Righteous Mountain: April 2012

118.3.13

Ahava v’Shalom, Family and Friends.

Shalom. Namaste. Sama. Pax. Salaam. Peace. Sat Nam. Solh. Kwey.

This week’s Torah Parshah is Toldot. The past week’s ration is 1:5:0:2+; 1 removal request, 5 additions, 0 failure deliveries, and 2 emails with positive feedback (plus numerous positive comments communicated in person).

The answers to Chayay Sarah are also included with this correspondence.

Shabat Shalom.

Ahava v’Shalom,

Peter

(Notes for 118.3.20)

“feminine” typo (laugh out loud)

Potential correction regarding the telling of the story of meeting between Eliezer and Rivkah

Ahava v’Shalom, Family and Friends.

Shalom. Namaste. Sama. Pax. Salaam. Peace. Sat Nam. Solh. Kwey.

This week’s Torah Parshah is Vayetze, sharing the striving of Yaakov whilst labouring within Laban’s house.

Admittedly, I spend little time proofreading this material before sending it to you. And I notice in the previous week’s correspondence, I provide an inadvertent, and somewhat humourous, inaccuracy; within Question 3 in the Torah Trivia for Parshah Toldot, I write: “Where does Yitzak go when the feminine returns?” That should read: “famine.” That may be a typo, an autocorrect, or Freudian or a combination of any of these and additionally. Does anyone else laugh out loud a little J.

This week’s ratio is: 0:0:0:2+; 0 removal requests, 0 delivery failure notices, 0 additions, and 2 positive responses with additional positive responses communicated in person.

The answers to the Torah Trivia for Parshah Toldot are included with this correspondence, as well.

Shabbat Shalom.

Ahava v’Shalom,

Peter

Taking leap into the “brave new world” from bcc: to cc: or to:

Ahava v’Shalom, Family and Friends.

Shalom. Namaste. Sama. Pax. Salaam. Peace. Sat Nam. Solh. Kwey.

This week’s Torah Parshah is Vayishlach, sharing the reconciliation between Yaakov (Yisrael) and Esau.

The answer’s for Parshah Vayetze are also included with this email. This week’s correspondence should be forwarded somewhat earlier than a week ago; and I am still working on the red eyes J.

Also, anyone who is interested in taking the courageous leap from “bcc:” to the realm of “cc:” or “to:”, you are welcome to let me know, directly.

I thank you for your positive comments and responses. Your continuing feedback is welcome.

Shabbat Shalom.

Ahava v’Shalom,

Peter

((Comments; Separate attachment/list serv)))

Ahava v’Shalom, Family and Friends.

שלום. नमस्ते. สมาธิ. Pax. سلم. Peace. Sat Nam. صلح. Kwey. Paz. Paix. Fred. Siochana. 和平. мир . Frieden. 평화. 平和. Vrede. Amani. Aloha.

This week’s Torah Parshah is Vayeishev, describing Yosef’s proclivity amidst dreams, the sibling rivalry amongst the sons of Israel, and the respective progressions of Yudah and Yosef, in different lands.

The responses for the trivia questions for Parshah Vayishlach are also included within this correspondence.

There is also the consideration of providing a mechanism for people to share any additional comments, corrections, and/or explanations of the content that is provided through this Torah Trivia. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Shabbat Shalom.

Ahava v’Shalom,

Peter

Ahava v’Shalom, Family and Friends.

שלום. नमस्ते. สมาธิ. Pax. سلم. Peace. Sat Nam. صلح. Kwey. Amani. Paz. Paix. Fred. Frieden. Vrede. Siochana. мир . 和平. 平和. 평화. Aloha.

This week’s Parshah is Miketz, an unraveling of deceit, deception, and confusion amidst the reunion of 12 brothers. The answer’s to the previous week’s Parshah, Vayeishev, are also included within this correspondence.

Just FYI, the words and characters list above are all essentially salutations of, “Peace and Wellbeing,” respectively from different languages, including (from left to right): Hebrew, Hindi, Thai, Latin, Arabic, English, Punjabi, Persian, Algonquin, Swahili, Espanol, Francais, Dansk and Svensk, Deutsch, Dutch, Irish, Russian, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Hawai’i. Suggestions for additions are welcome.

Shabbat Shalom.

Ahava v’Shalom,

Peter

Ahava v’Shalom, Family and Friends.

This week’s Parshah is Vayigash, sharing another reunion and reconciliation between brothers; this time between Yosef and his 10 brothers and Benyamin, as well as the reunion between Yosef and Yaakov. I admittedly experience some difficulty in discerning the actual census tally of Israel’s descendants, included within this Parshah; the evidence of which may be found within the 8^th and 9^th discussion questions. And the discussion questions, overall, seem to be rather involved this week (if you are awake and inclined to proceed through that point J).

The answers for the previous week’s Parshah, Miketz, are also included within this correspondence.

Shabbat Shalom.

Ahava v’Shalom,

Peter

Ahava v’Shalom, Family and Friends.

This week’s Parshah is Vayechi, the final Parshah of Bereshit, where Israel confers his blessings upon his “14” sons. The answers for the previous week’s Parshah, Vayigash, are also included within this correspondence.

