In the first parasha of the third book of the Torah, Vayikra, there is a long discussion of the obligations and methods of animal sacrifice. The animal is killed and consumed by fire. The physical remains cease to exist. Those who partake in and observe this ritual are vicariously experiencing the transition to death. DespiteContinue reading “Understanding Animal Sacrifice in Spiritual Practices”
Tag Archives: spirituality
JACOB, JOSEPH, DREAMS, VISIONS
Jacob and his family’s epic move to Egypt in the first book of the Torah is foreshadowed by and guided by dreams and visions.
AZAZEL
The Torah reading on Yom Kippur is from the Book of Leviticus, chapter 16. This Parasha describes the ritual of apologizing for and redressing sins on the Day of Atonement. The ritual involves two similar appearing goats. One goat is sacrificed at the altar in the Tabernacle. The second goat is sent into the desert,Continue reading “AZAZEL”
The Spiritual Significance of Lifting the Head in the Torah: A Health Perspective
In the ninth section (parashah) of Exodus, the second book of the Torah, the text discusses a census of the people of Israel. They had recently left the slavery of Egypt. The usual translation of the beginning of this Parashah reads: “God said to Moses: When you take a census of the Children of IsraelContinue reading “The Spiritual Significance of Lifting the Head in the Torah: A Health Perspective”
CHILDBIRTH AND PURIFICATION – TAZRIA
The Torah describes ritual contamination after a woman gives birth to a child. When the child is male, the mother is impure for 7 days and separated from participating in marital relations. She then remains in a partial state of contamination for another 33 days. During this period, she may not touch sacrificial meat. Thus,Continue reading “CHILDBIRTH AND PURIFICATION – TAZRIA”
BUILDING THE SANCTUARY IN THE DESERT
The English title of the second book of the Torah is “Exodus,” because this is the book wherein the children of Israel leave Egypt. It is also the book that contains the giving of the Ten Commandments. Significant happenings. This book consists of eleven chapters. The last five chapters are dedicated to the building ofContinue reading “BUILDING THE SANCTUARY IN THE DESERT”
GOD IS UNABLE TO ENTER THE MATERIAL WORLD
Throughout known history, human societies have consistently associated with deities. Super powerful or supernatural beings or forces that created and/or governed life. These beings were mechanisms to explain and mollify the fear of death. They were called upon to give meaning to life and hope for an afterlife. Gods were observed in the world. TheContinue reading “GOD IS UNABLE TO ENTER THE MATERIAL WORLD”
GOD DIVIDES, PEOPLE UNITE
In the Torah, the material world is brought into being. This is the Creation story. It’s about introducing something new in the universe. It was quite the homogenous universe before the finite and mortal one was created. The process is one of separating things. Distinguishments are the nature of Creation. Boundaries are described intoContinue reading “GOD DIVIDES, PEOPLE UNITE”
A TABERNACLE IN THE WILDERNESS
In the parasha Terumah, in the Book of Exodus of the Torah, God tells Moses that the people “shall make me a sanctuary and then I will dwell in their midst.” This commandment is followed by a detailed description of the size, construction, layout, and materials for this sanctuary. Later in the Torah, very specificContinue reading “A TABERNACLE IN THE WILDERNESS”
THE MOST IMPORTANT TORAH PARASHA
The most important section (parasha) of the Five Books of Moses is Tetzaveh. The entire content is about the garments and the confirmation process of the Priests, also known as the Cohanim. Much of it is about the High Priest, the Cohan Gadol. Why is a long discussion about clothing so important? How do weContinue reading “THE MOST IMPORTANT TORAH PARASHA”
Health and Spirit by Dr. Jack Zoldan 