Torah Study
Join us on Saturdays at 9:15am ( Attend once, once in awhile or every week)
The cornerstone of our learning is our Saturday morning Torah Study. We discuss the weekly Torah portion and have a lively and spirited conversation as we relate this ancient text to our daily lives.
No special training or prerequisite courses are necessary for you to attend. Neither is there an entrance requirement for the understanding of Torah. When we come to it in study, there are no barriers to keep us distant from our heritage.
MAY 25
B’haalot’cha
•God speaks to Moses, describing the menorah for the Tent of Meeting. The Levites are appointed to serve as assistants under Aaron and his sons. (8:1-26)
•Those who are unable to celebrate Passover during Nisan are given a time in the month of Sivan to observe a "second Passover." (9:1-14)
•A cloud by day and fire by night show God’s Presence over the Tabernacle. When the cloud lifts from the Tabernacle, the people leave Sinai, setting out on their journey, tribe by tribe. (9:15-10:36)
•The Israelites complain about the lack of meat, and Moses becomes frustrated. God tells him to appoint a council of elders. God provides the people with meat and then strikes them with a very severe plague. (11:1-34)
•Miriam and Aaron talk about the "Cushite woman" whom Moses has married. In addition, they complain that God speaks not only through Moses but also through them. Miriam is struck with leprosy, and Moses begs God to heal her. After her recovery, the people resume their journey. (12:1-16)
JUNE 1
Sh'lach L'cha
In this week's portion, Moses sends our twelve spies, one from each tribe, to scout out the land of Canaan. When they return, they report is at first reasonable - it is a good land but well defended, and the inhabitants are strong and it will require an effort to overcome them. But as they speak, ten of the twelve lose faith and begin to exaggerate the situation. "They were so big, we looked like grasshoppers in our own eyes, and so we must have looked to them," they reported. The people panic, and the two good spies, Joshua and Caleb, cannot convince them to give up their fear and go about the task that God has given them.
JUNE 8
Korach
Korach describes a rebellion withing Levite leadership. According to tradition, the wife of a rebel named On used argument, wine and woman power (she sat hair uncovered in the doorway when the rebel chiefs came by) to block his participation. She then defended him to Moses.