Whilst I am rather carefully in preparing these Torah Trivia sessions, and whilst I strive to be accurate and only reference information that is explicit within the modest knowledge, wisdom, and materials I have available, I admittedly spend only a certain amount of hours putting this together each week, I am substantially relying upon English translations, and I am actually imperfect. I also abstain from substantially editing and double-checking the information after the initial, careful rendering. So, all of that is communicated to welcome anyone to provide any additional corrections and/or insight regarding the information that is conveyed within these Torah Trivia sessions.

I thank you for consideration and for your continuing patience and generosity in abstaining from requesting to be removed from this list serv J.

Shabbat Shalom.

Ahava v’Shalom,

Peter

Ahava v’Shalom, Family and Friends.

This week’s Torah Parshah is Shemot: fast forwarding a few hundred years, the children of Israel become enslaved to the Egyptians, and Moshe is sent, along with Aaron, to demand liberation from Pharaoh.

The answers to the previous week’s Parshah, Vayechi, are also included with this correspondence.

Shabbat Shalom.

Ahava v’Shalom,

Peter

Ahava v’Shalom, Family and Friends.

This week’s Parshah is Vaeira, delving into the saga between Moshe and Pharaoh, Israel and Egypt, and beginning the plagues upon Egypt.

The Torah Trivia questions for this week’s Parshah are included with this email correspondence, as are the answers to the previous week’s Torah Trivia questions for Parshah Shemot.

Shabbat Shalom.

Ahava v’Shalom,

Peter

Ahava v’Shalom, Family and Friends.

This week’s Torah Parshah is Bo, and the Israelites are “moving on up” out of Egypt (and yes, that is 4 prepositions in a row, amidst a “Jefferson’s” reference J). Within this Parshah, there is the description of the concluding plagues/afflictions against Egypt, and the commands for festival of Pesach with the matzah and the Pesach lamb.

In addition to the Torah Trivia questions for this week’s Parshah, the Torah Trivia answers for Parshah Vaeira are also included within this correspondence.

Shabbat Shalom.

Ahava v’Shalom,

Peter

Ahava v’Shalom, Family and Friends.

It is good to see so many Shabbat faces during an ordinary weekday, earlier this evening. May we find continuing occasions to directly build with each other during special and ordinary occasions.

This week’s Parshah is Beshalach, filled with marching, camping, complaining, singing, dancing, and maggots J. Our ancestors are delivered from Egypt and into the wilderness, and some begin to question the amenities of such. And of course, there is the famous/infamous splitting of the Reed Sea. Here is a “featured trivia question” for this week’s Parshah: what part of the day is the Reed Sea parted, and what part of the day is it closed upon Pharaoh and his army?

In addition to this innovative and spontaneous dynamic of the “featured trivia question,” there is another adaptation with this week’s Torah Trivia: I am including the answers to this week’s Torah Trivia questions within this correspondence (rather than keeping the answers concealed until next week). The thought is that having the answers may “spark” some additional interest in this week’s Parshah, and people may even have some talking points to share with others throughout the remainder of the week, and during Shabbat.

I am also including a “Questions Only” version for those who prefer the challenge. The answers to the previous week’s Torah Trivia, for Parshah Bo, are also included.

I can also provide that B’nai Jeshurun, here in Pepper Pike, Ohio, recently begins a weekly “Lunch and Learn” Talmud study session, every Thursday at Noon EST (the next one being about 12 hours from now), in Beachwood, at Commerce Park, Building #4, Room 130 (and people are invited to BYO Lunch). Also, Susan Wyner convenes a weekly Torah study session, at B’nai Jeshurun, on Tuesday mornings at 10:30EST. Yaakov Zalman Labinsky also offers a weekly class, focusing on Perkei Avot, on Monday evenings at 20:00EST, at the Heights Jewish Centre Synagogue, in University Heights, within his programme of www.becomingdivine.com.

And in that consideration of weekly studies and the Torah Parshah, some additional weekly study resources include:

USCJ Torah Sparks: http://www.uscj.org/JewishLivingandLearning/WeeklyParashah/TorahSparks/Archive/Default.aspx.

Orthodox Union: http://www.ou.org/torah/index.

URJ: http://urj.org/learning/torah/

Masorti Olami: http://masortiworld.org/molami/parashat_hashavua.

Reconstructionist: http://jrf.org/recon-dt.

Chabad: http://www.chabad.org/parshah/default_cdo/jewish/Torah-Portion.htm.

Aish: http://www.aish.com/tp/.

Shabbat Shalom.

Ahava v’Shalom,

Peter

Ahava v’Shalom, Family and Friends.

This week’s Parshah is “Yitro,” famous, of course, for the sharing of the name of Moshe’s second son. J

In addition to this, there is: the reunion between Moshe and Yitro and the rest of Moshe’s family, Yitro’s leadership advice to Moshe, and the conveyance of the “10 Commandments.” And that is the featured Torah Trivia question for this week’s Parshah: What are the “10 Commandments”?

And actually, during the initial preparation of writing this week’s Torah Trivia, I have the pleasure of seeing our friends David and Rona Shapiro, walking by the Phoenix coffeehouse on Lee Road, in Cleveland Heights.

This week’s question include what may be considered as an increased amount of humour, and the communication of your criticisms or concerns regarding such is welcome.

Again, the answers to this week’s Torah Trivia questions are also included within this correspondence, and the discussion questions are listed at the end.

Your continuing questions, concerns, criticisms, and ‘couragement are appreciated.

Shabbat Shalom.

Ahava v’Shalom,

Peter

Ahava v’Shalom, Family and Friends.

