You know when it's been a long day and an even longer night? You've travelled far, dealt with a disaster or two, and finally are on your way back. You turn a corner and see your home. It is a moment of relief, everything about the challenges you just experienced feels a little lighter, because inside, at home, everything is guaranteed to be exactly as it was when you left it. I'm sure this is how Avraham felt when he returned home after the Akeida, after travelling very far,

So I’m not saying V’zot Haberacha is the most important parashah in the Torah. That would be crazy. Who am I to judge? I am merely a lowlife university student. But it is the last parashah, so that’s pretty cool.. It’s the shortest parashah (probably so everyone can get litty for Simchat quicker…). Also, for any of you (ex-)shnattie readers out there, Pharan gets a cheeky mention. But then yeah, Moses becomes a little-bit-mostly-dead. It’s an emotional rollercoaster, lots of

In a quote: "When things are steep, remember to be level-headed" - Horace This week we revisit the infamous story of Moses hitting the rock. Let us remind ourselves of the story: "and the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, “You and your brother Aaron take the rod and assemble the community, and before their very eyes order the rock to yield its water. Thus you shall produce water for them from the rock and provide drink for the congregation and their beasts.” Moses took the rod fro

In a quote: "You don’t lead by pointing and telling people some place to go. You lead by going to that place and making a case.” - Ken Kesey This week's parsha is action packed. It begins with the purification of the Leviim before they work in the mishkan and the laws surrounding their service. It then outlines the creation of two trumpets that would be used to signal, depending on the sound that was made, how and where Bnei Yisrael should travel. We then hear the story of ho

In a quote: "“We've begun to raise daughters more like sons... but few have the courage to raise our sons more like our daughters.” ― Gloria Steinem Last week we concluded the book of Vayikra, Leviticus, which contains many laws about purity, sacrificial processes and dedication to God. We now embark on the next book, the next journey - Bamidbar (lit. in the desert), Numbers. The story begins with a census of the people, a story which we already encountered earlier in the yea

In a quote: "Most people are other people. Their thoughts are someone else's opinions, their lives a mimicry, their passions a quotation" - Oscar Wilde This week's double parsha moves away from purity related laws to general laws and Israel's adherence to these laws. Let us examine two contrasting verses אִם־בְּחֻקֹּתַ֖י תֵּלֵ֑כוּ וְאֶת־מִצְוֺתַ֣י תִּשְׁמְר֔וּ וַעֲשִׂיתֶ֖ם אֹתָֽם׃ If you follow My laws and faithfully observe My commandments..... וְאִם־בְּחֻקֹּתַ֣י תִּמְאָ֔סוּ

In last week's Dvar Torah, I suggested that impurities uniquely define us. We should embrace that which makes us impure. According to Parshat Emor, this is not the case: In reference to Kohanim: כִּ֥י כָל־אִ֛ישׁ אֲשֶׁר־בּ֥וֹ מ֖וּם לֹ֣א יִקְרָ֑ב אִ֤ישׁ עִוֵּר֙ א֣וֹ פִסֵּ֔חַ א֥וֹ חָרֻ֖ם א֥וֹ שָׂרֽוּעַ׃ א֣וֹ אִ֔ישׁ אֲשֶׁר־יִהְיֶ֥ה ב֖וֹ שֶׁ֣בֶר רָ֑גֶל א֖וֹ שֶׁ֥בֶר יָֽד׃ אֽוֹ־גִבֵּ֣ן אוֹ־דַ֔ק א֖וֹ תְּבַלֻּ֣ל בְּעֵינ֑וֹ א֤וֹ גָרָב֙ א֣וֹ יַלֶּ֔פֶת א֖וֹ מְר֥וֹחַ אָֽשֶׁךְ׃ כָּל־אִ֞ישׁ

Salutations all! As we meander our way through the book of Vayikra (Leviticus in English) we encounter another double parsha. Like the portions which precede it these portions continue to explore ideas of purity and the ways in which the community of Israel should behave. Last week we grappled with the notion of impurity as a result of bodily functions. A particularly difficult area of Jewish law to reconcile (if one feels the need to do so) with the modern and progressive wo

What a first month it has been for the Shnatties in Israel! But it has been at great month at Hineni Melbourne and Hineni Sydney as well! Each month we are making "The Month that Was" videos to send to the Shnatties and to share with you all. Enjoy watching all the great things that having bee going on at home in Australia! #Update #Hineni