torah – Page 3 – The Ten Commandments Project

The Leadership Trilogy Ends With Four Takeaways: Chukat

The apex of the Torah’s Leadership theme occurs with Moses caught in the Almighty’s crosshairs. The Portion Chukat concludes a three-part leadership masterclass. The trilogy includes the two preceding portions- Shelach and Korah. Those addressed a lower-level leadership crisis and a mid-level-leadership challenge respectively. The third masterclass installment addresses a chief executive fail. This postContinue reading “The Leadership Trilogy Ends With Four Takeaways: Chukat”

The Art of the Theme: Korah

You have so much! Because all of the congregation, all of them, are holy, and the Lord is among them. And why do you raise yourselves over the Lord’s community?” Korah speaking to Moses and Aaron Numbers 16:3 Social hierarchy is not exclusive to humans. The animal kingdom has a variety of species that areContinue reading “The Art of the Theme: Korah”

Separation of Power? Bechaalotecha

Institution powers “will find a way. ” Dr. Ian Malcolm’s “life finds a way” from Jurassic Park rings true when political forces encroach upon the established powers. Professionally, I have witnessed existentially threatened institutions both re-invent and assert themselves. The results were shockingly successful. “Finding a way” is so powerful that even the dinosaurs foundContinue reading “Separation of Power? Bechaalotecha”

The Vow: Naso

The Torah Portion Naso is a springboard to many questions. Why have Nazarites? Why create a social status involving abstinence? Was there an unmentioned purpose for having Nazarite status? Has this concept continued through modernity? Perhaps, the most provocative Nazarite status question is “whether something can be simultaneously bad and good?” The Portion Naso laysContinue reading “The Vow: Naso”

The Author’s Mind: A Shavuot Thought

The Shavuot Holiday celebrates the receipt of the Torah at Mt. Sinai. Shavuot also offers a moment to reflect upon scripture’s authorship. While Biblical Scholars focus on the textual sources, an analysis of the author’s mindset brings appreciation of the book’s utility. Writing Great writing connects to the audience. How can a text over 2000Continue reading “The Author’s Mind: A Shavuot Thought”

Behar-Bechukotai: The Good Life?

Why do people advocate the Ten Commandments to solve societal woes? A passage from the Torah Portion Behar-Bechukotai explains. “And you shall do my laws and observe my judgments and do them, so you will live on the land in security.” Leviticus 25:18. It is about having a good life. Decalogue compliance arguably includes theContinue reading “Behar-Bechukotai: The Good Life?”

Emor: The Big Message?

“All Animals are created equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” George Orwell In the Torah, death penalties stand out. Seemingly slight offenses, i.e. gathering wood on the Sabbath, Numbers 15:32-36, have been subject to capital punishment. In these instances which include the severe sanction, is Torah actually intending to send a biggerContinue reading “Emor: The Big Message?”

Tazria: Beyond Comprehension?

Are there matters beyond comprehension? The Torah Portion Tazria’s Circumcision Commandment, when viewed in context, may be one of them. Appearing in Leviticus, the commandment was promulgated post-Exodus and pre-entry into the Promised Land. In a general biblical perspective, a circumcision commandment should be something benign. The instruction was: “[a]nd on the eighth day theContinue reading “Tazria: Beyond Comprehension?”

Shemini: A High Standard?

I grew up in an intoxicated world known as Los Angeles. More likely than not, my contemporaries used drugs and alcohol. Junior High School was when the abuse originated. I recall one classmate having a cornucopia of drugs stored a tin which was then housed in her locker. For another, I recall that even hisContinue reading “Shemini: A High Standard?”

Welcome to The Inner Circle? Tzav

For Kohens-Priestly descendants- the Torah Portion Tzav may be riveting. For commoners, Tzav, a section full of priestly sacrificial instructions and intricacies, is less so. Many find it a painful read. For millennia, the Book of Leviticus- which includes Tzav- has exposed outsiders to the Israelite cult’s affairs. Tzav even takes readers to the innerContinue reading “Welcome to The Inner Circle? Tzav”