Weekly Torah Portion – Behar-Bechukotai

In Exodus the Israelites are commanded to observe Shabbat. In this week’s torah portion they are commanded to allow the land to rest every seven years – Shemitah. While there are economic benefits to rest and renewal, there are also many economic fears. Nevertheless, mitzvot are not given based economic impact, rather based on soul impact. Although it is scary or challenging to cease creating, counter-intuitively it is precisely this cessation that creates a new version of ourselves.

Welcome to the “Raising Holy Sparks” podcast! Hope you enjoy these short weekly insights into the torah portion! This week we dive deep into the Double Parshah of Behar-Bechukotai. Continue reading “Weekly Torah Portion – Behar-Bechukotai”

May 8, 2020

Weekly Parshah Reflections – Emor

Rabbi Akiva taught that “we are all created in the image of the Divine. This is greatest principle in Torah.” The upcoming holiday of Lag B’Omer commemorates the end of a plague that struck the students of Rabbi Akiva. It is said they were struck by plague because of their bitterness and pettiness against one another. This stands in stark contrast to Rabbi Akiva who taught that love of your fellow human is core to what it means to be a Jew.

Welcome to the “Raising Holy Sparks” podcast! Hope you enjoy these short weekly insights into the torah portion! This week we dive deep into the Parshah of Emor. Continue reading “Weekly Parshah Reflections – Emor”

May 1, 2020

Weekly Parshah Reflections – Achrei Mot-Kedoshim

“The Golden Rule”.. perhaps the most commonly quoted commandment from the whole of Torah: ‘You shall love your neighbour as yourself’. Less well known is the verse which comes before it and says “rebuke your fellow”. Yet when it comes to both these principles, we often lie to ourselves in order to preserve the created version of who we think we are or who ‘they’ are. But there is a solution.

Welcome to the “Raising Holy Sparks” podcast! Hope you enjoy these short weekly insights into the torah portion! This week we dive deep into the Double Parshah of Achrei Mot-Kedoshim. Continue reading “Weekly Parshah Reflections – Achrei Mot-Kedoshim”

April 24, 2020

Weekly Torah Portion – Tazria-Metzora

This week’s torah portion Tazria-Metzora discusses the skin malady called ‘tzara’at’. Once the sick individual completes their 7-day quarantine, the Cohen then comes to inspect the skin to ensure they have indeed healed completely. Why are the cohanim the ones that check for healing? Where are the doctors? The reason is that the Cohanim are always witnesses to healing of various types. Now that we no longer have cohanim serving the Temple in Jerusalem, who are the new witnesses to healing?

Welcome to the “Raising Holy Sparks” podcast! Hope you enjoy these short weekly insights into the torah portion! This week we dive deep into the Parshah of Tazria-Metzora. Continue reading “Weekly Torah Portion – Tazria-Metzora”

April 17, 2020

Weekly Torah Portion – Shemini

This week’s torah portion of Shemini (8th Day) tells the story of a new chapter for the Israelites and its priestly system. New beginnings are rarely ever ‘entirely’ new. This continuity from previous journeys means that we may feel ready to act when, in fact, we are not. Alternatively, starting fresh or facing a new challenge sometimes makes us think we are ill-equipped to rise to the challenge when we actually are. Both miscalculations can have dire results. May we have the wisdom to know when to act and when to listen.

Welcome to the “Raising Holy Sparks” podcast! Hope you enjoy these short weekly insights into the torah portion! This week we dive deep into the Parshah of Shemini. Continue reading “Weekly Torah Portion – Shemini”

April 3, 2020

Weekly Parshah Reflections – Tzav

In the Talmud, Rabbi Perida is asked how he achieved so many blessings and longevity in life. He responds that he never ate his meal until the portions that are designated for the priests to eat are set aside. In short, he understood that to be a healthy person, to have healthy and sustainable communities we must prioritise those that serve the community. During this difficult time, we must prioritise and give thanks to our teachers and our healthcare workers. They do so much for us, we must strive to do all that we can for them.

Welcome to the “Raising Holy Sparks” podcast! Hope you enjoy these short weekly insights into the torah portion! This week we dive deep into the Parshah of Tzav. Continue reading “Weekly Parshah Reflections – Tzav”

March 28, 2020

Weekly Parshah Reflections – Vayikra

Genesis asks us “what does it mean to be a human being”. Exodus asks “what does it mean to be a Jew”. But Leviticus gives us answers. It is the book of action. During this time of coronavirus, the priority must be immediate action, even if we are filled with uncertainty.

Welcome to the “Raising Holy Sparks” podcast! Hope you enjoy these short weekly insights into the torah portion! This week we dive deep into the Parshah of Vayikra. Continue reading “Weekly Parshah Reflections – Vayikra”

December 6, 2018October 18, 2019

Body positivity; what goes in and what goes out.

“What it means to be a human being is kind of a fusion between those two things, between the soul and the body, that you can’t actually take the two of them apart”

— Reb Misha Clebaner

In this week’s 929 weekly roundup I focus on Leviticus chapters 11 and 15.

Leviticus 11 talks about Kosher food laws. So I reflect on what the origins of those food laws were. Is it all really just about a lack of refrigerators in biblical times or is it about child sacrifice (see below)? Honestly, nobody knows. But the ways in which Jews are relating to how we are eating our food is changing nowadays with regards to the “why” behind our food choices. Continue reading “Body positivity; what goes in and what goes out.”

November 30, 2018October 18, 2019

Being able to share our gifts with others, religious fanaticism, and much more.

“The purpose of religious teachings is that you shall live by them, not be sacrificed on their altar.”

— Reb Misha Clebaner

The reflection on these chapters is part of the broader 929 project where you read a chapter-a-day (weekends excluded – so only 5 chapters per week) of the Tanakh/Hebrew Bible.

We are working our way towards February 2, 2022 – when we will have read the whole Hebrew Bible by then! Ahhh! Continue reading “Being able to share our gifts with others, religious fanaticism, and much more.”

November 21, 2018October 18, 2019

Breaking down hierarchies, holding leaders accountable, and much more.

“What are you being called to bring forth into this world?”

— Reb Misha Clebaner

The reflection on these chapters is part of the broader 929 project where you read a chapter-a-day (weekends excluded – so only 5 chapters per week) of the Tanakh/Hebrew Bible.

We are working our way towards February 2, 2022 – when we will have read the whole Hebrew Bible by then! Ahhh! Continue reading “Breaking down hierarchies, holding leaders accountable, and much more.”