Jewish Texts

The daughters of Zelophchad teach us to see people not as objects in our lives but as subjects of their own lives.

The Levites' city dwellings remind us of the importance of green, agricultural spaces for encountering God's creation.

Moses describes the Covenant between God and the Israelites, urging the Israelites to uphold the Covenant and honor the Torah so that they may be rewarded with life in the land of Israel.

Moses enumerates many laws that relate to topics of family relationships, interpersonal ethics, forbidden mixtures, and sexuality.

Moses reviews for the Israelites their system of justice, the rules of kingship, their relationship to idolatrous nations, and the rules of doing battle.

The laws of the Cities of Refuge emphasize the sacredness and infinite value of every human life.

God gives Pinchas a covenant of peace; God explains the apportionment of the Land of Israel; the daughters of Tzelophechad petition to inherit their father's portion; Moses appoints Joshua his successor.

Korach and his followers rebel against Moses' and Aaron's leadership and are killed; God instructs Aaron regarding laws of the priesthood.

The first day of the year becomes the day of judgment.

The renewed interest in Jewish mysticism can partially be attributed to a renewed interest in non-traditional spirituality.

In the last three decades, Jewish mysticism has gone from an underground discipline to a mass phenomenon.

God instructs Moses and Aaron regarding the red heifer; Miriam dies; Moses hits a rock to bring forth water rather than speaking to it; Aaron dies.