Kol Ramah

Parashat Ki Tavo [Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8] features one of my favorite Torah passages, the ritual of the bringing of the first fruits. The Israelite farmer is instructed to bring his first fruits to the kohen [priest] and recite a sacred history, recounting how his ancestor was a wandering Aramean who descended to Egypt few in number, became a great and numerous nation, was treated badly, enslaved, and oppressed until God heard his outcry and saw his affliction and rescued him with signs and wonders and led him to the Promised Land. And now having settled on the land the farmer brings his first fruits as a sign of God’s redemptive power and as a fulfillment of the divine promise. The rabbis take this passage and make it the heart of the Passover seder in the wake of the destruction of the Temple. Redemption no longer takes place in the Land in historical time; it takes place through the telling of the story at a meal infused with symbolic meaning. Shabbat Shalom!

Parashat Ki Tetze [Deuteronomy 21:9-25:19 is, to use a phrase that Eliot likes to use, the most mitzvah dense parashah, meaning there are more mitzvot in this parashah, over 70 of the 613, than in any other. That astounding fact raises some intriguing questions, the first one perhaps being why? Why this parashah? Do we say to ourselves when we get here, this is really what the Torah is about? This was the foundation of our conversation. Along the way, we happened to discuss some of the laws! Shabbat Shalom!!

Parashat Shoftim [16:18-21:9] is another rich parashah in Sefer D’varim [Book of Deuteronomy]. Jeffrey Tigay divides into two major sections: Civil and Religious Authorities [16:18-18:22] and Judicial and Military Matters [19:1-21:9]. Our conversation also divided into two parts: a discussion of 16:20, with its key phrase צדק צדק תרדוף [tzedeq tzedeq tirdof; Justice, justice you shall pursue] and some laws of warfare. We recorded on the eve of the first day of Rosh Hodesh Elul. Tomorrow night we begin reciting Psalm 27 in evening and morning prayer services, formally ushering in the High Holy Day Season. Shabbat Shalom!

Parashat Re’eh [Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17] is filled with interesting material, including the centralization of the cult in the Temple in Jerusalem, false prophets, dietary laws, the sabbatical year, and a holiday calendar. In our conversation this week we focused on simhah [joy], and how to understand the commandment to rejoice. We hope you are happy with it! Shabbat Shalom!!

Eytan interviewed by our own Solelim camper Rafi Carter

Parashat Va-et’hanan [Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11] features the Ten Commandments and the 1st paragraph of the Shema, to which we customarily refer as the Shema and Ve-ahavta. There are also a number of p’suqim [verses] which made their way into the liturgy. And there is still more. For example, the discerning reader/listener will note that part of the reading will seem familiar, due to the fact that it is the Tisha B’Av morning reading. Off hand, I believe this is the only time a Shabbat Torah Reading includes a Torah Reading for a special occasion earlier in the week. Despite the richness of the parashah, we spent most of our time talking about Tisha B’Av, the Jewish national day of mourning, since we recorded Thursday afternoon. Near the end we worked in the parashah, discussing Moses’ final plea to God to be allowed to enter the Promised Land. With Tisha B’Av now behind us, we look forward to Shabbat Nahamu [haftarah from Isaiah 40:1-26, which has its own riches]. We have progressed another major step toward the High Holidays, little more than seven weeks away. Shabbat Shalom! Please note that we will not be recording next week. Our next scheduled Parashah Talk is for Re'eh, the week of August 8th. Stay tuned!

Josh Archibald (Gesher '26) interviews Winnie Sandler Grinspoon, president of the Harold Grinspoon Foundation, in the studio of Radio Kol Ramah, Camp Ramah in the Berkshires.

This week is Shabbat Hazon, taking its name from the opening word of the Haftarah [Isaiah 1:1-27], the 3rd haftarah of admonition or rebuke before Tisha B’Av. The Torah reading is parashat D’varim [Deuteromonomy 1:1-3:22], the 1st parashah in Sefer Devarim [Book of Deuteronomy]. As Jeffrey Tigay outlines Deuteronomy in his JPS Torah Commentary, the parashah consists of a Prologue [1:1-5] and the beginning of the 1st Discourse [Deuteronomy 1:6-4:43], which will conclude in next week’s parashah. It seems an odd way to begin the book, so we used most of our time to situate the book in the context of the Torah but also in the context of other great speeches [Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address and King’s I Have a Dream Speech]. The conversation meandered perhaps more that usual, even for us; we hope you like it! Shabbat Shalom!!

Great interview by Tess Kenter of Amy Skopp Cooper on Camp Ramah!

Parashat Matot-Masei [Numbers 30:2-36:13] is the double portion that concludes our reading of the Sefer B’midbar [Book of Numbers]. As befits a double portion, the longest Torah reading of the year, it is filled with a variety of material, including the annulment of oaths and vows made by women at the beginning of Matot [Numbers 30:2-17] and the itinerary of wilderness journeys [Numbers 33:1-49] at the beginning of Masei, among other passages of great interes. A perhaps minor note about this wilderness itinerary is the associated command [33:2] to record them in writing. We spent almost our entire conversation on the phenomenon of writing in the ancient world and why this particular passage required a written record. We hope you enjoy it. Shabbat Shalom!

Parashat Pinchas [Numbers 25:10-30:1] has a lot of interesting material, such as the denoument to the Pinchas episode from last week [25”10-18], the daughters of Zelophechad receiving the inheritance from their father [27:1-11], and the holodiay readings [28:1-30:1], But since this Shabbat is July 4th, the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, we devoted the show to the religious significance of that event and how we might mark the day religiously. Occasionally we made connections to the parashah as well! Shabbat Shalom and Happy Birthday America!

Rabbis Eliot Malomet, Barry Chesler and Jeremy Kalmanofsky. The double parashah Chukat-Balak [Numbers 19:1-25:9] is rich with interesting material, including the red heifer [Numbers 19], Moses & The Rock [Numbers 20:1-13], the prophet Balaam and the scene with the talking donkey [Numbers 22-24], and the first half of the story about Pinchas [Numbers 25:1-19]. We find it difficult to pass up any opportunity to discuss Moses & The Rock, and it is to that story that we devoted most of our conversation. This morning Jeremy’s grandson, Eliyahu Aviv, was welcomed into the covenant of Abraham. Mazal Tov! Shabbat Shalom!!

Parashat Korach [Numbers 16-18] is described by Jacob Milgrom as “Encroachment on the Tabernacle”. We know it better as the multi-layered account of a series of rebellions, the best known of which is Korach’s rebellion. However, the discerning reader can identify relatively easily 2 or 3 more, each distinguished by a different rebel or set of rebels, and a different object. Korach himself is unhappy that Moses has received the leadership position and Aaron the priesthood; he makes the claim that all the people is holy. We discuss the character of Korach and how we best understand him: as a demagogue, as a person with a legitimate claim, or perhaps some mixture of the two. The good news this week, and the reason for the delay of our podcast, is the birth yesterday of Jeremy’s [and Amy’s] first grandchild, a boy. Mazal tov to both sets of grandparents [Ira and Sheri Balsam], and of course the parents, Didi and Ariel Kalmanofsky.

The main story in parashat Sh’lach [Numbers 13:1-15:41] is the tragedy of the spies. In some ways, this sin, the failure of the Israelites to recognize that their destiny is to conquer the land no matter what the odds, is their greatest sin. For the rabbis, there seems to be little question, for they associate the sin of the spies with Tisha B’Av, the worst day on the Jewish calendar, whereas the sin of the Golden Calf is associated with the 17th of Tammuz, a prelude to Tisha B’Av. The verb la-tur, “to seek out, spy out, explore”, which is repeated many times througout the narrative of the spies, is picked up in the final section of the parashah, which we know as the third paragraph of the Sh’ma. There, the tzitzit, the ritual fringes, are intended to prevent Israelites from being led astray by their hearts and eyes. In a sense, this paragraph comes to remind us that the very act of la-tur, seeking out, is fraught with danger. Whether the initial command comes from God or Mose, or even the people themselvies is, perhaps immaterial. It is the command to la-tur, to scout out, without the requisite controls suggested by the tzitzit, which dooms the spies. We are often led astray. God provides the means to withstand the temptation. Now that war seems to have resumed, our thoughts and prayers are with those defending the United States as part of the United States Armed Forces and those defending Israel as members of the Israel Defense Forces. May peace soon descend on the region and all other troubled areas on earth. Shabbat Shalom.