שלום.नमस्ते.สมาธิ.Pax.سلم.Peace.Sat Nam.صلح.Kwey.Amani.ειρήνη.Pace.Paz.Paix.Fred.Frieden.Vrede.Siochana.мир.和平.平和.평화.Aloha.

This week’s Parshah is “Mishpatim,” delving further into the mitzvot provided for the children of Israel, including: servitude, the “ger,” chesed, and lifting the burden of the enemy’s cattle.

This week’s Torah Trivia questions involve an additional amount of coordination, and seem to include an increased amount of cynicism; however, there is also the inclusion of Hebrew within this week’s questions. The featured trivia question for this week is: on how many occasions is the death penalty effectively prescribed within Parshah Mishpatim, and what are the offences for which it is prescribed?

And again, the answers for this week’s Torah Trivia questions are also included within this correspondence. And further explanations and suggestions are welcome.

Shabbat Shalom.

Ahava v’Shalom,

Peter

Love and Peace, Family and Friends.

שלום.नमस्ते.สมาธิ.Pax.سلم.Peace.Sat Nam.صلح.Kwey.Amani.ειρήνη.Pace.Paz.Paix.Fred.Frieden.Vrede.Siochana.мир.امن.和平.平和.평화.Aloha.

This week's Parshah is "Terumah," where Moshe receives instruction, from Adonai, regarding the construction of the Ark, Tabernacle, Tent, and additional items.

Admittedly, I have yet to wrap my head around the descriptions for the Tabernacle (and this can be evidenced within the ambiguity, approximations, and redundancy within some of this week Torah Trivia questions and answers); yet this week's study does significantly helps. Illustrations of the Mishkan, without measurements (provided from Wikipedia), are also included within this correspondence.

The featured Torah Trivia question for this week is: "Within Parshah Terumah, how many 'prominent' items are commanded to be constructed?" And a bonus question (the answer to which I admittedly have yet to calculate) is: "How many total items (including planks, sockets, ring holders, and additionally) are commanded to be constructed, within Parshah Terumah?"

The Hebrew word for this week is: “אמה,” “Ammah”; which means cubit (a measure of length). And another bonus Torah Trivia question for this week is: “Where, in the Torah, is the word, ‘אמה,’ first included?” The answer is: “Noach,” Shemot 6:15.

Again, additional Torah study resources include:

USCJ Torah Sparks: http://www.uscj.org/JewishLivingandLearning/WeeklyParashah/TorahSparks/Archive/Default.aspx.

Orthodox Union: http://www.ou.org/torah/index.

URJ: http://urj.org/learning/torah/

Masorti Olami: http://masortiworld.org/molami/parashat_hashavua.

Reconstructionist: http://jrf.org/recon-dt.

Chabad: http://www.chabad.org/parshah/default_cdo/jewish/Torah-Portion.htm.

Aish: http://www.aish.com/tp/.

I thank you for your encouraging words; it means very much to me. And, as always, your corrections, explanations, criticisms, questions, and additional considerations are welcome.

Shabbat Shalom.

Ahava v'Shalom,

Peter

Ahava v’Shalom, Family and Friends.

שלום.नमस्ते.สมาธ.Pax.سلم.Peace.Sat Nam.صلح.Kwey.Amani.ειρήνη.Pace.Paz.Paix.Fred.Frieden.Vrede.Siochana.мир.امن.和平.平和.평화.Aloha.

This week’s Torah Parshah is “Tetzaveh,” where Aaron and his sons are ordained, and receive some “new threads.”

The Hebrew term for this week is: “ליהוה קדש,” “Kadosh l’YHWH,” “Holy to God;” and this week’s feature Torah Trivia question is (paraphrasing): “what are the general items included within the Holy garments of Aaron and the Holy garments of Aaron’s sons?”

I am actually experiencing some challenges with the Word software that I am utilising, which is why I am forwarding versions of this document in “Word 2003,” “Works,” and as a PDF file. I am working on this; and the text of this week’s Torah Trivia is also included within this email correspondence.

Shabbat Shalom.

Ahava v’Shalom,

Peter

שלום.नमस्ते.สมาธ.Pax.سلم.Peace.Sat Nam.صلح.Kwey.Amani.ειρήνη.Pace.Paz.Paix.Fred.Frieden.Vrede.Siochana.мир.امن.和平.平和.평화.Aloha.

ૐ. אמן

Ahava v’Shalom, Family and Friends.

שלום.नमस्ते.สมาธ.Pax.سلم.Peace.Sat Nam.صلح.Kwey.Amani.ειρήνη.Pace.Paz.Paix.Fred.Frieden.Vrede.Siochana.мир.امن.和平.平和.평화.Aloha.

This week’s Parshah is, “Ki Tissa,” including the infamous formation of the golden calf, as well as the second provision of the stone tablets.

I provide this warning: compared to the inundation of quotations within the Torah Trivia iteration a week ago, this week’s Torah Trivia iteration (including a Steve Erkel reference) may be perceived as somewhat sacrilegious and exceedingly irreverent. There is the consideration of such work being the synthesis of respective characteristics from Rambam, Mozart, and that bum on the street whom everyone fails to see. Perhaps all that is rather Freudian, self-absorbed and indulgent, and/or immodest (we may see what this week’s count is for removal requests from this correspondence list J).

