日志Recent notes

My notes on Vayakhel

Parashat Vayakhel (Exodus 35:1-38:20) (Parashat Vayakhel and the subsequent Parashat Pekudei are often read together in the same week, in a non leap Jewish year. See https://aish.com/double-torah-portion/.) Exodus 35 35:3   Ye shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations upon the sabbath day. Comment: Jews don’t cook with fire on Sabbath. Instead they have cooked… Continue reading My notes on Vayakhel

My notes on Ki Tisa

Parashat Ki Tisa (Exodus 30:11-34:35) Exodus 30 (continued) 30:20   When they go into the tabernacle of the congregation, they shall wash with water, that they die not; or when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn offering made by fire unto the LORD: Comment: Jews still wash hands ritually before praying.… Continue reading My notes on Ki Tisa

My notes on Tetzaveh

Parashat Tetzaveh (Exodus 27:20-30:10) Exodus 27 (continued) 27:20   And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always. Comment: Gd’s chosen people is likened by oil in many ways: (Adapted from, e.g., https://www.sefaria.org/Shemot_Rabbah.36?lang=bi) (1) It gathers together. (See… Continue reading My notes on Tetzaveh

My notes on Terumah

Parashat Terumah (Exodus 25:1-27:19) Exodus 25 25:8   And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. Comment: “that I may dwell” (vshachanti in Hebrew):  this is the goal of building a sanctuary. The Hebrew word “dwell” is related to shechinah https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shekhinah, which can denote the presence of Gd. Gd’s present… Continue reading My notes on Terumah

My notes on Mishpatim

Parashat Mishpatim (Exodus 21-24) Exodus 21 21:1   Now these are the judgments which thou shalt set before them. Comments: After the giving of the 10 commandments, Gd taught many detailed laws.  “judgments”: mishpatim in Hebrew, means Torah laws that make common sense. https://torah.org/torah-portion/ravfrand-5757-behar/ This is in contrast to chukim (“ordinances”, such as the red… Continue reading My notes on Mishpatim

My notes on Vaeira

Parashat Vaeira (Exodus 6:2-9:35) Exodus 6 (continued) 6:23          And Aaron took him Elisheba, daughter of Amminadab, sister of Naashon, to wife; and she bare him Nadab, and Abihu, Eleazar, and Ithamar. Comment: The Bible talks about many families and relatives serving in Gd’s big plan. Relatives may have more natural communications with each… Continue reading My notes on Vaeira

（出03）旧约里三位一体的影子

很多人认为旧约的耶和华是表示天父，新约的耶稣是圣子。甚至有一些被认为异端的看法，认为耶稣是比耶和华小的神或天使。这方面几千年来都有很微妙的神学争论，甚至又聪明又敬虔的大科学家都可能犯错误，所以我不能说我说的就正确或全面或是创新，我只是借助我们正在学习的一段经文，与大家分享一些读经时对这些神学观念所引出的一些看法。   出 埃 及 记   3:1 摩 西 牧 养 他 岳 父 米 甸 祭 司 叶 忒 罗 的 羊 群 ， 一 日 领 羊 群 往 野 外 去 ， 到 了 神 的 山 ， 就 是 何 烈 山 。 3:2 耶 和 华 的 使 者… Continue reading （出03）旧约里三位一体的影子

（创45）作喜爱圣经的人

（创45）作喜爱圣经的人 （根据Rashi解经记载的雅各） 犹太的解经演义midrash是一种特殊文化，它一般利用圣经经文演绎成一个故事，主要目的不是推断历史真相，而是教导人。这有点像三国演义里的诸葛亮三气周瑜，本身不一定是历史，但是和历史人物和时间衔接起来，教导人不要气量狭小等功课。犹太解经演义因为与圣经有关，常常教导的是与灵命长进有关的功课。 我这里主要介绍Rashi解经【1】里的记载，里面把雅各描写成一个喜爱圣经的人.   （Rashi解释创25：22“孩 子 们 在 她 腹 中 彼 此 相 争 ，…”, 原文的相争与‘跑’有关。）从还在娘胎时，经过还活着的闪（洪水前出生）和希伯（造巴别塔前出生）所开办的查经班时，雅各就激动地想跑出去学圣经（应该是口传的圣经前型），而在同一个娘肚子里的以扫则在经过拜偶像的地方激动地想跑过去。 （Rashi解经创25：27“雅 各 为 人 安 静 ， 常 住 在 帐 棚 里 ”）雅各少年时常去闪和希伯查经班的帐棚学习。 （Rashi解经创28：9推导了年龄）雅各离家后去亚兰地娶妻之前，先去当时还活着的希伯那里的查经班学了14年圣经。 创46:29说 “约 瑟 套 车 往 歌 珊 去 ， 迎 接 他 父 亲 以 色 列 ， 及 至 见 了… Continue reading （创45）作喜爱圣经的人

My notes on Vayigash

Parashat Vayigash (Genesis 44:18-47:27) Genesis 44 (continued) 44:33 Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go up with his brethren. Comment: Previously Judah proposed selling Joseph due to jealousy. How come the jealousy is now overcome, so that Judah is… Continue reading My notes on Vayigash