Parashat B-ha’alotcha [Numbers 8:1-12:16] is a particularly rich parasha, with passages about, among other things, the menorah, the second Passover for those unable to make the Passover sacrifice in Nisan, the trumpets whose blasts would summon the people to act in certain prescribed ways, and various complaints by Moshe and the people whose resolution required divine intervention. Our conversation focused on the second Passover [9:1-14] and the trumpets [10:1-10]. Feel free to leave comments below. Shabbat Shalom!

Parashat Naso [Numbers 4:21-7:89] features, among other things, the law of the suspected adulteress [sotah in Hebrew], the nazir [the person who seeks more piety than is required by normative biblical law], and the gifts of the chieftains in chapter 7, at 89 verses the longest in the Torah. Between the laws of the nazir and the gifts of the tribal chieftains we find a passage of 6 verses which contain the priestly blessing [Numbers 6:22-27]. This passage is perhaps the earliest liturgy in the Bible since its use as a liturgy is as it appears in the Torah. The Shma, in contrast, which is also a very old liturgy, was cobbled together from 3 texts which serve a different function in the Torah than it does in the prayerbook. There are perhaps other texts similar to the priestly blessing, such as the recitation voer the first fruits [Deuteronomy 26:5-11] and the vidui ma’aser [the confession over the tithes], but it is fair to say that the priestly blessing has been in continual liturgical use from the days of the Torah down to our own, long after the destruction of the Temple and the loss of sovereignty in the land. So while the 6 verse passage is far shorter than the other units in the parashah, its significance in Jewish life is all out of proportion to the word-count of the passage. We spent most of our conversation unpacking this passage. As always, we request that you send your responses to our show here, or in another platform that you prefer. Shabbat Shalom!

This Friday and Shabbat is the holiday of Shavuot, the Feast of Weeks, also known as Hag Ha-biqqurim, the pilgrimage of first fruits and z’man matan torateinu, the season of the giving of the Torah. As Jeremy explained the midrash, the rabbis were sensitive to the notion of the giving of the Torah, developing the idea that the Torah was not received until the time of Esther and Mordecai. You will have to listen to the show to find out how we unpacked this! Suffice it to say, our focus was on Shavuot; even though the Ten Commandments figured in our discussion, that passage is read on Friday. We did not get to the Torah Reading for Shabbat, which we last heard on the last day of Pesah. Hag Same’ah and Shabbat Shalom!

Parashat B’midbar [Numbers 1:1-4:20] is the first parashah in Sefer B’midbar [Book of Numbers]. There are a lot of names and numbers, the opening chapters detailing the census of the Israelites in the second month of the second year of their journey in the wilderness. There are numbers provided for each of the tribes, for each camp [3 tribes for each direction (east, south, west, and north)], and the beginning of the levitical census. As Jacob Milgrom makes clear in his JPS Commentary on the Book of Numbers, much can be learned from these names and number. Our focus was on the redemption of the 273 first-born who had to be redeemed because they did not have a corresponding Levite. While originally the first-born became the priest, the new law provided for the tribe of Levites to be designated as priests, necessitating that the first-born now be redeemed for 5 shekels so they could be desanctified as it were. Shabbat Shalom!

Parashat B’har-B’hukotai [Leviticus 25-27] is the concluding parashah of Sefer Va-yiqra [Book of Leviticus]. The parashah may be divided into three parts: 25:1-26:2, which Baruch Levine entitles “The Principles of Land Tenure”, 26:3-46, the “Epilogue of the Holiness Code”, featuring the tokheha [26:14-45] often translated as reproof [Levine’s preferred term is “execration”], and chapter 27, “Funding the Sanctuary”. We spent a lot of time exploring the meaning of the sabbatical and jubilee years described in chapter 25. Shabbat Shalom!

Parashat Emor [Leviticus 21-24] contains laws about the כהנים [kohanim, priests] [chapters 21-22, the holidays [chapter 23], and a miscellanea of laws [chapter 24], which includes one of the few events in Leviticus, that of the blasphemer. We focused on the holidays, in part because chapter 23 is read on the 1st two days of Sukkot and the 2nd day of Passover, in addition to the weekly reading. Because the holidays are observed differently in Israel, which lacks a second day of יום טוב [yom tov, holiday], it is only read additionally on the 1st day of Sukkot. There is a lot to say about the holidays, so the time was filled quickly, despite a technical difficulty early on in the show. We ask your forgiveness. Shabbat Shalom!

Parashat Acharei Mot-Q’doshim [Leviticus 16-20] includes, according to Rabbi Aqiva, the great principle of the Torah [Lev. 19:18], “You shall love your neighbor as yourself”. This verse is actually the second half of the verse, which begins with the injunction to not take vengeance or bear a grudge against members of your people, which in turn is preceded by the command to not hate your kinsmen in your heart but to reprove them and not bear sin on their account. The syntax here is a little confusing, but the sense seems to be that the reproof will prevent you from committing the sins of vengeance or bearing a grudge. Since we recorded on the afternoon of Yom Ha’Atzma’ut, we spent a lot of time talking about Israel and our connection to the land and the people. Please let us know your thoughts! Shabbat Shalom!!

Parashat Tazri-Metzora [Leviticus 12-15] is well-described by this morning’s Bar Mitzvah student as yucky. There are four chapters which focus on the removal of impurity introduced by childbirth [chapter 12], skin diseases [chapters 13-14], and discharges from sexual organs [chapter 15]. As Baruch Levine explains in his JPS Commentary on Leviticus, purity and impurity in the Bible might be best understood as immune and susceptible. Certain bodily conditions render the person susceptible to danger; removal from the community provided protection to both the sufferer and the community. When the danger had passed, the condition disappeared or was treated, the person could be declared pure and rejoin the community. Recording on Wednesday, we took note of the observance of Yom HaShoah the day before and of Yom Ha-Zikkaron [Israel’s Memorial Day] and Yom Ha-Atzma’ut [Israel’s Independence Day] next Tuesday and Wednesday. We talked a little longer than usual, so I hope you enjoy the extra time with us! As the United States and Israel are still at war, we keep in our hearts and minds the members of the United States Military and the Israel Defense Forces, may they be removed from harm’s way. May peace soon descend on war zones everywhere. Chodesh Tov. Shabbat Shalom.

Parashat Sh’mini [Leviticus 9-11] features the strange story of Nadav and Avihu, and the even stranger haftarah from 2 Samuel [6:1-7:17], as well as the levitical version of the dietary laws [there is a close parallel in Deuteronomy 14]. We found ourselves recording during Chol Ha-mo’ed Pesach, wondering whether we should talk about the parashah, or something else, since the last 2 days of yom tov are still in front of us. In addition to parashat Sh’mini, we also begin reading Pirkai Avot this Shabbat, and continue to do so for the remaining Shabbat afternoons before Shavuot. Some will continue reading Pirkai Avot until just before Rosh Hashanah. Pirkai Avot is a charming little book, unlike any other tractate in the Mishnah. We hope you enjoy our conversation! We would be curious to hear from you about your favorite mishnah in the tractate. In the meanwhile, both the United States and Israel continue to be at war with Iran. We keep close to our hearts the soldiers in the United States Armed Forces and the Israel Defense Forces, may they be removed from harm’s way. And, we keep in mind, too, the innocent civilians everywhere, may they soon find a true measure of peace. Mo’adim le-simchah. Chag Same’ach. Shabbat Shalom.

Parashat Tzav [Levicus 6:1-8:36] presents the principal sacrifices discussed last week, but this time from the perspective of the priests. Beginning with chapter 8 is the inauguaration of priestly office, which will conclude in parashat Shmini, in two weeks. Because Passover begins next week and we will not be recording, we devoted our conversation to the Haggadah, discussing some of our favorite passages. Our thoughts and prayers continue to be with the soldiers of the United States Armed Forces and the Israel Defense Forces, may they be removed from harm’s way. With my best wishes for a Shabbat Shalom and a Hag Sa’me’ah. See you in two weeks.

We begin a new book this Shabbat, Va-yiqra [Leviticus], which is also the name of the parashah [Leviticus 1:1-5:26]. The rabbis call the book torat kohanim. In his JPS Commentary, Baruch Levine discusses the double meaning of the phrase: it is both the teaching for the priests and the teaching of or by the priests. The book is at once an instruction manual for priests and a distillation of priestly teaching. While many people find this book inaccessible, I love it! In particular, our parashah deals with the principal sacrifices brought by the individual: the olah [burnt offering], minhah [grain offering], zevah sh’lamim [sacred gift of greeting], hatta’t [sin offering], and asham [guilt offering]. The welter of details can be offputting, but they also remind us of the need for proper performance of rituals. There is a prescribed order; they do not happen by chance. And it is these rituals, I would argue, that make Judaism distinctive from other religions. Our thoughts and prayers are with the soldiers of the US Armed Forces and Israel Defense Forces, may they be removed from harm’s way. Shabbat Shalom.

Parashat Va-yaq'hel-P’qudai [35:1–40:38] concludes the Book of Exodus, echoing the parts of the three previous parashiyot which contain the instructions for the Tabernacle. This week, the parashah describes the building of the Tabernacle, concluding with the note that “when Moses had finished the work, the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the Presence of the Lord filled the Tabernacle. Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting, because the cloud had settled upon it and the Presence of the Lord filled the Tabernacle.” [Ex. 40:33b-35]. Most of our conversation expored the ramifications of verses 40:20-21, which describe the placement of the edut, translated as “Pact” in the NJPS and “testimony” in JPS, in the ark. We reserved some time at the end to talk about Exodus 12:1-21, the maftir for Shabbat Ha-Hodesh, the Shabbat coinciding with, or as with this year just before, Rosh Hodesh Nisan, observed next Thursday, March 19, 2026. Our thoughts and prayers are with the soldiers of the US Armed Forces and Israel Defense Forces, may they be removed from harm’s way. Shabbat Shalom.

Parashat Ki Tisa [Exodus 30:11-34:35] this year coincides with Shabbat Parah [maftir, Numbers 19:1-22; haftarah, Ezekiel 36:16-38], the third special Shabbat before Pesah. It comes the week before Shabbat Ha-Hodesh, which occurs on Shabbat Rosh Hodesh Nisan, or the Shabbat before, as is the case this year. There are some final details about the plans for the mishkan [Tabernacle] and a concluding chapter which Nahum Sarna entitles “Renewal of the Covenant”, but the main focus is the two chapters devoted to the Golden Calf [32:1-33:23]. It is this episode which was the subject of our conversation. Once again, soldiers in Israel’s Defense Forces are at war, together with soldiers in the United States’ Armed Forces. May they be removed from harm’s way; may a just peace descend upon the Middle East. Shabbat Shalom.

Parashat Tetzaveh [Exodus 27:20-30:10] this year corresponds with Shabbat Zakhor, the 2nd of the 4 special parashiyot before Passover, marked on the Shabbat before Purim, celebrated Monday evening and Tuesday, March 2-3. Passover begins 4 weeks from Wednesday! The parashah continues last week’s parashah, with this week focusing on priestly clothing and the installation of the priests., and concluding with a short section on the incense altar. Our conversation focused on 2 verses, one from last week, 25:22, and one from this week, 29:43, linked by the verb ונועדתי [ve-no’ad’ti, I will meet, referring to God.]. With best wishes for a Shabbat Shalom and Simchat Purim, a peaceful Shabbat and a joyous Purim!

Parashat T’rumah [Exodus 25:1-27:19] begins the lengthy section describing the mishkan [tabernacle] and its construction, which will take us through to the end of Exodus. There are a few verses that stand out, such as the three-fold repetition of t’ruman [gift] in verses 25:1-2 and the plural verb cconstruction in verses 8 and 10, the former describing the making of the sanctuary [miqdash] and the latter the ark. I had planned to join from Vienna, where I currently am with my two older kids, but wi-fi problems precluded my participation. So here is the show with Eliot and Jeremy. I hope to be back next week, when I am back in the States, but give a listen this week, too. Shabbat Shalom!

Parashat Mishpatim [Exodus 21:1-24:18] is largely taken up by the Covenant Code. One way to look at the Covenant Code is to see it as the details for which the Ten Commandments, read last week, are, so to speak, the chapter headings. The end of the parashah is narrative, entitled by Sarna in his JPS Commentary on Exodus as “The Renewal of the Divine Promises” and “The Ratification of the Covenant”. It is perhaps fair to say that our conversation meanders between these two foci of law and narrative. Give a listen and let us know what you think. Shabbat Shalom!

Parashat Yitro [Exodus 18:1-20:23] features the organization of the judiciary, prompted by Yitro’s suggestion to Moshe on how he could reduce the burden on him, and the revelation at Mt. Sinai, where depending on one’s belief system, Moshe received the Torah, the Ten Commandments, or something else. It is hard not to get caught up in chapter 19, which is the description of the revelation itself, preceding the Ten Commandments in chapter 20. What is the purpose of revelation? why on a mountain? how do the various characters -- God, Moshe, the Israelites -- come off? Shabbat Shalom!

Parashat B’shallach [Exodus 13:17-17:16] is the 4th parashah in the Book of Exodus. It features the dramatic crossing of the Sea of Reeds [14:1-31] with the companion poem [15:1-19], and a number of misfortunes: the lack of water, the lack of food, another lack of water [the Exodus story of Moses & The Rock, reprised in Numbers 20:1-13], and the attack of Amalek, which will reverberate through biblical history and beyond. It is a partiuclarly rich parashah in a book that is known to have several. We hope our conversation lives up to the parashah! We take note of the return of the body of Ran Gvili to Israel for a well-deserved dignified burial. This is the first time since 2014 that there are no Israeli hostages in Gaza. It is a time of complex emotional responses, but surely thanksgiving is one of them. We continue to keep in mind the soldiers defending Israel as members of the Israel Defense Forces. Shabbat Shalom!

Parashat Bo [Exodus 10:1-13:16], which includes the final 3 plagues, also has one of my favorite chapters in the entire Torah. Chapter 12 is read twice a year for those who complete the Torah reading annually, for the first 20 verses are read on Shabbat Ha-Hodesh, the shabbat coinciding with Rosh Hodesh Nisan or just before it, and the final 31 verses are read on the 1st day of Passover. The chapter includes a description of Pesah mitzrayim, the Passover celebrated by our ancestors in Egypt, and Pesah le-dorot, the Passover celebrated in subsequent generations to commemorate that 1st Passover. And there is much else! We continue to keep in our hearts Ran Gvili, the remaining hostage yet to be returned to Israel for a proper, dignifiied burial. We also keep in mind the soldiers defending Israel as members of the Israel Defense Forces, may they be removed from harm’s way. Shabbat Shalom.

Parashat Va’era [Exodus 6:2-9:35] is the second parashah in the Book of Exodus, and a lot happens. Moses returns to Egypt and takes the mantle of leadership, appearing before Pharaoh with his brother, Aaron, his mouthpiece. In one place, God tells Moses, who is concerned about his public speaking deficiencies, that he will be like God, and Aaron his prophet. Very quickly, the text moves through the first 7 plagues, preparing for the denoument next week, with the last three plagues and the Exodus, the actual leaving of Egypt. There is so much to say about this parashah, but we focused on the roles of Moses and Aaron. We were missing Jeremy again this week, who is sitting shivah for his father, Michael Kaplan z”l, who died last Friday and was buried on Sunday. Our condolences to Jeremy and his family. We continue to keep in mind Ran Gvili, who remains the single hostage whose body has not been returned for its much deserved proper and dignified burial. We also keep in mind the soldiers defending Israel as part of the Israel Defense Forces, may they be removed from harm’s way. Shabbat Shalom.

Parashat Sh’mot [Exodus 1:1-6:1] is the first parashah of Sefer Sh’mot [the Book of Exodus]. The book opens up with a quick summary of the end of Genesis, detailing that Jacob and his sons came to Egypt. Very quickly these b’nai Yisrael, the children and grandchildren of Israel, the patriarch Jacob, become b’nai yisrael, the people Israel. In just a few verses, a family three-generation family of 70 becomes a nation of perhaps 2 million and more, and troubles ensue. The parashah is chockful of interesting verses, commentaries, and longer sections. eAs is often the case, we meander through the parashah. We were missing our good friend and colleague, Rabbi Jeremy Kalmanofsky, who is tending to family matters. We hope that you find our conversation sufficiently engaging, even though Jeremy is clearly missed. We continue to keep in mind Ran Gvili, the last remaining hostage in Gaza, and hope and pray his body will be soon returned to Israel for the dignified funeral he and his family deserve. We also have in mind the soldiers defending Israel as part of the Israel Defense Forces, may they be removed from harm’s way. Shabbat Shalom.

Parashat Va-yehi [Genesis 47:28-50:26] is the last parashah in the Book of Genesis. It records the end of Jacob’s life and the end of Joseph’s life. In between we have the adoption of Menasheh and Ephraim, raising them to traibal status, and the elevation of Ephraim over Menashe, even though Menashe is the older. There is also the testament of Jacob [chapter 49], in which Jacob’s offers his final words to each of his sons. There is much more, but an abbreviated schedule meant we did not get to everything we might have, had cirucmstances been different. In the meanwhile, best wishes for a Happy New Year. May 2026 be a year of blessing and peace. We keep in mind Ran Gvili, who yet remains a hostage in Gaza, may he be returned to his family, immediately, for a proper, dignified burial. We also have in mind the soldiers defending Israel as members of the Israel Defense Forces, may they be removed from harm’s way. Shabbat Shalom.

