Numbers 4:21-7:89 - Judges 13:2-25 - Luke 21:5-24

  This week's edition of The Set Table contains:

Questions and Commentary on Parashat Naso'
Chayyei Yeshua - A Devotional Commentary on the Besora Reading
In Summary
Looking Ahead

"I know, I know. We are Your chosen people. But, once in a while, can't You choose someone else?"

Why did God choose the Jewish people? The question has been a theme of Jewish thought, and sometimes Christian thought, for millennia, but has become particularly difficult in our modern era of pluralism and egalitarianism. In a recent issue of Moment magazine (April 2007), nine rabbis of various streams of Judaism respond to the question, "Why are Jews called the ‘Chosen People?'" and reflect both the biblical roots of the phrase, and the modern consternation with it. How can the God who created all peoples choose one of them above the others? After all, if one people is chosen, what does that say about the others who aren't?

Numbers 1:1-4:20 - Hosea 2:1-22 - Mark 12:28-34

  This week's edition of The Set Table contains:

Questions and Commentary on Parashat Bemidbar
Chayyei Yeshua - A Devotional Commentary on the Besora Reading
In Summary
Looking Ahead

By Rebbetzin Malkah Forbes
Beit HaShofar Synagogue, Seattle, WA

Most of us have seen pictures of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, touted as a marvelous architectural wonder for many ages.  But I can't help but snicker when I see it.  Yes, indeed it has interesting architectural features and form.  But why give it such a heightened status when all of us can see that it is leaning.  I know, the name says it all.  But I know I would be far more impressed if it didn't lean.  To me, it is a glaring reminder that the engineers did not survey the ground and become familiar with the territory, or seek to utilize their engineering skills to erect a structure that would represent their talents.  Not only is it an accident waiting to happen, but it has been the source of a great amount of effort and money to right the structure and keep the public safe.  This glorification of a botched attempt can be lethal not only in the physical realm but in the spiritual realm. If we deceive ourselves in the ways of keeping Torah, we risk building in vain and put others in jeopardy.  In this week's parasha, we are given the guarantee that if we follow in the ways of our Creator, the Divine Engineer, then that which we will build will be upright and everlasting and blessings of the land and fruitfulness will be with us.

Leviticus 25:1-27:34 - Jeremiah 16:19-17:14 - Mark 12:13-27

  This week's edition of The Set Table contains:

Questions and Commentary on Parashat Behar-Bechuqotai
Chayyei Yeshua - A Devotional Commentary on the Besora Reading
In Summary
Looking Ahead

by Rabbi Russ Resnik

                         
"And You gave us, HASHEM, our God, with love, appointed festivals for gladness, festivals and times for joy . . . For You have chosen us and You have sanctified us above all the peoples, and Your holy Festivals in gladness and joy have You granted us as a heritage. Blessed are You, HASHEM, Who sanctifies Israel and the festive seasons." (Artscroll Siddur p. 659)

Leviticus opened with the Lord's call to Moses out of ohel moed, the tent of meeting, which is the focal point of the final chapters of Exodus and most of the book of Leviticus. Now, in Leviticus 23, the focus shifts to mo'adim, the plural form of moed, which refers to the appointed festivals of the Lord. The focus shifts from the tent of meeting, to the times of meeting. Israel encounters the divine not only in the tent, but also in the seasons of the year. As we are currently counting the days from one of these seasons, Passover, to another, Shavuot, let's review their significance. The appointed festivals will give us insight into the meaning of Tikkun Olam, Restoring the World, the theme of our prayer campaign this year leading up to Shavuot (see www.umjc.org for details).

Leviticus 21:1-24:23 - Ezekiel 44:15-31 - Matthew 21:1-17

  This week's edition of The Set Table contains:

Questions and Commentary on Parashat Emor
Chayyei Yeshua - A Devotional Commentary on the Besora Reading
In Summary
Looking Ahead