The Evolving Law of the Firstborn By Kristine Garroway Parashat B’midbar reminds us of YHVH’s claim to the firstborn, the b’chor (Numbers 3:13). Our parashah, however, is neither the first nor is it the last place the offering of the b’chor is mentioned. Exodus describes the offering of a b’chor in great detail. Exodus 13:1–2 states that the first issue of every womb, human and animal alike, is to be consecrated (for an offering) to the Eternal. Later in Exodus, we are told that the first yield of the vats, along with the firstborn sons and animals, shall be a part of the b’chor offering to the Eternal (Exodus 22:28–29). Accordingly, the Eternal shall [...]
by Jonathan Segal The year 70 BCE, the most valuable place to the Jewish people was destroyed. The second temple and everything that came along with it was demolished, leaving the Jewish people without a religious center in the world. Although the temple was destroyed, the west wall of the complex remained standing and to this day this wall is remembered as the greatest physical evidence of prosperous Jewish life before the Common Era. Today, the Western Wall stands for many things and for many people. To some people the wall stands for history, loss, or victory while to others [...]
Shavuot is not the first holiday that comes to mind when someone asks me about Jewish holidays. When I’m asked about my faith, I usually talk about Shabbat services and dinner with my family, regaling them with stories about my family’s obsession with making the utmost of the roast chicken we have every Shabbat (it’s an Olympic sport in my family). Yet as we approach Shavuot, more and more I think it exemplifies much of the best that Judaism has to offer. On Shavuot we celebrate the handing down of the Ten Commandments to Moses at Mt. Sinai with a [...]
