Torah Commentary

Torah Commentary

an image of a woman wearing a pink winter hat with a pin on it that says "Do Justice Love Mercy March Proudly" with a white RAC logo

Showing Your Work: The Legacy of the Daughters of Zelophechad

There are few biblical passages that speak to the feminist and the progressive Jew in me as much as the story of the daughters of Zelophechad. Five women—Mahlah, Noa, Hoglah, Milcah, and Tirzah—come before the all-male leadership of the Israelites and demand the right to inherit their father’s portion of the Promised Land.
an image of a donkey sticking its head out a window in a barn

What Did Balaam Really See?

This week, we read the story of Balaam, a sorcerer hired by the Moabite king to curse the Israelites. This tale contains several puzzling elements: a talking donkey, an angel with a fiery sword, and a non-Israelite sorcerer who becomes God’s mouthpiece.
an image of a group of kids dancing at URJ Six Points Creative Arts Academy on Shabbat

Korach’s Song

Each Shabbat at the URJ Six Points Creative Arts Academy, a group of campers, staff, and faculty come together to perform “Jewsical,” an original song about the week’s Torah portion. Most weeks, the musical arrangement is just as significant as the words.
an image of a grasshopper on a leaf

"Patience, Grasshopper"

“Patience, grasshopper.” My dad said this so often when I was growing up, I didn’t realize it was a quote from a 1970s television show, “Kung Fu,” until I was in my thirties. From what I can gather, these words served as a warning from master to student: think things through, have faith in the process, and wait for the right moment. I always think of these words when we reach this week’s Torah portion.
Vegetables

In God We Trust?

In Parashat B'haalot'cha, the Israelites have been wandering in the wilderness for about two years. This means that, as a people, they are transitioning from infancy to toddlerhood. It’s no surprise that they start complaining about the food!

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