“… be watchful to do all the laws and the judgments that I’m putting in front of you today.” Deuteronomy 11:26 Before crossing the Jordan River into the Promised Land, the Children of Israel are reminded about their Divine Covenant. Laws and judgments are to be followed. In juxtaposition, the Patriarch Isaac is confined toContinue reading “Toldot’s Ten Commandments’ Moment”
Category Archives: isaac
Death’s Sanctity: Chayeh Sarah
And after that Abraham buried Sarah Genesis 23:19 The Torah holds one’s passing sacred. The Portion Chayeh Sarah unleashes life lessons surrounding death’s sanctity that continue throughout the Pentateuch. With one’s passing, there is the inevitable gathering of individuals. Some harboring long-standing consternation towards fellow funeral attendees. When Venn Diagramming life activities with the DecalogueContinue reading “Death’s Sanctity: Chayeh Sarah”
The Rosh Hashonah Torah Portion’s Ten Commandments’ Moment
Get up. Carry the boy and hold him in your hand, because I shall make him a big nation. Genesis 21: 23 The Rosh Hashonah Torah Portion tackles both matters of faith and covenant. Abraham, in the portion, is embroiled in a familial crisis. He must deal with competing maternal interests. Sarah, his wife, isContinue reading “The Rosh Hashonah Torah Portion’s Ten Commandments’ Moment”
Location, Location, Location! Toldot
In Lech Lecha, God famously instructs Abraham to go to the Promised Land. In the Torah Portion Toldot, God advises Isaac, Abraham’s son, not to leave that very land. Genesis 12:1,26:2-3. What is the fixation over this parcel? Sans Hebrew Bible, extra-biblical sources support the Promised Land’s uniqueness. Geography and history shows Canaan’s incubation effect.Continue reading “Location, Location, Location! Toldot”
If Prophecy Was Country Music? A Book of Joel Ten Commandments’ Moment
To My Email Readers: I apologize for the prior incomplete post. My dog hit the publish key! Country Music walks a line. On one side, there is brilliant lyric of “exes living in Texas” to “the time i get to Phoenix” to the roads with “Mountain Mamas”. These country songs paint pictures rivaling those workingContinue reading “If Prophecy Was Country Music? A Book of Joel Ten Commandments’ Moment”
Blessings In Perspective; Toldot
the controversy surrounding jacob’s theft of esau’s blessing from isaac should not be taken in isolation. generational blessing controversies tell us much about the character of those making the blessings. in chayeih sarah, there is the first generational blessing genesis 25:5 has abraham giving all of his possessions to isaac. abraham also gave gifts toContinue reading “Blessings In Perspective; Toldot”
On The Limb
for the past two weeks, horrible covid made for misery and endless days of loopiness; a perpetual four drink intoxication state. mentally, i could blow past the legal limit. the shabbat- being the first day of rosh hashonah- uniquely subjected me to constant ear ringing without a shofar’s piercing primordial wake-up call. exhausted. i passedContinue reading “On The Limb”
Stepping Back: What About Isaac?
every jewish new year [rosh hashonah] there is the built-in controversy of the torah reading of the binding of isaac or akedah. this portion serves rabbis and other commentators well with sermons as to whether abraham right or wrong to follow god’s directive to sacrifice his child isaac? they get to ask “what should beContinue reading “Stepping Back: What About Isaac?”
A Commandment With Due Dilligence? A Ten Commandments’ Tale
scholars, such as professor richard elliott friedman, point to the toldot torah portion with respect to the commandment prohibiting the use of god’s name in vain. in toldot, isaac, deceived, erroneously blesses jacob. the blessing was intended for esau, isaac’s first born child. professor friedman essentially points out that, in biblical times, when you usedContinue reading “A Commandment With Due Dilligence? A Ten Commandments’ Tale”
Honoring A Loss: A Ten Commandments’ Tale
long before the ten commandments, two brothers, filled with jealousy and conflict, created a legacy. for them, beyond their issues with each other, family relations and historical destiny separated them. in a time of loss, these two placed their personal grievances aside. for a moment, the space time continuum was filled with honor and peace.Continue reading “Honoring A Loss: A Ten Commandments’ Tale”
The Ten Commandments Project 