Law as Love (Bamidbar 5775)
One of the most amusing scenes in Anglo-Jewish history occurred on 14 October 1663. A mere seven years had passed … Read more
Tag: bemidbar
Naso (5773) – What Counts?
This week’s sedra begins with a continuation of the census begun in last week’s – the act that gives the … Read more
Bemidbar (5773) – Love as Law, Law as Love
On the face of it the connections between the sedra and haftarah of Bemidbar are slender. The first has to … Read more
Re’eh (5772) – The Politics of Freedom
Having set out the broad principles of the covenant, Moses now turns to the details, which extend over many chapters … Read more
Ekev (5772) – The Morality of Love
Something implicit in the Torah from the very beginning becomes explicit in the book of Devarim. God is the God … Read more
Mattot-Masei (5772) – The Prophetic Voice
During the three weeks between 17 Tammuz and Tisha b’Av, as we recall the destruction of the Temples, we read … Read more
Pinchas (5772) – The Zealot
With Pinchas a new type enters the world of Israel: the zealot. “Pinchas son of Eleazar, son of Aaron the … Read more
Balak (5772) – Not Reckoned Among the Nations
The year is 1933. Two Jews are sitting in a Viennese coffee house, reading the news. One is reading the … Read more
Korach (5772) – The Leader as Servant
Korach had a point. “You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the … Read more
Shelach Lecha (5772) – The Fear of Freedom
The episode of the spies has rightly puzzled commentators throughout the centuries. How could they have got it so wrong? … Read more
