This title statement is one of the Ten Commandments given at Mt. Sinai. The Torah instructs its readers to remember six things. They are: The Exodus from Egypt The Revelation at Sinai Amalek’s Attack on Israel The Episode of the Golden Calf Miriam’s Speech When She was Critical of Moses and Her Punishment The SabbathContinue reading “REMEMBER THE SABBATH DAY TO KEEP IT HOLY”
Category Archives: 3. My Sinai
AND ON THE SEVENTH DAY GOD RESTED
After six “days” of the difficult and taxing work of creating the universe, God rested. Have no misconception, creating a physical world was a mighty effort. God, purely spiritual by nature, set about to create something completely new, never before existed. Nothing about this new world bore any resemblance to the harmony, limitless, and absoluteContinue reading “AND ON THE SEVENTH DAY GOD RESTED”
BLESSINGS AND CURSES
In the fifth book of the Torah, Deuteronomy, in Parasha Ki Tavo, Moses declares to his people that they must follow God. If they do, they will be blessed. If they do not, they will be cursed. It begins with 12 verses of the Levite tribe issuing curses. This is followed by ten and aContinue reading “BLESSINGS AND CURSES”
TETZAVEH – ONLY GOD SPEAKS
Besides the fact that this is the only parasha since the birth of Moshe that the name of Moshe is not mentioned, there is another very unique aspect of this parasha. This is the ONLY parasha in the Torah that consists solely of God speaking. There is no third person language, as in “GodContinue reading “TETZAVEH – ONLY GOD SPEAKS”
LISTENING TO OTHERS
One morning, after a night on call as a fourth-year medical student, my friend Tom and I decided we wanted to go to a movie. The Cecil B. DeMIlle film, “The Ten Commandments,” was playing at a downtown theater. Thinking the place would be empty on a Wednesday noon show, we were surprised that theContinue reading “LISTENING TO OTHERS”
THE DEATH OF THE SONS OF AARON
The third book of the Torah, Leviticus, is titled Vayikra in Hebrew. This means “calling,” because God called (addressed) Moses. The first section of this book is also called Vayikra. Within is told the story of the death of Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu. They brought “strange fire” into the most sacred section of theContinue reading “THE DEATH OF THE SONS OF AARON”
HOW DOES GOD LOVE PEOPLE?
Have you ever loved another? Have you been in love with someone? Experiencing this most sought-after emotion is typically a pleasure, and we generally know when we feel it. Love has been defined and described in millions of ways, through poetry, song, and art. This feeling can be recognized in many ways by different people.Continue reading “HOW DOES GOD LOVE PEOPLE?”
A LOUD SHOFAR TO OVERCOME THE SENSES
Rosh Hashanah is the New Year of the Jewish calendar. It is about beginnings. We are reborn in our lives. We restart the effort of engaging with our spiritual natures. The Shofar, a musical instrument made from a ram’s horn (the hollow horns of several other animals are also used), produces a sound that shakesContinue reading “A LOUD SHOFAR TO OVERCOME THE SENSES”
A LAND OF MILK AND HONEY
In the Bible, God described the Holy Land, the home promised to Abraham and his descendants, as “A Land of Milk and Honey.” This is certainly poetic, but a melodic characterization does not serve the spiritual purposes of the document. We are searching for meaning and symbolism here. Considering God repeatedly used this phrase toContinue reading “A LAND OF MILK AND HONEY”
THE SACRIFICE OF ISAAC
Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are considered the forefathers of the Jewish People. Normally, when the term “forefathers” is used, it connotes genetic ancestors. But, in this instance, the true significance is that they were also the spiritual ancestors of the Jews. Many Jews are not descended from them, but follow their teachings and ideals. AbrahamContinue reading “THE SACRIFICE OF ISAAC”
Health and Spirit by Dr. Jack Zoldan 