Parashat Va-yiggash [Genesis 44:18-47:27] is the penultimate parashah in the Book of Genesis. It is hard to believe that it has been well over two months since we began our annual reading in the synagogue! This parashah provides the climax to the saga of Joseph and his brothers, with the big reveal, the reunion of the brothers, now each known to one another, and the reunion of Jacob with all of his sons. We sometimes lose sight of the idea that these stories in Genesis operate on two distinct levels: on one level, they are the stories of individuals in specific family relationships; on another level, they are stories about tribal dynamics, a way of explaining the national drama. We try to address both in our conversation this week. Please leave any comments below. Now well over 800 days into the war, Ran Gvili remains the single hostage who remains in captivity. We continue to pray for his speedy release to his family for a final, dignified burial. We also have in mind the soldiers who defend Israel as members of the Israel Defense Forces, may they be removed from harm’s way. Shabbat Shalom.

Parashat Mi-ketz [Genesis 41:1-44::17] is the second parashah in the extended Joseph saga, which stretches over 4 parashiyot, taking us to the end of Genesis in two weeks. This year, it coincides with Rosh Hodesh and Hanukkah, an occurrence which happens with some frequency. In 1991, this triple Torah header took place on the 50th anniversary of Pearl Harbor, and my senior sermon. It allowed me to begin by noting this was the Jewish version of Torah Torah Torah. I spoke then of the butler’s confession, et hatta’i ani mazkir ha-yom, My sins I mention today. The midrash pays attention to the plural, sins, noting that the butler sinned against Pharaoh, which caused him to be sent to jail, and he sinned against Joseph by letting him languish in jail after promising to mention him at the end of last week’s parashah. It occurred to me only recently that the butler had in mind his sin against Joseph does not make a great deal sense; what is the value of a public confession when the person sinned against is not even present. Rather, I now think, the butler recognized that his sins against Pharaoh were more numerous than he previously acknowledged. We often see ourselves as more sinned against than sinning, more deserving of being forgiven than forgiving those who have wronged us. In this reading, the butler is more worthy of praise because he is taking on more responsibility, rather than less. Our conversation focused on the character of Joseph, in someways the quintessential diaspora Jew, yearning to be at home and never quite fitting in. He is also one of the more fully drawn characters in the Bible, and his portrait is quite complex. We hope you enjoy it! We continue to keep in mind the one hostage whose body has yet to be returned, may he be returned speedily to his family. We also have in mind the soldiers defending Israel as members of the Israel Defense Forces. Shabbat Shalom. Hodesh Tov. Hag Urim Same’ah.

Parsha Talk Vayeshev Rabbi Kalmanofsky 2025 5786 by Camp Ramah in the Berkshires

Parsha Talk Vayeshev Rabbi Malomet 2025 5786 by Camp Ramah in the Berkshires

Rabbi Eliezer Diamond was a distinguished scholar, a deeply respected spiritual leader, and a transformative interpreter of the Talmud. For more than 35 years, he taught Talmud and Rabbinics at JTS, retiring only about a year ago. Generations of students were profoundly influenced by his passionate and insightful teaching. His writings on prayer, asceticism, rabbinic storytelling, and environmental law and ethics have left a lasting mark on the Jewish world. In the summers of 2006 and 2007, Rabbi Diamond hosted the show "Eli the D with Music for you and me" on radio Kol Ramah. In honor of Rabbi Diamond, we share these shows again.

Rabbi Eliezer Diamond was a distinguished scholar, a deeply respected spiritual leader, and a transformative interpreter of the Talmud. For more than 35 years, he taught Talmud and Rabbinics at JTS, retiring only about a year ago. Generations of students were profoundly influenced by his passionate and insightful teaching. His writings on prayer, asceticism, rabbinic storytelling, and environmental law and ethics have left a lasting mark on the Jewish world. In the summers of 2006 and 2007, Rabbi Diamond hosted the show "Eli the D with Music for you and me" on radio Kol Ramah. In honor of Rabbi Diamond, we share these shows again.

Rabbi Eliezer Diamond was a distinguished scholar, a deeply respected spiritual leader, and a transformative interpreter of the Talmud. For more than 35 years, he taught Talmud and Rabbinics at JTS, retiring only about a year ago. Generations of students were profoundly influenced by his passionate and insightful teaching. His writings on prayer, asceticism, rabbinic storytelling, and environmental law and ethics have left a lasting mark on the Jewish world. In the summers of 2006 and 2007, Rabbi Diamond hosted the show "Eli the D with Music for you and me" on radio Kol Ramah. In honor of Rabbi Diamond, we share these shows again.

Rabbi Eliezer Diamond was a distinguished scholar, a deeply respected spiritual leader, and a transformative interpreter of the Talmud. For more than 35 years, he taught Talmud and Rabbinics at JTS, retiring only about a year ago. Generations of students were profoundly influenced by his passionate and insightful teaching. His writings on prayer, asceticism, rabbinic storytelling, and environmental law and ethics have left a lasting mark on the Jewish world. In the summers of 2006 and 2007, Rabbi Diamond hosted the show "Eli the D with Music for you and me" on radio Kol Ramah. In honor of Rabbi Diamond, we share these shows again.

This recording is from the Radio Kol Ramah archives 2012. If you were curious which music our scholar-in-residence listens to, you will not want to miss this episode of Rabbi Eliezer Diamond’s weekly radio show on Kol Ramah 102.3 FM. Featuring music of Debbie Friedman, Doc Watson and the Band.

Songs In the Key Of Peace & Harmony. Featuring The Town & Village Synagogue Choir, T&V Junior Singers and Teen Singers, Scott Stein, Piano. Special Guests: The Coral Torah Collective - Featuring the Music of Cantor josh Ehrlich

Parashat Va-yishlach [Genesis 32:4-36:43] features Jacob’s reunion with Esau, but not before his fateful encounter with the mystery combatant, sometimes identified as Esau’s guardian angel, sometimes with Jacob himself, and sometimes as some other figure. Jacob reunites with his father ever so briefly, ever so cryptically, at the end of chapter 35:27. There is also the horrific assault on Dinah, Jacob’s only daughter. There was a lot to talk about, including the various family relationships highlighted in this parashah and elsewhere in Genesis. We hope you enjoy it! We continue to keep in mind the two remaining hostages, may they be returned speedily to their families. We are also mindful of the men and women defending Israel as part of the Israel Defense Forces, may they be removed from harm’s way. Shabbat Shalom.

Parashat Va-yetze [Genesis 28:10-32:2], my Bar Mitzvah (BC) portion, crams over 20 years of Jacob’s life into a single parashah. And what an eventful 20+ years. Jacob leaves Beer-sheva for his uncle Laban’s home, meets his cousin Rachel at the well, agrees to work for 7 years to marry her; agrees to work another 7 years to marry her after Leah was substituted for Rachel at the wedding, sires 11 of his 12 sons and his daughter Dinah, works another 6 years to acquire flocks of his own, and decides to return to Canaan. A half hour hardly seems to do justice to the richness of this parashah! We are mindful of the remaining hostages in Gaza, may they be speedily returned. We also keep in mind the soldiers defending Israel as part of the Israel Defense Forces, may they be removed from harm’s way. A belated Shabbat Shalom as this is posted after the parashah has already been read in the synagogue. My apologies.

Parashat Toldot [Genesis 25:19-28:9] features Isaac, the middle patriarch. The toldot [“generations” or “story} belong to Isaac; but the far more interesting character is Rebecca, so we devote most of our time to exploring her character. Perhaps the most famous story in the parashah is Jacob’s acquisition of the blessing, about which it might be said that Rebecca, alone of the four participants in the drama, gets what she wants. On the other hand, she loses everything, in a sense, including a death notice. Give a listen and let us know what you think! We continue to have in mind the remaining hostages, dead in Gaza, who should have been returned to Israel long ago. May they be speedily returned to their families. We are also mindful of the men and women defending Israel as part of the Israel Defense Forces, may they be removed from harm’s way. Hodesh Tov. Shabbat Shalom. May the coming lights of Hanukkah illumine bring light to the world.