Or, perhaps such irreverent revelry is actually appropriate, amidst the juxtaposition of the topic of the golden calf and the current observance of Purim. I digress.

The featured Torah Trivia question for this week is: what ingredients are included within the anointing oil for the Mishkan, its tools and accessories, as well as Aaron and his sons?

The featured Hebrew word for this Parshah is: “שקל,” “shekel”: a standard weight of silver utilised as a means of exchange for products and services, with 1 shekel weighing approximately 5 grams or 1/5 of an ounce.

“שקל” previously appears within Parshah Chayay Sarah (Shemot 23:15), where Avraham purchases the burial location of Machpelah (for Sarah and his family), from Ephron, for 400 shekels (the equivalent of 2 kg, or 80 ounces, of silver). According to the Financial Times, the current, estimated value of approximately 100kg (5000 ounces) of silver is 25€, 20£, 30US, 2400￥, or 200 Special Drawing Rights (SDRs) with the International Monetary Fund. Therefore, the purchase price of 400 shekels maintains a current market value of approximately .5€, .4£, .6US, 50￥, and 4 SDRs with the IMF; and the half-shekel offering, provided from each 20+ Israelite male, maintains a current market value of approximately .0005€, .0004£, .0006US, .05￥, and .004 IMF SDRs. All of which, according to the street valuations during my university days, means that silver is worth much less than weed, although the market value of trees seems to skyrocket within the past few millennia, and (amidst the potential development of desalination technology), urine is “king” (and much of these calculations seem to contradict previous valuations shared within the Torah Trivia iteration for Parshah Chayay Sarah).

Additional links to Torah Parshah study include:

USCJ Torah Sparks: http://www.uscj.org/JewishLivingandLearning/WeeklyParashah/TorahSparks/Archive/Default.aspx.

Orthodox Union: http://www.ou.org/torah/index.

URJ: http://urj.org/learning/torah/

Masorti Olami: http://masortiworld.org/molami/parashat_hashavua.

Reconstructionist: http://jrf.org/recon-dt.

Chabad: http://www.chabad.org/parshah/default_cdo/jewish/Torah-Portion.htm.

Aish: http://www.aish.com/tp/.

שבת שלום

אהוא ושלום,

Peter

שלום.नमस्ते.สมาธ.Pax.سلم.Peace.Sat Nam.صلح.Kwey.Amani.ειρήνη.Pace.Paz.Paix.Fred.Frieden.Vrede.Siochana.мир.امن.和平.平和.평화.Aloha.

ૐ. אמן

אהבא ושלום, Family and Friends.

שלום.नमस्ते.สมาธ.Pax.سلم.Peace.Sat Nam.صلح.Kwey.Amani.ειρήνη.Pace.Paz.Paix.Fred.Frieden.Vrede.Siochana.мир.امن.和平.平和.평화.Aloha.

Perhaps you may excuse this brief intrusion to the weekly cycle.

I am writing to inform you of a correction to some of the calculations I share in the correspondence I forward earlier this past afternoon.

Our friend, Mikhail Alterman, points out that the current value of silver is approximately 30US per ounce, rather than per 5000 ounces! This, admittedly, is an extreme difference, and one that I actually perceive; however (failing my intuitive “common sense” test), I am excessively fatigued to double check the figures. So I am remiss for that error in reading the FT commodities index; and I thank Mikhail for the correction.

Here are some recalculated figures:

½ Shekel = ~5 grams (~1/5 of an ounce) of silver

1 Shekel = ~10 grams (~2/5 of an ounce) of silver

1 ounce of silver (~25 grams) = ~20£; ~25€; ~30US; ~2500￥; ~200SDR

1 gram of silver (~.05 ounces) = <1£; ~1€; >1US; ~100￥; <10SDR

1 Shekel = <10£; ~10€; >10US; ~1,000￥; <100SDR

400 Shekels (the Purchase Price for Machpelah) = ~4kg of silver = ~20 ounces of silver

400 Shekels = <4,000£; ~4,000E; >4,000US; ~400,000￥; ~40,000SDR

1 Square Foot of Space in Midtown Manhattan = ~300£; ~400€; ~500US; ~40,000￥; ~3,000SDR

1 Square Foot of Space in Midtown Manhattan = ~40 Shekels

400 Shekels = ~10 Square Feet of Space in Midtown Manhattan

½ Shekel Offering (for Males 20+ Years) = <5£; ~5€; >5US; 500￥; <50SDR

US Individual Mean Annual Tax Contribution = ~10,000US; ~6,000£; ~8,000€; ~800,000￥; ~60,000SDR

US Individual Mean Annual Tax Contribution = ~800 Shekels

US Individual Mean Annual Income = ~30,000US; ~20,000£; ~25,000€; ~2,500,000￥; ~250,000SDR

US Individual Mean Annual Income = ~2,500 Shekels

So, the value of weed continues to surpass silver (yet less severely); and whilst the value of trees remains rather grounded, it still seems to be reaching higher throughout the millennia; and urine may still be “king.”

I am rather sober throughout the day, so I abstain from having that as an excuse. I also provide the continuing disclaimer that even many of these current numbers are derived from different data pools, involve substantial estimations, and are calculated by a mind that is ready for another Shabbat nap. Perhaps the upcoming Parshot regarding fair weights and measures may be helpful with any additional calculations J. I appreciate your patience.

