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This week is the third Sabbath of Consolation between Tisha b’Av and Rosh HaShanah. The Haftarah for this Shabbat is Isaiah 54.11 though 55.5,[i] and begins with the LORD addressing Israel as “afflicted one, storm-tossed, unconsoled…” which is more than … Continue reading →

This is the 2nd Shabbat of Consolation between Tisha b’Av and Rosh Hashanah. Whereas Jeremiah asked Hashem, “Why do You always forget us and forsake us for so long?” (Eicha / Lamentations 5.20),[i] in this week’s Haftarah, Isaiah 49:14 – … Continue reading →

The parasha for this Shabbat is Va’etchanan, Deuteronomy 3.23 through 7.11.[i] It is the first of seven special Shabbats of Consolation following Tisha b’Av – this one being Shabbat Nahamu, (Consolation) based upon the first words of the Haftarah in … Continue reading →

This Shabbat is Shabbat Chazon (“Sabbath [of] vision” שבת חזון). It derives its name from Isaiah’s words of rebuke and doom in the Haftarah (Isaiah 1:1-27) that is read on the Shabbat immediately prior to the mournful fast of Tisha … Continue reading →

(This blog post is a week early as Vered and I are traveling to Zimbabwe – July 14th – 24th – to join a JVMI Outreach to the Lemba tribe. During this time we will be out of phone and internet contact.) … Continue reading →

This week’s parasha, Pinchas, Numbers 25.10 though 30.1,[i] continues with last week’s episode where Bnei Yisrael linked themselves with Baal Peor in an idolatress relationship that apparently included adulteress relationships with foreign women, specifically Moabites and Midianites.  This week begins … Continue reading →