Parasashat Hayei Sarah [Genesis 23:1-25:18] begins with the death of Sarah and the acquisition of the Cave of Machpelah as a burial place for her. The cave will become the burial place for all the patriarchs and matriarchs save for Rachel, who is buried elsewhere. By far the longest chapter in Genesis, chapter 24 describes how Rebekah became rhe wife of Isaac. Chapter 25 provides the details of Abraham’s marriage to Keturah and their subsequent offspring; the death and burial of Abraham; and the genealogy and death of Ishmael. One way to look at this parashah is as the emergence of Isaac as the 2nd patriarch, for at the end of the parashah he is the only male left standing. Our conversation mostly focused on the always engaging chapter 24. With the return of another body to Israel, 3 hostages remain in Gaza. We continue to keep them in mind as we continue to pray for their speedy return to Israel. We also have in mind the men and women defending Israel as part of the Israel Defense Forces, may they be removed from harm’s way. Shabbat Shalom.

Parashat Va-yera [Genesis 18-22] is one of the richest parashiyot in the Torah. Chapter 18 features the angels coming to announce the birth of Isaac, chapter 19 the conversation between God and Abraham about the fate of Sodom and Gemorrah, chapter 20 the second wife-sister story featuring Abraham and Sarah, this time with Avimelech, chapter 21 the banishment of Hagar and Ishmael, and chapter 22, the binding of Isaac. We took as a prompt verse 18:33 from the conversation [actually the verse just after the conversation concluded] and one from the binding of Isaac [22:19], which is the conclusion to that story. We discussed them in-depth as we tried to come to an understanding of the character of Abraham. As always, we are interested in what our listerners and viewers think of our ideas, so please feel free to respond below. This past Sunday, the body of my former student, Captain Omer Maxim Neutra z”l was returned to Israel, where he will be buried on Friday morning, Israel time. While this marks the end of this ordeal for his family and friends, we continue to keep in mind the remaining hostages who remain in Gaza, may they be speedily returned to their families. We are also mindful of the soldiers defending Israel as part of the Israel Defense Forces, may they be removed from harm’s way. We recorded on 11/04/25, the 30th anniversary of the murder of Yizhak Rabin, note of which must be taken. Shabbat Shalom.

Parashat Lech L’cha [Genesis 12:1-17:27] is the third of the parashiyot in Sefer Bereshit [Book of Genesis]. It has long been recognized as the beginning of our Jewish journey, though Abram [who is renamed Abraham in the parashah] is never identified as a Jew. He is Abram the Ivri, the Hebrew, which might be understood as Abram, the descendant of Eber, or Abram, the one who stood over and against the world with his proclamation of monotheism in a world of pagan worship. Our conversation focused on the opening verses, with God’s charge to Abraham. What is the force of the phrase ve’h’yeh b’rakha, be a blessing [12:2]? What is Abraham’s mission? We also compared him with Sarah, about both of whom the Torah records that they laughed in response to the news about an impending pregnancy. What kind of laughter was it? What does it teach us about Sarah and Abraham, not only as individuals, but as marriage partners? This is a particularly rich parashah [which probably could be said about all the parashiyot in Genesis], but what distinguioshes this, perhaps, is the number of discrete scenes. We continue to keep in mind the hostages whose remains are still in Gaza. May they be returned swiftly to their families for a final, dignified, funeral. We are also mindful of the men and women defending Israel as part of the Israel Defense Forces, may they be removed from harm’s way. Shabbat Shalom.

Parashat Noah [Genesis 6:9-11:32] is the second parashah in Sefer B’reshit [Book of Genesis]. It largely consists of the Flood story, which has been unwoven by modern Bible critics who convincingly show, to some, that the story is the weaving together of two discrete and sometimes contradictory accounts. Our focus was on the character of Noah, and what to make of him. At the end of last week’s parashah he is described as one who found favor with God. At the beginning of this week, he is described as a “righteous man; blameless in his age; [who] walked with God” [NJPS]. What do these terms mean? How does Noah compare with Adam and with Abraham? Before we knew it, our time was up! We continue to be mindful of the remaining hostages, no longer among the living, who yet remain in Gaza. May theY be returned to their families no! We also keep in mind the soldiers defending Israel as part of the Israel Defense Forces, may the be removed from harm’s way. Shabbat Shalom.

After many summers at Camp Ramah in the Berkshires, we began Parashah Talk again the week after Covid shut down so much of the country in March 2020. In October, 2025, we begin our sixth year of the Torah Cycle. We spend some time talking about the epochal moment in which the remaining living hostages were returned home to Israel. We also discuss the importance of Parashat B’reshit [Genesis 1:1-6:8] and what that mean for our understanding of God and the God of Creation. Give a lesson and let us know what you think! Though the living hostages have been returbned, we continue to be mindful of those whose bodies have yet to be returned for a proper and dignified burial. May God protect those who defend Israel as part of the Israel Defense Forces, and remove them from harm’s way. Shabbat Shalom.

(Excerpts from Rabbi Barry Chesler - full comments at kolramah.us) Fifty-two years ago this past Thursday on the Jewish calendar, war broke out in Israel as soldiers from Egypt and Syria crossed the borders established by the 6-Day War into Israel. On the holiest day of the year, Israel was attacked. That year the Book of Life was inscribed with the blood of Israel’s soldiers, and Yom Kippur has never been quite the same. Fifty years and two days later on the English calendar, war again broke out in Israel with the invasion of Hamas terrorists into Israel, murdering indiscriminately over a thousand people: Israelis and non-Israelis, Jews and non-Jews, civilians and soldiers. This time the holy day was Sh’mini Atzeret/Simhat Torah in Israel, Sh’mini Atzeret in the Diaspora, the culmination of זמן שמחתנו [z’man simhateinu], the season of our rejoicing. This year, October 7 falls on the first day of סוכות. Such are the vagaries of the Jewish calendar. Let us find away to rejoice, to celebrate, even with tears, for that is our sacred task, to keep going. Let us, as we entered יום כיפור [Yom Kippur], pray that we find ourselves on a path for the coming year that brings us closer to God and closer to each other. עם ישראל חי [am yisra’el hai] [The people of Israel live] Syosset, NY 10/07/25 טו תשרי תשפ"ו [15 Tishri 5786]

Parashat Nitzavim [Deuteronomy 29:9-30:20] is the last parashah of 5785, and consequently the last Parashah Talk of the year. We will be next recording after Rosh Hashanah [September 22-23, 2025]. There are only two weekly readings left in Sefer Devarim, the Book of Deuteronomy, with the last parashah reserved for Simchat Torah [October 15, 2025]. In our conversation we explored the meaning of circumcision of the heart, comparing it with the physical circumcision of b’rit milah. As befitting our last episode of the Jewish year, we also discussed Rosh Hashanah and what blessings we would hope for. We continue to keep in mind the hostages, both the dead and the living, may they be returned to their families immediately. We are also mindful of the soldiers defending Israel as part of the Israel Defense Forces, may they be removed from harm’s way. Shabbat Shalom and Shanah Tovah U’m’tukah. May the coming year be one of return, one of healing, and one of peace. If this comes to pass, our wish for a sweet new year will be achieved.

Parashat Ki Tavo [Deuteronomy 26:1-29:8] features, among other things, the lengthy curses [Deuteronomy 28:15-68] known as the tokhehah [Warning]for Israel’s failure to follow the terms of the covenant. There is a parallel text in Leviticus 26 as well. There are blessings, too, but these are much fewer, perhaps reflecting the human tendency to gloss over our good fortune but itemize our bad fortune. It is to redress this, perhaps, that Rabbi Meir says that one must recite 100 blessings every day, in order to truly appreciate God’s gifts to us. The parashah also has the famous passage Arami Oved Avi [My faterhs was a fugitive Aramean, Deuteronomy 26: 5-11]. In the Torah, this passage is associated with the holiday of Shavuot, the holiday of first-fruits, whereas the rabbis make it the heart of the Passover Haggadah. We take up this interplay between the rabbis and the Bible in our discussion. We also discuss the difference between comings and goings, and goings and comings. We have now passed the 700-day mark of the captivity of the hostages. We continue to be mindful of them, the living and the dead, and insist that they be speedily returned to their loved ones. We also keep in mind the soldiers defending Israel as members of the Israel Defense Forces, may they be removed from harm’s way. This Saturday night marks the beginning of the recitation Selihot, penitential prayers, as we move closer and closer to the High Holy Days. May the coming year of 5786 be a year where dreams are fulfilled and peace is established. Shabbat Shalom.

Parashat Ki Tetze [Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19] has more commandments than any other single parashah, 74 of the 613. While the laws do not all seem necessarily connected, perhaps they fit under the rubric of the title of one of Spike Lee’s movies, Do the Right Thing. We discussed some of these laws, some of which stand out because they do not correspond with our modern, though not necessarily less Jewish, morality; others because they seem designed to govern our morals and ethics, pushing us to more of the right thing given that we do not always start with the correct action. Before one knows it, the half hour or so is up, and we move on to the rest of our lives, which will include, God willing, Parashah Talk next week! As we near the 700-day mark, a number that staggers the imagination, we continue to keep in mind the hostages, both the dead and the living, and the imperative that they be returned immediately to their families. We are also mindful of those defending Israel as members of the Israel Defense Forces, may they be removed from harm’s way. Shabbat Shalom.

