THOUGHTS ON THE PARASHAH Rabbi Evan Hoffman – Congregation Anshe Sholom evanhoffman@gmail.com Parshat Eikev – פרשת עקב July 31, 2021 – כב אב תשפא This essay is sponsored by Harriet & David Rudnick, Arnie & Ellen Bernstein, and Stanley & Vivian Bernstein in memory of Jules Bernstein Z”L; by Moshe & Chavie Wilner in memory...
THOUGHTS ON THE PARASHAH Rabbi Evan Hoffman – Congregation Anshe Sholom evanhoffman@gmail.com Parshat Va’etchanan – פרשת ואתחנן July 24, 2021 – טו אב תשפא Mezuzah for non-Jews The commandment of mezuzah is fulfilled by affixing to one’s doorposts a piece of parchment on which the first two paragraphs of the Shema have been...
THOUGHTS ON THE PARASHAH Rabbi Evan Hoffman – Congregation Anshe Sholom evanhoffman@gmail.com Parshat Korach – פרשת קרח June 12, 2021 – ב תמוז תשפא This essay is dedicated in memory of Zoltan Lefkovits Z”L. Profaning priestly emoluments The final verse of Parshat Korach reads: “You will incur no guilt through it, once you have removed
THOUGHTS ON THE PARASHAH Rabbi Evan Hoffman – Congregation Anshe Sholom evanhoffman@gmail.com Parshat Naso – פרשת נשא May 22, 2021 – יא סיון תשפא The killer kohen The Babylonian Talmud cites a ruling in the name of Rabbi Yohanan that a kohen who has killed a person may not offer the priestly blessing in the
THOUGHTS ON THE PARASHAH Rabbi Evan Hoffman – Congregation Anshe Sholom evanhoffman@gmail.com Parshat Emor – פרשת אמר May 1, 2021 – יט אייר תשפא The kohen and the convert Scripture imposes restrictions upon whom a kohen may marry. “They shall not marry a woman defiled by harlotry (zonah), nor shall they marry one divorced from her
THOUGHTS ON THE PARASHAH Rabbi Evan Hoffman – Congregation Anshe Sholom evanhoffman@gmail.com Parshat Acharei-Kedoshim – פרשת אחרי-קדושים April 24, 2021 – יב אייר תשפא Indirect Responsibility The Bible elevated ancient Israel to a moral plane far above that of its barbaric and savage neighbors (heathen societies all). Rabbinic Judaism...