TorahParsha

Can you choose a life alone?

for Parshat Ki Teitzeh

 

i

The Torah opens the story of the Generations:

this is the Book of the Generations of Man...

male and female

God created mankind.

*

A man divorces his wife

by writing her a book of disconnection

and giving this book,

this divorce paper,

to her.

 

ii

From within the Book

from within the story

male and female

are a whole.

*

So of course when the man steps outside of the Book

to take power over the book

to take power over the story

to write a book himself

the book that he will write

is the book of disconnection:

ending the story of the book

ending the story of mankind

ending the story he belongs to.

 

iii

We are together.

We can choose to be otherwise

but this choice is to deny our existence.

 

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Shabbat Shalom,

Abe

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This is not a comment on specific instances and specific relationships—everyone is different; it is a comment on aloneness generally.

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When you discover yourself, who do you discover?

for Parshat Shoftim

 

i

A king of Israel

may not come from a foreign nation;

we choose him from amongst his brothers.

*

He must live simply:

he may not have

too many horses;

he may not have

too much silver or gold.

*

He must write these things in a book.

He must read from this book 

all the days of his life:

so that he will not raise his heart

above his brothers.

 

ii

These are Laws of kingship.

But they are also a matter of a man

who writes something down

to remind himself of who he is.

Reading what he has written

in his own hand,

he finds himself.

*

He finds that he is no one too special

but only a part of a wider fabric.

*

That fabric is his people.

 

 

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Inspired by a comment of Robert Bly

 

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Shabbat shalom,

Abe

I have interpreted the text’s reference to “mishneh hatorah” as the teaching (= torah) of the Laws of Kings discussed in this section—and not, as the Rabbis and most classical commentators write, to Torah in its entirety. I hope that this reading, too, is Torah.

 

www.TorahParsha.com

 

Are we universalists?

 

for Parshat Re'eh

 

i

Moses says: When you come to the Land—

Stand upon Mount Grizim. Pronounce blessing for following God’s ways.

Stand upon Mount Eival. Pronounce curse for defying God’s ways.

*
Moses says:

Do not be like those who worship upon the high mountains and on the hills, and under every leafy tree.

Worship at the place that God will choose.

 

ii

Moses says:

You are not here to join to the whole universe.

You are here to shape just a few corners of the world—

Infuse those few corners with sanctity, with blessing, with an upright life.

 

 

___________

Based on the philosophy of Rav Ezra Bick

A particular thanks to my wife, Kathi, for editing.

 

___________

Shabbat shalom, 

Abe

www.TorahParsha.com

 

How is forgiveness possible?

for Parshat Eikev 

 

i

God appears

on the Day of Congregation

and gives the people Torah.

*

Then the people sin

with the Golden Calf.

*

God is furious.

But Moses says:

do not look to the people’s sinfulness;

look to the righteous Fathers:

to Abraham,

to Isaac,

to Jacob.

And God forgives.

*

Then God tells Moses:

carve two stone Tablets

with your own hands

and I will write the Commandments upon them

and the people will have Torah again.

 

ii

Before the Sin of the Calf,

God appears to the whole Congregation.

After He forgives,

He reaches out to Moses alone

—to one man—

to bring the Commandments.

 

 

iii

A nation grows

from individual people:

from Abraham,

from Isaac,

from Jacob.

One person

is a nation in potential.

*

Though a nation can fall from its greatness

a person is a great nation

waiting to happen.

 

iv

Sinning,

we fall from our greatness.

Forgiving, God says:

I will see you

not as a fallen nation

—not as something great that has failed—

but as a person,

as a greatness  you can still climb towards,

that you can still achieve.

 

____ 

Shabbat Shalom,

Abe
www.TorahParsha.com

 

Can you be religious if you cannot approach God?

for Parshat VaEtchanan

 

i

Moses tells the story

of how God appears on the Mountain

of how the people meet Him face to face

of how the people say to Moses:

we cannot withstand this holiness;

you speak to God;

tell us what He will say.

*

God is happy with this proposal,

with the fear of God behind it.

 

ii

Moses tells of how

in generations to come

children will ask their parents:

What has God commanded you?

Through this question,

Moses says,

we are to teach our children of God.

 

iii

For Moses,

Revelation is face-to-face with the Divine.

*

But most people are not Moses.

Most people are not able

to reach such spectacular heights.

*

For most people,

Revelation is turning to Moses,

to parents,

to another,

and asking:

What about God can you teach me?

 

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Shabbat Shalom,
Abe
www.TorahParsha.ocm