Information Regarding Shekel Measure: Etz Chayim Chumash

Information Regarding Currency Valuations:

http://markets.ft.com/research/Markets/Currencies?segid=70113

Information Regarding Valuation of Special Drawing Rights with the International Monetary Fund:

http://www.imf.org/external/np/fin/data/rms_sdrv.aspx

Information Regarding Current Valuation of Silver:

http://markets.ft.com/Research/Markets/Tearsheets/Summary?s=1045598

Information Regarding Land Valuation in Midtown Manhattan:

http://www.economics.harvard.edu/faculty/glaeser/files/Manhattan.pdf (Page 11)

Information Regarding US Individual Mean Income Tax Contribution:

http://www.irs.gov/taxstats/article/0,,id=102886,00.html

Information Regarding US Individual Mean Income:

http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/00000.html

אהבא ושלום,

Peter

שלום.नमस्ते.สมาธ.Pax.سلم.Peace.Sat Nam.صلح.Kwey.Amani.ειρήνη.Pace.Paz.Paix.Fred.Frieden.Vrede.Siochana.мир.امن.和平.平和.평화.Aloha.

ૐ. אמן

118.7.18

אהבא ושלום, Family and Friends.

שלום.नमस्ते.สมาธ.Pax.سلم.Peace.Sat Nam.صلح.Kwey.Amani.ειρήνη.Pace.Paz.Paix.Fred.Frieden.Vrede.Siochana.мир.امن.和平.平和.평화.Aloha.

This week’s Parshah is “Tzav,” where the ordination of Aaron and his sons is described.

The featured Hebrew term for the week is: “כהן,” (“kohen”), with the plural form being: “כהנים,” (“kohanim”); respectively meaning “Priest,” and, “Priests.” The term, כהנים, is utilised to describe Aaron and his sons, who serve as the “High Priestly Caste” of the Israelites.

This also leads us to the featured Torah Trivia question for the week, which is actually a bonus question that is excluded from the 12 “official” Torah trivia questions for this week: “Where does the term, ‘כהן,’ first appear within the Torah?” The answer is: apparently, “כהן” first appears within Lech Lecha (Beresheit 14:18), in describing King Melchizedek of Salem, who is described as a “Priest of Adonai the Most High,” “לאל עליון,”; this is immediately after Avram defeats the 4 Kings, and Melchizedek provides an offering. However, it is appropriate to note that Melchizedek is other than a descendant of Aaron, and thus is other than a “כהן,” within the Israelite ritualistic manner.

And this leads us to the “super bonus round” question, which is also absent from the “official” 12 questions: “From what contemporary cultural genre is the name, ‘Melchizedek,’ recently utilised?” One answer is: “Melky Sedek” is the name of a Haitian Hip Hop R & B duo, from within the past 20 years, belonging with the “Refugee Camp” of the group, “The Fugees,” both of whom are also younger siblings to the musician and performer, Wyclef Jean, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melky_Sedeck.

שבת שלום

אהבא ושלום,

Peter

שלום.नमस्ते.สมาธ.Pax.سلم.Peace.Sat Nam.صلح.Kwey.Amani.ειρήνη.Pace.Paz.Paix.Fred.Frieden.Vrede.Siochana.мир.امن.和平.平和.평화.Aloha.

ૐ. אמן

118.7.24

אהבא ושלום, Family and Friends.

שלום.नमस्ते.สมาธ.Pax.سلم.Peace.Sat Nam.صلح.Kwey.Amani.ειρήνη.Pace.Paz.Paix.Fred.Frieden.Vrede.Siochana.мир.امن.和平.平和.평화.Aloha.

This week’s Parshah is a special reading for Pesach, and is taken from the Book of Shmot. Thus, there is an absence of a Torah Trivia session for this week. I can provide, however, a recently compiled, “Hip Hop Haggadah.”

This Hip Hop Haggadah is offered as a “supplement” to any Haggadah. It is provided with the intent of “livening” up a Seder and/or providing additional thoughts and ideas to consider about the purpose and meaning of the festival of Pesach, and the ritual of the Seder, with special consideration of youth. The Hip Hop Haggadah contains 100+ bars (lines of prose), including: an opening, a conclusion, and an introduction to each of the traditional 15 segments of the Seder (and technically 14, as the respective “Motzi” and “Matzah” segments are combined). Amidst the many allegories and euphamisms, the Hip Hop Haggadah is provided with reverence and commitment to the observance, and practise, of Pesach and the Seder. It is also “hot off the presses,” and still requires some editing and rhythmic adjustment; it is provided amidst the consideration of “timeliness.”

Additionally, as many of you may already know, I am planning to host a Seder for one of the first occasions. And as I establish a practise of hosting a Seder, I am also establishing a certain tradition, as well. As we know, a traditional part of the Seder includes welcoming strangers, as well as welcoming Eliyahu; and general themes within Pesach include slavery, liberation, and the “freedom to obey.” With all this in consideration, each year I intend to include, within our Seder, a special topic regarding a contemporary experience of slavery and liberation within a specific geographic location of Earth and the Universe; with each year focusing on a different, specific geographic location.

This year, we are beginning with Cambodia. And briefly, I can provide to you that Jewish migration to Eastern Asia (and specifically China) is thought to begin over 2 millennia ago, via Persia, with settlements established in such locations as, Kaifeng. Approximately 2 centuries ago, a French explorer finds inhabitants within Cambodia who maintain certain religious practises, such as dietary restrictions prohibiting pork, observance of Shabbat, and circumcision. However, these Cambodians are subsequently identified as Muslims.

