Monthly Archives: May 2024

Walking humbly upright… – The Torah portion of Bechukotai

Posted on May 30, 2024 by Michal Kohane מיכל כהנא

אם בחוקותי תלכו בצניעות וזקיפות קומה… My grandmother used to say to me “wenn du mit Gott gehst, da gehst du nicht allein”, that is (in the Yekke language we spoke) “if you walk with God, then you will not … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Be’har: …”and on the 7th year, the Land shall have a complete Shabbath”….

Posted on May 23, 2024 by Michal Kohane מיכל כהנא

פרשת בהר: “וּבַשָּׁנָ֣ה הַשְּׁבִיעִ֗ת שַׁבַּ֤ת שַׁבָּתוֹן֙ יִהְיֶ֣ה לָאָ֔רֶץ”… The 24th chapter of the Book of Leviticus – the last in last week’s Torah portion of “Emor” – is mysterious. Many commentators have tried to figure it out, and have not … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

The Torah portion of Emor – “a priestly kingdom and holy nation”

Posted on May 16, 2024 by Michal Kohane מיכל כהנא

פרשת אמור – “ממלכת כוהנים וגוי קדוש” The book of Leviticus can be turned into a game of “chutes and ladders” as we climb, jump and ascend uphill in holiness. It begins with the connection between us and between objects … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

“5th Place”: (optimistic) thoughts on Yom Hazikaron & Yom Ha’atzma’ut

Posted on May 13, 2024 by Michal Kohane מיכל כהנא

Who said that (….!) sentence that on Oct 7, more Jews died than in the worst day during the Holocaust? Ok, clearly, based on comments, that is not the exact quote (which might explain why I can’t find the original…), … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

Be Holy! the Torah portion of Kedoshim

Posted on May 9, 2024 by Michal Kohane מיכל כהנא

פרשת “קדושים תהיו”! In the month of Iyar – my father died, and in the month of Iyar – my granddaughter was born. A terrible tragedy, and an immense joy cohabit side by side. How to contain both? The answer, … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Yom Kippur, again? The Torah portion of Acharei Mot

Posted on May 2, 2024 by Michal Kohane מיכל כהנא

שוב יום הכיפורים? פרשת “אחרי מות” In the tractate Rosh Hashana of the Babylonian Talmud, Rabbi Yehoshua and Rabbi Eliezer discuss, when does the year actually begin, in Tishrei or in Nisan? Nisan is “head of the months, first of … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment