubtedly a downside and Va’etchanan has a downside of biblical proportions (pun intended). This week’s portion translates as “and I pleaded.” Moses and the ancient Hebrews are encamped along [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community Member Blogs, Jewish Text (Torah/Haftarah/Talmud), Rants Tagged With: Circle Pit The Bimah, convert to judaism, convert to judaism online, darshan yeshiva, Deuteronomy, jeremiah, Moses, online conversion, Parsha Va'etchanan, patrick "aleph" beaulier, patrick aleph, Promised Land, punktorah, rabbi beaulier, rabbi patrick aleph beaulier, zion

Parsha Schlach : It’s a Little Something Called Chutzpah, Babe! (Num.13:1 – 15:41)

June 14, 2012 by Jeremiah

Parsha Schlach : It’s a Little Something Called Chutzpah, Babe! (Num.13:1 – 15:41)

Twelve spies, one representative from each Tribe, are sent into the Promised Land to size up the real estate and its inhabitants in hopes of ending the ancient Hebrew’s desert Diaspora. The spies return with tales of a land flowing with milk and honey; providing proof for this claim they reveal to the people grapes so large two men must carry them. All but two of the spies lament of giants inhabiting the land and how a Hebrew presence there is impossible. The dissenting two, Aaron and Caleb, come down with a big case of the Chutzpah.

What is Chutzpah and how do we know Aaron and Caleb had it in Schlach? The answer to that is in two parts. First, Chutzpah is Yiddish for audacity (sometimes good, sometimes bad), and second Aaron and Caleb had the audacity to say [Read more…]

Filed Under: Community Member Blogs, Jewish Text (Torah/Haftarah/Talmud) Tagged With: Aaron, Caleb, Chutzpah, Circle Pit The Bimah, convert to judaism, convert to judaism online, darshan yeshiva, jeremiah, numbers, online conversion, patrick "aleph" beaulier, patrick aleph, Promised Land, punktorah, rabbi beaulier, rabbi patrick aleph beaulier, Schlach

PunkTorah Inc.
PO Box 1641
Midlothian, VA 23113

questions@punktorah.org
YouTube
Facebook

Read our DMCA notice

Search the PunkTorah Blog Archive

What We Do

Pluralistic Rabbinical Seminary: Online Rabbinical Program

Now Hiring: Rabbis, Educators & Creatives

Become a Jewish Spiritual Leader

  • Jewish Text (Torah/Haftarah/Talmud)
  • Judaism & Belief
  • The G-d Project Videos
  • Podcasts & Videos
  • NewKosher (Recipes)
  • Converting To Judaism
  • LGBTQ & Women
  • Shabbat & Holidays

Copyright PunkTorah Inc.© 2023