And within the past few centuries, there seems to be an increased amount of interaction between Jews and Cambodia, particularly amidst European colonial expansion within Asia. Nearly 40 years ago, the infamous Khmer Rouge regime emerges (“Khmer” being a term referring to an indigenously Cambodian ethnic identity), and it inflicts horrendous atrocities against the Cambodian people. This includes a policy of summarily decimating political dissidents, Buddhist Monks, and anyone who might pose a threat to the authority of the Khmer Rouge regime. Amidst the torture and killing, an estimated 1.7million people (over 20% of the population) are killed. The Khmer Rouge forced the “disrobing” and dissolution of vows of all Monks to the extent that, at one point, there is an absence of any Monk within Cambodia. Eventually, from the over 60,000 Monks that live in Cambodia near the beginning of the Khmer Rouge regime, only 3,000 are able to survive through fleeing outside of Cambodia, and additionally.

As the Khmer Rouge regime begins the unravel, nearly 30 years ago, one particular Buddhist Monk becomes increasingly prominent: Maha Ghosananda. Amidst the intervention of forces from bordering Thailand, and from the United Nations, Maha Ghosananda returns from his hermitage in Thailand, and organises “Dhammayietras” (“Dharma Walks,” or, “Truth Walks”) throughout Cambodia. These annual walks often extend over a 100 miles, for over 2 weeks, through zones of direct military conflict, and through areas heavily infested with landmines. Yet, these walks are also able to establish a semblance of continuity, and seeds of compassion and reconciliation, amidst the devastated communities of Cambodia.

Maha Ghosananda is referred to as the “Gandhi of Cambodia,” and is repeatedly nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize; he also joins the Peace Council, with Tenzin Gyatso and Desmond Tutu, before he passes away 5 years ago. One teaching that Maha Ghosananda provides is:

“The suffering of Cambodia has been deep. From this suffering comes great compassion. Great compassion makes a peaceful heart. A peaceful heart makes a peaceful person. A peaceful person makes a peaceful family. A peaceful family makes a peaceful community. A peaceful community makes a peaceful nation. A peaceful nation makes a peaceful world.”

After the fall of the Khmer Rouge regime, and amidst the stabilisation of Cambodia, many people from around the Earth, and particularly Jews, find a keen interest within this narrative. The “killing fields” are a frequent point of visitation, particularly for many Israeli travellers, who find a strong parallel between the experience of Cambodians (amidst the killing fields and the Khmer Rouge), and the experience of Jews (within the Shoah and the Nazis). One Jewish writer, from the “Jewish Times in Asia,” provides:

“As Jews, we are obligated to pay respects and acknowledge these atrocities. There is little sense in comparing atrocities or in entering debates on whether the Cambodians can call this a holocaust or genocide. The (actuality) is that visiting Cambodia as a Jew brings about a different perspective, a (True) empathy for their suffering. It raises the question again, "where was the world when these atrocities were being committed?" We do not need to be reminded, as Jews, that we can not turn a blind eye. We have an obligation to never forget. Perhaps this is, in part, what draws us here.”

Amidst these strong similarities, the autobiography of Anne Frank is recently translated into Khmer, the local Cambodian language. Without delving into dubious competition, there is the consideration of what may be learned, and what may be gained from such experiences.

A few years ago, a Rabbi with the Chabad Movement, Bentche Butman, and his wife, Mashie, and family, establish the first Chabad Centre in Cambodia, within the capital of Phnom Penh. Bentche Butman states that the Chabad Centre serves a Jewish population of approximately 100 people, as well as numerous tourists who visit Cambodia to learn about its history. And as such knowledge is gleaned, we, as a collective of humanity, may further consider how we can improve our interaction with each other and sustain a proficient harmony where all are free, and all are righteous.

Just FYI, the International Vegetarian Union provides the recipe for a Thai rendering of a popular Cambodian dish, “Samlor Machu” (Cambodian “Hot Sour Soup”); although there is the description that traditional Cambodian Samlor Macha soup includes ingredients such as, tamarind, tomatoes, pineapple, and tiliacora triandra leaves. Popular beverages within Cambodia, “tuk kolok” (shakes), include the respective juice from fruits such as durian, mangoes, and bananas; and you may want to consult a Rabbi to determine whether such ingredients and fruits are kosher for Pesach. For those of us in Northeast Ohio who are interested, such ingredients and fruits may be available at the Cleveland Asian Supermarket, on Miles Road (near the previous Randall Park Mall), and/or at the numerous grocery stores in “Little Asia/Chinatown,” including the “Asia Plaza,” at the intersection of Payne Avenue and East 30^th Street, in Cleveland.

