“How [‘eikhah] can I bear unaided the trouble of you, and the burden and the bickering!” — Devarim/Deuteronomy 1:12 (JPS translation)
Alter notes the unusual use of “the elongated form ‘eikhah, which often marks the beginning of laments” — instead of the simpler ‘eikh here. Plaut (The Torah: A Modern Commentary) lists two prophecies, in addition to this verse, begin with this elongated form: Continue reading Devarim: Something to Notice
Eleazar the priest said to the troops who had taken part in the fighting, “This is the ritual law that YHVH has enjoined upon Moses: Gold and silver, copper, iron, tin and lead — any article that can withstand fire — these you shall pass through fire and they shall be pure, except that they must be purified with water of lustration [mei niddah]; and anything that cannot withstand fire you must pass through water. Continue reading Matot: Something to Notice
“The name of Asher’s daughter was Serah.” — Numbers/Bamidbar 26:48
Continue reading Pinchas: Something to Notice
(19:1) YHVH spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying: This is the ritual law that YHVH has commanded…. (19:22) Whatever that impure touches shall be impure; and the person who touches the impure one shall be impure until evening. Continue reading Chukat: Something to Notice
…the ground that was under them split apart, and the earth opened its mouth and swallowed them and their households and every human being that was Korah’s, and all the possessions. And they went down, they and all that was theirs, alive to Sheol, and the earth covered over them, and they perished from the midst of the assembly.
Continue reading Korach: Something to Notice
Bamidbar/Numbers 15:37-41 is found in most prayerbooks at the third paragraph of Torah study after the Shema:
…Speak to the Israelite people and instruct them to make for themselves fringes on the corners of their garments through the ages; let them attach a chord of blue to the fringe at each corner….”
It is interesting to note that Mishkan T’filah [tent/sanctuary of prayer], the Reform movement’s new (2007) siddur, restores this passage, with the following explanation:
This text was omitted from many Reform prayer books when it was not customary for Reform Jews to don tallitot [prayer shawls, with fringes on the corners] for prayer. Now that many Reform Jews find meaning in this custom, Mishkan T’filah has restored the full paragraph as an optional recitation.
May HASHEM bless you and guard you. Continue reading Naso: Something to Notice
This portion includes words that are found in the service, when the Torah is removed from the ark, “Vayahi binso’a ha-aron…“:
When the Ark was to out, Moses would say: Continue reading Behaalotekha: Something To Notice
“But Nadab and Abihu died by the will of YHVH in the wilderness of Sinai; and they left no sons. So it was Eleazar and Ithamar who served as priests in the lifetime of their father Aaron.” — Numbers 3:4
Continue reading Bamidbar: Something to Notice
"A Song Every Day" 