Category Archives: Torah

Parashat Emor (Leviticus 21:1 – 24:23)

Posted on May 7, 2017 by Luke Ford

Listen here. Yesterday’s parasha included the most famous one in Leviticus — Kedoshim as well as Acharei Mot. This week we study Emor: “The parashah provides purity rules for priests (כֹּהֲנִים‎, Kohanim), recounts the holy days, provides for lights and … Continue reading →

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Parshat Tazria-Metzora

Posted on April 23, 2017 by Luke Ford

This week we have two Torah portions (Lev. 12:1 to 15:33). Listen here and here. * One receives a sense of calm from studying Torah. The events of the day fade away and you step into the realm of eternity. … Continue reading →

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Torah Talk: Passover 2017

Posted on April 8, 2017 by Luke Ford

Every nation has a victimology and every victimology has a nationalism and every nationalism has the capacity for genocide. John Mearsheimer’s classic work, The Tragedy of Great Power Politics, also applies to the Passover. John Mearsheimer writes: In contrast to … Continue reading →

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Torah Talk: Vayikra (Leviticus 1:1 – 5:26)

Posted on March 26, 2017 by Luke Ford

This week’s Torah portion begins the Book of Leviticus. * Who wrote the Torah? God or people? * Deut: 32:8: “When the Most High gave the nations their inheritance, when he divided all mankind, he set up boundaries for the … Continue reading →

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Haaretz: Kingdom of Israel: Extremist rabbis dream of Jewish monarchy, with a special role for non-Jews

Posted on March 24, 2017 by Luke Ford

These rabbis don’t seem extremist to me. They are simply explicating Torah. If Torah is extreme, then these rabbis are extreme. Haaretz: After explaining when it is allowed to kill non-Jews in widely vilified ‘Torat Hamelech,’ rabbis Shapira and Elitzur … Continue reading →

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