Articles for consideration regarding this topic include:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Jews_in_China (Brief History of Jews in China);

http://www.sea-globe.com/Regional-Affairs/as-the-tribe-travels.html (Description of Chabad in Cambodia);

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Khmer_people (Definition of Khmer);

http://www.jewishtimesasia.org/community-spotlight-topmenu-43/cambodia/281-cambodia-communities/1235-whats-jewish-about-cambodia (Israeli Travel to Cambodia; Quote from “Jewish Times in Asia;” Translation of “Autobiography of Anne Frank” within Khmer Language);

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maha_Ghosananda (Brief Biography of Maha Ghosananda);

http://www.peacecouncil.org/ (Official Website of the Peace Council);

http://www.buddhanet.net/e-learning/budethics.htm (Quote from Maha Ghosananda);

http://www.asialifeguide.com/Cover-Story/jews-phnom-penh-cambodia.html (Description of Bentche Butman and Chabad in Phnom Penh);

http://www.jewishcambodia.com/ (Website of Chabad in Cambodia);

http://www.ivu.org/recipes/eastasia/spicy-sour-j.html (International Vegetarian Union Recipe for Thai Version of Spicy Sour Soup [Cambodian Samlar Machu]);

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samlar_machu (Ingredients within Cambodian “Samlar Machu” Soup);

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cambodian_cuisine (Description of Cambodian Fruit Beverages, “Tuk Kolok”);

http://www.camasianmarket.com/ (Website of the Cleveland Asian Supermarket);

http://www.asiaplazacleveland.com/ (Website of Asia Plaza, in “Little Asia/Chinatown”).

Additional articles include:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_the_Jews_in_Vietnam (Jews in Vietnam);

http://lubavitch.com/news/article/2032517/Blog-Jewish-in-Cambodia.html (Personal Jewish Autobiography from Living in Cambodia);

http://www.buddhanet.net/masters/maha-gosanada.htm (Outline of Life of Maha Ghosananda);

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dhammayietra (Brief Description of “Dharma Walks”).

שמח חג

שבת שלום

אהבא ושלום

Peter

שלום.नमस्ते.สมาธ.Pax.سلم.Peace.Sat Nam.صلح.Kwey.Amani.ειρήνη.Pace.Paz.Paix.Fred.Frieden.Vrede.Siochana.мир.امن.和平.平和.평화.Aloha.

ૐ. אמן

118.7.31

אהבא ושלום, Family and Friends.

שלום.नमस्ते.สมาธ.Pax.سلم.Peace.Sat Nam.صلح.Kwey.Amani.ειρήνη.Pace.Paz.Paix.Fred.Frieden.Vrede.Siochana.мир.امن.和平.平和.평화.Aloha.

שמח חג

This week’s Parshah is Shemini, describing the initial sacrifices performed by Aaron, the punishment of Nadav and Avihu, as well as a specific set of rules for kashrut (the dietary laws).

The Hbrew term for this week is: “כשרות,” “kashrut,” referring to the “ritual fitness” of food; the root term of, “כשרות,” is: “כאשר,” meaning, “proper,” and, “right.” The term, “כשרות,” seems to actually be absent from this Parshah; and interestingly, the root term, “כאשר,” appears on numerous occasions, amidst the descriptions of the sacrifices that Aaron performs, yet seems to be absent amidst the actual, subsequent description of the dietary laws that specifically define, “כשרות.”

Whilst its topic may be considered distinct from the rules of kashrut, this week’s featured Torah Trivia question is: what item(s) or act(s) does Adonai prohibit for Aaron and his sons whilst the Priests are inside the Mishkan?

Just FYI, due to some recent transportation circumstances, I may be absent from Shabbat services at B’nai Jeshurun; and there is some uncertainty regarding the duration of such circumstances.

שמח חג

שבת שלום

אהבא ושלום

Peter

שלום.नमस्ते.สมาธ.Pax.سلم.Peace.Sat Nam.صلح.Kwey.Amani.ειρήνη.Pace.Paz.Paix.Fred.Frieden.Vrede.Siochana.мир.امن.和平.平和.평화.Aloha.

ૐ. אמן

118.8.9

אהבא ושלום, Family and Friends.

שלום.नमस्ते.สมาธ.Pax.سلم.Peace.Sat Nam.صلح.Kwey.Amani.ειρήνη.Pace.Paz.Paix.Fred.Frieden.Vrede.Siochana.мир.امن.和平.平和.평화.Aloha.

This week we have a “double-feature” with Parshah Tazria and Parshah Metzora, exploring the realm leprosy and disease.

The featured Torah trivia question for Parshah Tazria is: “What is a leper commanded to declare, upon receiving a diagnosis of leprosy?” The featured Hebrew terms for this Parshah are: “טמא” (“tumah”), meaning, “impure,” (which is included within the passage, Vayikra 13:45); and “טוהר” (“tohar”), with the feminine, “טהרה” (“tohorah”), meaning, “purity.” The actual term, “טוהר,” seems to be absent from this Parshah, however, the apparent root word, “טהר,” meaning, “to make pure/to purge,” appears on over 20 occasions within this Parshah, referencing the purification status amidst the cleansed leper.

The featured Torah trivia question for Parshah Metzora is: “Is it OK to touch?”; identifying different objects previously touched by different types of people/animals, and determining whether a ritually clean person is able to touch such an object and remain ritually clean. The featured Hebrew phrase for this Parshah is: “ושלח את־הצפר החיה על־פני השדה,” (“v’sheelach at hatseepor hacheyah al penei hasedeh”), meaning, “and he shall set the live bird free in the open country,” which is included within Vayikra 14:7.

“שלח” (“sheelach”), meaning: “to send; set free;” (transliterations) sheelach

“הצפר” (“tseepor”), meaning: “bird;”

“חיה” (“chayeh”), meaning: “alive”

“שדה” (“sedeh”), meaning: “field; open country.”

