http://ffoz.org/resources/edrash/ This weekly teaching, adapted from FFOZ's Torah Club, brings refreshingly new insights to the Torah portions. en Copyright 2008 Sun, 18 May 2008 19:59:46 +0000 http://www.sixapart.com/movabletype/?v=4.1 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss In Torah the distinctions between physical and spiritual are not so clear. The whole physical world is spiritual because God created it. The physical world was created out of the spiritual, and the spiritual is inherently present in all physical form and action. Therefore, in Torah thought, it is a false dichotomy to separate the physical from the spiritual. http://ffoz.org/resources/edrash/bechukotai/study_to_learn_learn_to_do.php http://ffoz.org/resources/edrash/bechukotai/study_to_learn_learn_to_do.php Bechukotai Sun, 18 May 2008 19:59:46 +0000 The sabbatical year and Jubilee law reminds us that, ultimately, everything belongs to God. We do not really own anything. Instead, "The earth is the LORD'S, and all it contains" (Psalm 24:1). In Western society it is easy to get caught in the trap of materialism. We unconsciously measure our quality of life based on the value of our possessions. A person cannot truly own things. We are just short-term borrowers. http://ffoz.org/resources/edrash/behar/the_jubilee_year.php http://ffoz.org/resources/edrash/behar/the_jubilee_year.php Behar Mon, 12 May 2008 06:28:35 +0000 The appointed times can be called a cycle because they recur in a cyclical fashion, creating patterns and rhythms in time. The Sabbath creates a weekly cycle. The festivals occur annually. Each appointed time teaches unique lessons about Messiah, salvation, redemption, sanctification and our relationship with God. Each time we keep one of God's appointed times, it is an opportunity to spiritually elevate ourselves, drawing ever closer to God. http://ffoz.org/resources/edrash/emor/the_lords_appointed_times.php http://ffoz.org/resources/edrash/emor/the_lords_appointed_times.php Emor Mon, 05 May 2008 21:41:09 +0000 What does a holy person look like? Do you picture a priest or a nun? Maybe a preacher? Perhaps you imagine a Chassidic Jew with a full beard, side locks and black hat. Leviticus 19-20 contains the Bible's description of what holiness looks like. The passage begins with the words, "Speak to all the congregation of the sons of Israel and say to them, 'You shall be holy, for I the LORD your God am holy'" (Leviticus 19:2). http://ffoz.org/resources/edrash/kedoshim/holiness_and_honesty.php http://ffoz.org/resources/edrash/kedoshim/holiness_and_honesty.php Kedoshim Mon, 28 Apr 2008 08:38:18 +0000 Chassidic discourse teaches that the Spirit of Messiah is more exalted than that of Moses. Whereas Moses is depicted being drawn out from the water and dividing the sea, walking through the water, Messiah is depicted above the water. In the beginning of Genesis it says, "and the spirit of God hovered was hovering over the face of the water." The Sages teach, "This is the Spirit of Messiah." In the gospels, Messiah walks over the surface of the water. ]]> http://ffoz.org/resources/edrash/passover/nachshons_leap_1.php http://ffoz.org/resources/edrash/passover/nachshons_leap_1.php Passover Tue, 22 Apr 2008 10:18:34 +0000 Passover this year comes immediately after Shabbat. This Shabbat's Torah reading is about the rituals of the Day of Atonement. The juxtaposition of Passover and the Day Atonement should remind us of Yeshua, our Passover lamb who died on Passover in order to work atonement for us in the heavenly Temple. http://ffoz.org/resources/edrash/acharei_mot/a_personal_day_of_atonement.php http://ffoz.org/resources/edrash/acharei_mot/a_personal_day_of_atonement.php Acharei Mot Sun, 13 Apr 2008 06:34:08 +0000 Arachin 16b)]]> http://ffoz.org/resources/edrash/metzorah/wellspring_of_evil.php http://ffoz.org/resources/edrash/metzorah/wellspring_of_evil.php Metzorah Sun, 06 Apr 2008 10:13:43 +0000 The sacrifices after childbirth remind us that the act of giving birth is itself a miraculous encounter with the Divine. It is not to be regarded as just ordinary life. Instead, the Torah grants the event sanctity and significance by requiring sacrifices. The new baby is a gift from God, and the mother naturally wants to reciprocate with a gift. She brings a burnt offering and a sin offering as her gifts to God, who blessed her with a child. http://ffoz.org/resources/edrash/tazria/the_sin_of_childbirth.php http://ffoz.org/resources/edrash/tazria/the_sin_of_childbirth.php Tazria Sun, 30 Mar 2008 18:26:49 +0000 Then fire came out from before the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the portions of fat on the altar; and when all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces. (Leviticus 9:24) http://ffoz.org/resources/edrash/shemini/spiritual_fire.php http://ffoz.org/resources/edrash/shemini/spiritual_fire.php Shemini Sun, 23 Mar 2008 20:30:11 +0000 The altar fire was holy fire ignited by the presence of God. This sacred fire was never to be extinguished. “The fire on the altar is to be kept burning on it. … [The] fire shall be kept burning continually on the altar; it is not to go out” (Leviticus 6:12–13). http://ffoz.org/resources/edrash/tzav/keep_the_fire_burning.php http://ffoz.org/resources/edrash/tzav/keep_the_fire_burning.php Tzav Mon, 17 Mar 2008 08:20:02 +0000 korban, could be translated as “something brought near,” or to put it another way, it could be translated as “gift.” The Israelites were to view the sacrifices as gifts that they could bring to God.]]> http://ffoz.org/resources/edrash/vayikra/obedience_and_sacrifice.php http://ffoz.org/resources/edrash/vayikra/obedience_and_sacrifice.php Vayikra Sun, 09 Mar 2008 18:57:06 +0000 The paradox between the immanence of God and the transcendence of God paradox is illustrated in the mechanics of the Tabernacle. The uncontainable, inapproachable God is somehow contained (so to speak) within and maybe approached within a physical Tabernacle on Earth. The paradox between immanence and transcendence is also obvious in our sorry attempts to form a Christology which would explain the divine nature of Messiah. It is a mystery no less profound than the mystery of God taking up residence within the space of the Tabernacle. It would seem to be an impossibility; nonetheless, He did. http://ffoz.org/resources/edrash/pekudei/the_glory_and_the_tabernacle.php http://ffoz.org/resources/edrash/pekudei/the_glory_and_the_tabernacle.php Pekudei Tue, 04 Mar 2008 11:32:42 +0000 When the people of God join together with a common goal, we can do great things. The joint effort of the people of God working together to fulfill His commandments created a spiritual house worthy of God’s Dwelling Presence. http://ffoz.org/resources/edrash/vayakhel/torah_with_an_occupation.php http://ffoz.org/resources/edrash/vayakhel/torah_with_an_occupation.php Vayakhel Mon, 25 Feb 2008 08:16:35 +0000 The Tabernacle was to be a holy place, a sanctuary in space where Israel could meet God. In the same way the Sabbath is a sanctuary in time in which we can meet with God. http://ffoz.org/resources/edrash/ki_tisa/a_sign_between_us.php http://ffoz.org/resources/edrash/ki_tisa/a_sign_between_us.php Ki Tisa Sun, 17 Feb 2008 15:05:27 +0000 Exodus Rabbah 37:4)]]> http://ffoz.org/resources/edrash/tetzaveh/a_story_from_the_talmud_bshabb.php http://ffoz.org/resources/edrash/tetzaveh/a_story_from_the_talmud_bshabb.php Tetzaveh Sun, 10 Feb 2008 07:49:28 +0000