Monthly Archives: February 2020

Terumah Feb. 29 2020. Shekhina.

Posted on February 28, 2020 by Dr. Seth Ward

TORAH READING: TERUMAH, Exodus 25:1-27:19. Haftarah: 1 Kings 5:26-6:13. The Torah reading deals primarily with building the sanctuary in the Wilderness. The reading from the Prophets provides a parallel: Solomon building the Temple in Jerusalem 480 years later. (This is … Continue reading →

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Mishpatim – Shekalim 22 February 2020

Posted on February 21, 2020 by Dr. Seth Ward

TORAH READING: SHABBAT SHEKALIM. Regular reading MISHPATIM Exodus 21:1-24:18 plus Exodus 30:11-16. Haftarah: 2 Kings 12:1-17 (some communities start at 2 Kings 11:17). This is the first of several special Torah and Haftarah readings. From now until Passover, in five … Continue reading →

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TRADITIONS OF ABRAHAM : THOUGHTS ON MARTYRDOM IN JUDAISM AND ISLAM

Posted on February 17, 2020 by Dr. Seth Ward

A version of this essay was published in the proceedings of the Husain Day convention mentioned at the beginning of the essay. I do not think I have posted it in this Blog before. I should note that I am … Continue reading →

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YITRO. Feb 15 2020.

Posted on February 14, 2020 by Dr. Seth Ward

TORAH READING: YITRO Exodus 18:1-20:23 Isaiah 6:1-7:6; 9:5-6 (In some communities only Isaiah 6:1-13) Want to receive this Newsletter? Contact sward@uwyo.edu.  A THOUGHT FROM THE TORAH READING Today’s Torah reading includes the Decalogue—often called the “Ten Commandments.” Given at Mount … Continue reading →

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The Rise of Tu Bishevat as a “Jewish Arbor and Ecology Day:” Balancing themes of Land of Israel, Modern Israeli State, Ecology and Mysticism.

Posted on February 10, 2020 by Dr. Seth Ward

The Rise of Tu Bishevat as a “Jewish Arbor and Ecology Day:” Balancing themes of Land of Israel, Modern Israeli State, Ecology and Mysticism.[1] Seth Ward University of Wyoming Religion can provide a powerful source for environmental change and ecological … Continue reading →

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NEWSLETTERS for KAVOD

Posted on February 9, 2020 by Dr. Seth Ward

I’ve been distributing Shabbat newsletters at Kavod Senior Living for a few years; in the past few months I began broadening the scope—including Laramie readers, for example. Although I have posted some of these newsletters in other blogs or social … Continue reading →

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A Thought from the Torah Reading–Chayei Sarah 2019. Expanded essay on David and Solomon in Jewish and Muslim sources.

Posted on February 9, 2020 by Dr. Seth Ward

A THOUGHT FROM THE TORAH READING Seth Ward This week we continue our Fall series, Torah and Quran in the Mirror. Here are some thoughts about the material assembled for this week’s talk. Today’s Haftarah depicts King David as old … Continue reading →

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Newsletter Vaera 2020 and International Holocaust Remembrance Day

Posted on February 9, 2020 by Dr. Seth Ward

INTERNATIONAL HOLOCAUST REMEMBRANCE DAY United Nations declared January 27as an annual International Day of Commemoration in memory of the victims of the Holocaust.The UN resolution, available at https://undocs.org/en/A/RES/60/7, urges educational programs, rejects Holocaust denial, commends countries who preserve Nazi sites, … Continue reading →

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Newsletter Beshalach 2020

Posted on February 7, 2020 by Dr. Seth Ward

TU BISHEVAT (THE FIFTEENTH OF SHEVAT) Sunday evening and Monday Feb. 9-10. TU is no more than the pronunciation of the alphabetic representation of the number 15 in Hebrew; like calling the number 1009 Mix because of its Roman-numeral representation. … Continue reading →

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Newsletter Bo 2020.

Posted on February 1, 2020 by Dr. Seth Ward

newsletter BO Feb 1 2020.pdf A THOUGHT FROM THE TORAH READING In this week’s Parasha we read of the plagues of locusts, darkness, and the death of the first-born. We also encounter the first extended passages that are halachic—“legal” in … Continue reading →

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