Parashat Shoftim [Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9. The parashah features a discussion of the 4 primary biblical leaders: jkidges., prophet, kings, levitical priests. Each has a claim to be a bearer of the divine word, though it is not clear that any of them recognize the claim as legitimate in the others. It raises the question: how do we compare our leaders in the Jewish community today with their ancient analogs. Give a listen, and let us know what you think! We continue to be mindful of the hostages, both the dead and the living, who have yet to be restored to their families. Let us not forget that there is no good cause that justifies such abominable behavior. We also have in mnd the soldiers defending Israel as members of the Israel Defense Forces. Shabbat Shalom.

Parashat Re’eh [Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17] begins the lengthy section [11:31-26:15] which Jeffrey Tigay entitles “The Laws Given in Moab” in his JPS Torah Commentary: Deuteronomy. We were so taken by the first verse that we devoted our entire conversation to it. You will have to read on your own to find out about the rest of the parashah! We continue to be keep in mind the hostages, both the living and the dead, who remain in Gaza, may they be returned speedily to their families. We are also mindful of the soldiers defending Israel as part of the Israel Defense Forces, may they be removed from harm’s way. Shabbat Shalom.

Parashat Ekev [Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25] features, among other things, the 2nd paragraph of the Shema [Deuteronomy 11:13-21] and the verse at the heart of the 2nd blessing of the Grace After Meals [Deuteronomy 8:10]. In his opening remarks Eliot suggested that this parashah is more about thinking than about doing, leading to a consideration of whether Jews think differently than other people. This was the point from which our conversation took off. Please let us know what you think, either here, as a comment, or through conventional e-mail at parshatalk@gmail.com. We continue to keep in mind the hostages, both the dead and the living, may they be speedily returned to their families. We also keep in mind the soldiers defending Israel as part of the Israel Defense Forces, may they be removed from harm’s way. Shabbat Shalom.

Get to know our "Campers Together" as they visit Radio Kol Ramah

More talk and Music with Bogrim Kayitz 2025

Talk and music with Bogrim

Talk and music with Ntzanim

Rotem welcomes Nitzanim to Radio Kol Ramah for a great music and talk show

Parashat Va-etchanan [Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11] is always read on Shabbat Nachamu, the Shabbat after Tisha B’Av, so named because nachamu is the first word of the haftarah [Isaiah 40:1-26]. It seems appropriate that the Shabbat we come out of our commemoration of the death and destruction associated with Tisha B’AV that our Torah reading includes both the first paragraph of the Shema [Deuteronomy 6:4-9] and the Ten Commandments [Deuteronomy 5:6-18]. It is not too much to say that these two texts are foundational to Judaism, and that we best mark the turn from Tisha B’Av towards consolation and the upcoming High Holy Days by recommitting ourselves to them. Our conversation focused on the metaphor of the כור ברזל [kur barzel, translated as iron blast furnace, in the NJPS translation] for the first twenty minutes or so. We then shifted to a consideration of comfort, the theme of the haftarah. We continue to keep in mind the hostages, dead and alive, may they be speedily returned to their families. We are also mindful of those defending Israel as members of the Israel Defense Forces. May all who are hungry find the necessary food for survival and nourishment. Shabbat Shalom.

Food talk by Nitznim - Rave reviews for kitchen staff!!

Heartwarming (and very cute) visit by Chaverim to Radio Kol Ramah!

Cantor Silverstone visits Rotem and Ta'am the studio and talks about the history of camp when he was a camper at CRB!

Parashat D’varim [Deuteronomy 1:1-3:22] is the opening parashah of the Book of Deuteronomy. Having reached the eastern border of the Promised Land, Moses addresses the people for the last time in a series of discourses, culminating in his death alone atop the mountain, to be buried by God in a place unknown to any human. We spent over half our conversation discussing Moses as prophet and leader at this particular time in his life, and what he had to say to his people as his life comes to its conclusion while the people ready themselves to begin their lives anew in Israel. In the remaining time we discussed the haftarah [Isaiah 1:1-27]. This Shabbat, the one preceding [and this year immediately preceding] Tisha B’av, observed Saturday night and Sunday, August 2-3, 2025, is called Shabbat Chazon, the Shabbat of Vision, after the first word in the Book of Isaiah. It is the third of the three haftarot of admonition, which will be followed by the 7 haftarot of consolation. We continue to keep in our hearts and minds the hostages, dead and alive, who remain in Gaza, may they be speedily returned to their families. And we hope and pray that the soldiers defending Israel as members of the Israel Defense Forces be removed from harm’s way. Finally, echoing the words of the Haggadah of Passover, may all who are hungry come and eat. Shabbat Shalom.

Bunk A17 Nitzanim stops by the Kol Ramah studio to visit Rotem and tell us all about life at camp!

Bunk A14 Tzeirim stops by the Kol Ramah studio to visit Rotem and tell us all about life at camp!

Bunk A10 Tzeirim stops by the Kol Ramah studio to visit Rotem and tell us all about life at camp!

Today we hosted the Camp Together program! Teens from Isreal are joining Camp Ramah and are here to tell us about themselves and their experiences.

Parashat Mattot-Massei [Numbers 30:2-36:13] is a double parashah which concludes the Book of Numbers. It is one of the longest readings of the year, even for those who use the triennial cycle. Our focus this week was the curious story about the tribes of Gad and Reuven, and the half-tribe of Menashe. As the Israelites’ forty-year journey is coming to an end, with the entrance into the Land of Israel imminent, these tribes, blessed with much cattle and flocks, decide they want to stay east of the Jordan. How to unpack this story? Give a listen! We continue to be mindful of the hostages being held in Gaza, both the living and the dead, may they be speedily returned to their families. We also keep in mind those defending Israel as part of the Israel Defense Forces, may they be removed from harm’s way. Shabbat Shalom and Chodesh Tov [the month of Av, which marks the 11th yahrtzeit of my father, Mel Chesler z”l, is this Shabbat].

Join us for the nitzanim show! We invited our hofa'a staff for a visit, and they told us all about their work on the musicals at camp. Featuring: Arielle , Raviv , Naama Yael, Hazel and Annabel . And our staff: Rotem Shimony with Stacy Greenblatt, Jojo Adams and Mika Sayag.

Parsha Talk Pinchas - a Kayitz favorite! Parashat Pinchas [Numbers 25:10-30:1] is probably best known for the holiday calendar in chapters 28 and 29, from which the maftir is taken for the Yamim Noraim [the Days of Awe, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur], for the Shalosh Regalim [the three pilgrimage festivals, Pesach, Shavuot, and Sukkot], and Rosh Chodesh [the beginning of the Hebrew month]. In addition we have the conclusion to the story of the apostasy at Baal Peor, the Second Census in chapter 26, the first rendition of the daughters of Zelophehad, who successfully appeal to Moses to inherit from their father because he had no sons, and the succession of Moses by Joshua. There is a lot to talk about! We continue to keep in mind the hostages, dead and alive, who remain in Gaza, may the be returned to their families speedily. We also are mindful of the soldiers defending Israel as members of the Israel Defense Forces, may they be removed from harm’s way. Shabbat Shalom.

Listen to our guests from bunk a10! A live recording from 7/17 with tzeirim campers telling us about themselves and choosing some fun music:) Featuring Adin, Micah, Jona, Noam, Wesley, Seymour, Louis, Liaml, Asher, Charlie, Nolan, Ben.

Parashat Balak [Numbers 22:2-25:9] primarily tells the tale of Balaam the seer, who is commissioned to curse the Israelites, of whom Balak is deathly afraid. Balak’s plan does not go as planned, as God has other plans for Balaam, one of which involves the famous talking donkey, a precursor to the perhaps more famous Mr. Ed. According to the rabbis, the mouth of the donkey was created on the eve of the first Shabbat, late in the 6th day of Creation, suggesting that already imbedded in Creation was this talking donkey in order to remove the donkey from the realm of the supernatural. Most of the parashah is taken up with Balaam’s four oracles about Israel, concluding with three oracles against the nations. Of particular interest to synagogue goers is Numbers 24:5, which has been incorprorated into the liturgy as the Mah Tovu, the first verse of a paragraph recited upon entering the synagogue for prayer. It is quite striking that this line is uttered for the first time by a non-Jew. The Parashah concludes with the first half of the story about the apostasy at Baal Pe’or. The Israelite men are seduced by Moabite women, which occasions a plague on the Israelite population, which is only stayed when Pinchas, the grandson of Aaron the High Priest, kills one such couple [the man is identified as a member of the tribe of Simeon and the woman as a Midianite] in flagrante delicto. This story will be concluded at the beginning of next week’s Parashah, which is Parashat Pinchas. We continue to be mindful of all the hostages who remain in Gaza, the dead and the living, may they be restored to their families immediately. We also keep in mind the soldiers defending Israel as part of the Israel Defense Forces, may they be removed from harm’s way. Shabbat Shalom.

Soundtrack of this year's fantastic Fourth of July extravaganza! Featuring Landon Braverman and the Tzevet Hofa'a Band!! Special thanks to Mike Schatzberg and Rotem Shimony for recording. Edited and mastered by Yaniv Morozovsky.

Shorashim bechira project - Tiyul Shorashim Join us for a trip around camp with Edat Ha'Shorashim and hear what the campers have to tell!

Parashat Chukat [Numbers 19:1-22:1] is perhaps best known for the story about Moses & The Rock, for which Moses and Aaron were denied entrance into the Land of Israel. Aaron will die later in the parashah, and Moses’s death is recorded in the last chapter of the Torah [Deuteronomy 34], read on Simchat Torah morning. The other well-known chapter is Numbers 19, which is the maftir reading for Shabbat Parah, the third of the four special shabbatot leading up to the holiday of Pesach. This chapter describes the ritual of the red heifer, whose ashes are used to prepare the potion used for purification from corpse contamination. Water also features in the parashah, as it did in our conversation as well. We remain mindful of the hostages, dead and alive, who continue to remain in Gaza; may they be speedily returned to their families. We keep in mind the soldiers defending Israel as members of the Israel Defense Forces, may they be removed from harm’s way. Shabbat Shalom.

Parashat Korach [Numbers 16-18] primarily relates the story of Korach’s rebellion. Modern biblical criticism suggests that the text is perhaps an amalgam of as many as four different rebellions. Our conversation focused on the rebels and on what they were actually rebelling against. How should we characterize Korach, and Dathan and Aviram? Did they have legitimate complaints? Or are they best described as demagogues? How doe we evaluate Moshe as a leader? Give a listen and let us know what you think! We continue to be mindful of the hostages, dead and alive, who are still held in Gaza, may they be speedily returned to their families, and the soldiers defending Israel as part of the Israel Defense Forces. In addition, even with the announced truce between Israel and Iran, we are mindful, too, of the Israeli civilians, under attack, may they be spared. Shabbat Shalom.

Parashat Sh’lach [Numbers 13-15] is predominantly devoted to the episode of the spies, the 12 tribal leaders, men of renown, who entered the Land of Israel to scout it out and come back with a report to B’nai Yisrael, the Israelite community. The devastating consequence of that report was God’s decree that no one over twenty, save the two who rejected that bad report, Caleb and Joshua, would be permitted to enter the Land. Our conversation explored the nature and implications of the spies’ experience in the land. We spent some time, too, discussing the it in relation to the episode of the Golden Calf, an event with which it is sometimes linked, both in the Bible and rabbinic literature. Since our last recording, the war with Iran broke out. We continue to keep in mind the hostages, dead and alive, who, well over 600 days later, remain in Gaza, and pray that they be returned to their families speedily. We also keep in mind the soldiers defending Israel as members of the Israel Defense Forces, may they be removed from harm’s way. Shabbat Shalom.

Parashat B-ha’alot’kha [Numbers 8:1-12:16] has a number of different topics, including the story where Miriam and Aaron apparently malign Moses and Miriam is punished with tza’ra’at [commonly translated as leprosy] and Pesach Sheni, the provision for the observance of Passover a month later for those who were too far from Jerusalem or were ritually impure when the holiday was supposed to be observed in Nisan. Our focus was mostly on the little story between Hovav [Moses’ father-in-law apparently] and Moses [Numbers 10:29-34], which has a parallel in Exodus 18. We continue to have in our hearts and minds the hostages, dead and alive, who continue to be held in Gaza, may they speedily be returned to their families, and the soldiers defending Israel in the Israel Defense Forces, may they be removed from harm’s way. Shabbat Shalom.

Parashat Naso [Numbers 4:21-7:89] contains, among other things, the longest chapter in the Torah, Numbers 7 which describes in detail the gifts of each of the tribal chieftains to the Tabernacle. Each chieftain gives the exact same gift, which is faithfully recorded, accounting for the length of the chapter. There are other things of note, including the rite of the suspected adulteress [sotah], and the Nazir, the one who takes upon himself additional restrictions for a prescribed period of time. Our entire conversation focused on the six verses [Numbers 6:22-27] which include the priestly blessing. We hope you enjoy it! Over 600 days after October 7, 2023, we continue to keep in mind the hostages remaining in Gaza, both the living and the dead, and pray that they be returned speedily to their families. We also keep in mind those soldiers defending Israel as part of the Israel Defense Forces, may they be removed from harm’s way. Shabbat Shalom.

Parashat B’midbar [Numbers 1:1-4:20] is the first parashah of the Book of Numbers. As befitting a book called Numbers, the parashah is filled with numbers, in particular, the number of men of fighting age in each tribe. An additional feature of the parashah is the tribal names of each of the tribes, which can provide interesting information for those who enjoy studying such things. Censuses, for many, are mind-numbing. We spent the first half of our conversation talking about the social structure revealed by the organization of the Israelite camp. The second half of our conversation was devoted to Shavuot, which begins Sunday evening, June 1. We hope you find something worthwhile for your deeper understanding of the parashah, and for the holiday which the rabbis identify as the Time of the Giving of the Torah. As the hostage crisis passes 600 days, we continue to be mindful of those still in Gaza, both the living and the dead, and continue to pray fervently that they be speedily returned to their families. We also keep in mind those defending Israel as part of the Israel Defense Forces, may they be removed from harm’s way. Shabbat Shalom and Hag Sa’me’ah.

Parashat B’har-B’hukotai [Leviticus 25-27], a double parashah, the third in four weeks for those keeping score, is the concluding reading from ספר ויקרא [the Book of Leviticus]. Leviticus is the shortest book in the Torah, only 27 chapters, and with all the double parashiyot this year, is finished in only seven weeks. In his JPS Torah Commentary, Baruch Levine divides the reading into 3 sections: Principles of Land Tenure [25:1-26:2], Epilogue to the Holiness Code [26:3-46], more commonly known as the Tokhekhah [The Rebuke, with a parallel version in Deuteronomy 28], and Funding the Sanctuary [chapter 27]. Our discussion mostly focused on chapter 25, in particular the laws of sh’mittah [sabbatical year] and yovel [jubilee year]. On one hand it is hard to figure out how they worked in practice; on the other, it is hard to figure out how utopian legislation fits into a legal code. Is law supposed to be practical or aspirational? This week we were shocked by the murders of Sarah Lynn Milgrim and Yaron Lischinsky, may their mourners be comforted together with all the mourners of Zion and Jerusalem. We continue to keep in mind the hostages who remain in Gaza, and pray fervently that they will be speedily returned to their families. We also keep in mind the soldiers defending Israel as part of the Israel Defense Forces, may they be removed from harm’s way. Shabbat Shalom.

Parashat Emor [Leviticus 21:1-24:23] is perhaps best known for chapter 23, which describes the holidays and is the Torah reading on the 2nd day of Passover and the first 2 days of Sukkot. It is surrounded by laws related to the priesthood [including restrictions on contact with the dead and whom priests are permitted to marry] and a collection of laws which features one of the few narratives in Leviticus, the curious case of the blasphemer [24:10-22]. It is a spirited discussion; we hope you enjoy it! We are fortunate to take note of the release of Edan Alexander, and continue to pray and hope for the release of all the remaining captives in Gaza, both the dead and the living. We continue to keep in mind the soldiers defending Israel as part of the Israel Defense Forces, may they be removed from harm’s way. Shabbat Shalom.

