Torah, known also as the Five Books of Moses or the Old Testament, is the foundation of Judaism, an ancient religion. The Torah, however, is not just an ancient text that has no relevance to today. From the time of its creation, it has taught us to be moral and ethical in our interactions with society. Every single portion, or parshah, has words of wisdom that can be applied to our modern everyday lives today.
Like many others, I study its teachings weekly and am compelled to actively examine my own behavior and thoughts. I always find aspects that are relevant to my current circumstances, and am constantly reminded of ways in which I must improve as a person. The actions to mitigate them might be difficult, but at least this way I don’t forget about their importance.
Here you will find ideas that I’ve found incredibly inspiring during my studies. These thoughts are applicable not just to Judaism, but to contributing to a better society in general, no matter what religion you may follow, if any.
(This is a work in progress. More parshah thoughts will be added each week.)
Numbers
Bamidbar – “In the Wilderness” (Numbers 1:1 – 4:20)
Naso – “Take a Census” (Numbers 4:21 – 7:89)
Be-haalotecha – “To Step Up” (Numbers 8:1 – 12:16)
Holidays
Torah Thoughts: The High Holy Days
Cover image photo credit: IStockPhoto.com/jgroup