Additional Torah study resources include:

USCJ Torah Sparks: http://www.uscj.org/JewishLivingandLearning/WeeklyParashah/TorahSparks/Archive/Default.aspx.

Orthodox Union: http://www.ou.org/torah/index.

URJ: http://urj.org/learning/torah/

Masorti Olami: http://masortiworld.org/molami/parashat_hashavua.

Reconstructionist: http://jrf.org/recon-dt.

Chabad: http://www.chabad.org/parshah/default_cdo/jewish/Torah-Portion.htm.

Aish: http://www.aish.com/tp/.

שבת שלום

אהבא ושלום

Peter

שלום.नमस्ते.สมาธ.Pax.سلم.Peace.Sat Nam.صلح.Kwey.Amani.ειρήνη.Pace.Paz.Paix.Fred.Frieden.Vrede.Siochana.мир.امن.和平.平和.평화.Aloha.

ૐ. אמן

118.8.15

אהבא ושלום, Family and Friends.

שלום.नमस्ते.สมาธ.Pax.سلم.Peace.Sat Nam.صلح.Kwey.Amani.ειρήνη.Pace.Paz.Paix.Fred.Frieden.Vrede.Siochana.мир.امن.和平.平和.평화.Aloha.

We are over “half-way” through in completing the annual cycle of reading, reciting, and studying the Torah; and this Shabbat brings the 22^nd day in counting the Omer towards Shavuot.

This week, again, we have a double-feature of Parshot, with Acharei Mot and Kedoshim:

“Acharei Mot” provides the instructions regarding the offering with Yom Kippur and rules regarding marital relations. The featured Hebrew terms for this Parshah are: “כפור יום” (“Yom Kippur”), meaning, “Day of Atonement;” and: “עזאזל,” (“Azazel”). Whilst the actual term, “כפור יום” (“Yom Kippur”), seems to be absent from this Parshah, the root word, “כפר,” (“kipper”), meaning, “expiate,” is included within Vayikra 16:30, in the actual command to observe the High Holiday of Yom Kippur. Whilst there is traditional disagreement regarding who/what “עזאזל” (“Azazel”) actually is, “עזאזל” may be understood as the described destination towards which the 2^nd sacrificial goat (who carries the sins of the children of Israel) is let loose within the wilderness.

The Torah trivia question of the week, for Parshah Acharei Mot, is: can you describe the number of occasions that Aaron’s name is explicitly communicated within this Parshah and the number of occasions that Moshe’s name is explicitly communicated?

“Kedoshim” addresses “being Holy,” and imparts specific mitzvot for living a righteous life (including economic, social, and familial interaction). The featured Hebrew terms for this Parshah are: “קציר” (“katseer”), meaning, “harvest;” and: “הארץ” (“ha eretz”), meaning, “the land” (and specifically referring to Eretz Israel, the Land of Israel, the Promised Land). “קציר” appears within Vayikra 19:9 - 10: “ארצכם את־קציר ובקצרכם” (“v’vakatserakom at katseer eretzakom”), meaning, “When you reap the harvest of your land;” and this is communicated within the context of the mitzvah to leaves a portion of one’s agricultural fields unharvested, allowing for the impoverished and strangers to eat from it. In addition to this passage, the root term, “ארץ” (“eretz”), meaning, “land,” also appears within Varikra 19:23, within the term, “הארץ” (“ha eretz”), meaning, “The Land;” in describing how children of Israel are to cultivate newly planted fruit trees upon entering into “הארץ,” “The Land,” “the Promised Land;” “Eretz Israel,” “ישראל ארץ.”

The Torah trivia question of the week for Parshah Kedoshim is: can you describe to whom a person is to show favour when judging a dispute between 2 people?

שבת שלום

אהבא ושלום

Peter

שלום.नमस्ते.สมาธ.Pax.سلم.Peace.Sat Nam.صلح.Kwey.Amani.ειρήνη.Pace.Paz.Paix.Fred.Frieden.Vrede.Siochana.мир.امن.和平.平和.평화.Aloha.

ૐ. אמן

אהבא ושלום, Family and Friends.

שלום.नमस्ते.สมาธ.Pax.سلم.Peace.Sat Nam.صلح.Kwey.Amani.ειρήνη.Pace.Paz.Paix.Fred.Frieden.Vrede.Siochana.мир.امن.和平.平和.평화.Aloha.

Just FYI: it seems as though the Torah Trivia iterations that I provide for this week and the previous week are actually 1 week ahead of the Torah cycle; and it appears this week’s Torah Parshot are actually “Tazria” and “Metzorah.” Thus, I refer to the correspondence I previously provide a week ago for these Parshot, and the Torah Trivia I just recently send, for “Acharei Mot” and “Kedoshim,” may presumably be saved for next week.

The lack of coordination may be substantially attributable to my personal ignorance, the diversion from the Torah cycle during the observance of Pesach, some misinformation that is provided to me, and my absence from conventional Synagogue services this past Shabbat. I appreciate your patience.

אהבא ושלום

Peter

שלום.नमस्ते.สมาธ.Pax.سلم.Peace.Sat Nam.صلح.Kwey.Amani.ειρήνη.Pace.Paz.Paix.Fred.Frieden.Vrede.Siochana.мир.امن.和平.平和.평화.Aloha.

ૐ. אמן

Righteous Mountain

Thursday, April 26, 2012

Archive of Correspondences for Torah Trivia; 118.8.15