Parashat Acharei Mot-K’doshim [Leviticus 16-20] is another double parashah. Acharei Mot is mostly known because it is read on Yom Kippur, chapter 16 about Yom Kippur in the morning, and chapter 18, traditionally, about the forbidden sexual relationships in the afternoon. K’doshim is perhaps best known for what Rabbi Aqiva recognized as the great principle of the Torah, v-ahavta l-rei’akha kamocha, you should love your neighbor as yourself [Lev. 19:18]. We took note that this verse is paired with a later one [19:34], which commands love of the resident alien in our midst as well. It is hard to pass up the rich text of Leviticus 19, the beginning of the Holiness Code, and so we discussed some of the laws that spoke to us. We also discussed at some length the difference between Leviticus 19 and Exodus 20, which share many of the same laws but cast them in different lights. The Ten Commandments are addressed to the individual who belongs to a nation; chapter 19 is an exercise in community formation. While there is never enough time to discuss all that we want, there is always next week, and next year! We continue to keep in mind the hostages you remain in Gaza, and pray fervently that they will be speedily returned to their families. We also keep in mind the soldiers defending Israel as part of the Israel Defense Forces, may they be removed from harm’s way. Shabbat Shalom.

Tazria-Metzora [Leviticus 12-15] is the first in a series of doubled parashiyot in the Book of Leviticus. With its emphasis on afflictions of the body, some caused by disease and some caused by natural processes, it has been a test for those seeking to find homiletical material connected to the text. It has been well said that doubling up makes the task easier in that there is only one difficult week, rather than two. Nevertheless, the parashiyot do raise some fascinating questions for the modern mind. Can we envision a priestly Judaism in 2025? Should we place as much emphasis on the body as a tool for religious expresssion as our ancestors apparently did? What might we learn from the biblical example where the issue of tumah and taharah [impurity and purity] with respect to tzara’at [often translated, mistakenly, as leprosy] is decided by the priest rather than the disease itself? And finally, the bayit ha-menuga, the house afflicted by leprosy, is one of 3 cases [the other two being the stubborn and rebellious son (Deuteronomy 21:18-21) and the city given over to idol worship (Deuteronomy 13:13-19], where one sage said the case never happened and another said he had personal witness. What do we make of two thoroughly incompatible opinions on the same page of the Talmud? Since this is the week, too, of Yom Ha-zikkaron [Israel’s Memorial Day] and Yom Ha-atzma’ut [Israel’s Independence Day], we discussed these as well [we recorded Sunday night, 4/27/2025]. We feel even more keenly the plight of the hostages who remain in Gaza, and pray even more fervently for their speedy release and for the safety of all those who defend Israel as part of the Israel Defense Forces. Shabbat Shalom.

Parashat Sh’mini [Levitcus 9-11] is the third parashah in Levitcus, and features the culminating ceremony for the inauguration of the mishkan, what Baruch Levine calls “The Initiation of Formal Worship” in his JPS Commentary on Leviticus. It culminates with the tragic deaths of Nadav and Avihu, which we discuss at some length. We also touch upon Yom HaSho’ah, Holocaust Remebrance Day, which is observed Wednesday evening, April 23, and Thursday, April 24. We are ever mindful of the hostages, dead and alive, and hope for the speedy return to their families. We pray that the soldiers defending Israel as part if its Defense Forces are removed from harm’s way. Shabbat Shalom.

This shabbat is shabbat/yom tov sh’vi’i of Pesach, the shabbat that coincides with the 7th day of Pesach, which is a holiday. In Israel, where Eliot is for the birth of his 2nd granddaughter, it is the last day of Passover. In the Diaspora, Sunday [April 20th] is the 8th and concluding day of Passover. For the rabbis, the 7th day of Passover was the day when the Israelites crossed the Sea of Reeds [sometimes mistakenly referred to as the Red Sea], which culminated with the song, Az Yashir [Exodus 15:1-21]. Our conversation focused almost entirely on the passage itself through the Sea of Reeds, and some of the elements of the song, which appears in two versions, one led by Moses, and a shorter one led by Miriam. We continue to be mindful of the hostages still in Gaza, both the dead and the living, and the need for them to be returned to their families. In this season of redemption, we pray that redemption speedily comes to those held captive. We also keep in mind the soldiers defending Israel as part of Israel's Defense Forces, may they be removed from harm’s way. Shabbat Shalom v’Chag Sa’me’each.

Parashat Tzav [Leviticus 6:1-8:36] picks up where Parashat Va-yiqra leaves off, with a presentation of the principal individual sacrifices, only this time from the priest’s point ot view. Chapter 8 begins the inauguration cermeony of the priests, with its tragic denouement next week, with the deaths of Nadav and Avihu. We decided to leave Tzav for a future year’s discussion and discuss Passover [beginning Saturday night, April 12, 2025], and in particular the Haggadah. What is the story we tell? As has been the case since 10/07/24, we are ever mindful of the hostages, dead and alive, who remain in Gaza and who need to be returned to their families. We also keep in mind the soldiers defending Israel as part of Israel’s Defense Forces, may they be removed from harms way. In this month of historic redemption may we witness the redemption of the captives. This, too, is a story that must be told this year, and perhaps every year thereafter. Shabbat Shalom v-chag same'ach.

Parashat Va-yiqra [Lev. 1:1-5:26] in a sense takes up where Exodus 40:38 left off. The last passage in Exodus informs us [Exod. 40:35] that “Moses could not enter the Tent of Meeting, because the cloud had settled upon it and the Presence of the Lord filled the Tabernacle.” Leviticus begins, “The Lord called to Moses and spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting, . . . “ We discussed the features of Leviticus which spoke to us [it is my favorite book in the Torah] and what the sacrificial system outlined in the parashah could say to us in 5785/2025. We also considered the nature of the divine-human dialogue: how does it manifest itself? what is it for? and the like. As has been the case since 10/07/23, we are ever mindful of the hostages, dead and alive, who remain in Gaza and who need to be returned to their families. We also keep in mind the soldiers defending Israel as part of Israel’s Defense Forces, may they be removed from harm's way. In this month of historic redemption may we witness the redemption of the captives. Shabbat Shalom.

Parashat P’qudai [Exodus 38:21-40:38] concludes the book of Exodus. It also coincides with Shabbat Ha-Hodesh, the fourth special shabbat preceding Passover [beginning this year, Saturday night, April 12]. We spent some time discussing the end of the Book of Exodus, with the erection of the mishkan, and what that might mean for our understanding of the book as a whole. We also discussed the maftir reading for Ha-Hodesh [Exodus 12:1-20], considering the significance of the calendar. We remain ever mindful of the hostages, dead and alive, who remain in Gaza. May they be restored immediately to their families. We also keep in mind the soldiers defending Israel as part of Israel’s Defense Forces, may they be removed from harm’s way. Shabbat Shalom.

This week’s parashah is Va-yaqhel [Exodus 35:1-38:20]. It is also Shabbat Parah, the third special Shabbat before Passover. Shabbat Parah always falls the Shabbat before Shabbat Rosh Hodesh Nisan or, as this year, two shabbatot before Rosh Hodesh Nisan. The weekly parashah is often combined with next week’s parashah [Pequdai] to conclude the reading of Exodus with a flourish, the entire construction of the mishkan [Tabernacle]. This year they are read separately. It may seem familiar because the description of the construction closely follows the description of the plans for the mishkan which were featured three and two weeks ago, in parashat T’rumah and parashat T’tzavveh. Our discussion focused on the first verse of the first aliyah [the first verse of the parashah, Exodus 35:1] and the first verse of the second aliyah [Exodus 35:21]. We compared the construction of the mishkan with the making of the Golden Calf and discussed what motivates gift giving. How are we to understand why the Israelites gave so generously? As is often the case, other topics and ideas emerged, including a reference to the O. Henry story, The Gift of the Magi. We remain ever mindful of the hostages, dead and alive, who remain in Gaza over 530 days since the war began. May they be restored immediately to their families. We also keep in mind the soldiers defending Israel as part of Israel’s Defense Forces, may they be removed from harm’s way. Shabbat Shalom

Parashat Ki Tissa [Exodus 30:11-34:35] is perhaps best known for the episode of the Golden Calf and the repairs entailed by that grievous sin. Our conversation focused on the לוחות, generally understood as the stone tablets on which were incised the Ten Commandments. We discussed the significance of the material, stone, as compared with papyrus in Egypt and parchment in Israel; the stone seems to reflect the Babylonian preference for clay tablets. What did these tablets look like? Did they, or how did they, function in ancient Israelite society? We also took some time to discuss an aspect of Megillat Esther, since Purim is Thursday night and Friday [March 13-14]. In particular, the last verse of chapter 8, where it is recorded “And many of the people of the land professed to be Jews, for the fear of the Jews had fallen upon them.” What does it mean to be מתיהדים, [mityahadim, in which one can see the root yehudi (Jew)], “to profess to be Jews”? We remain ever mindful of the remaining hostages, dead and alive, in Gaza, and the moral and spiritual imperative to bring them home to their families, as well as of the soldiers who defend Israel as members of the Israel Defense Forces. Shabbat Shalom.