Dr. Eugene

Parashat Ki Tisa  (Exodus 30:11–34:35) is one of the most dramatic portions in Scripture, moving from instructions about the Mishkan to the shocking sin of the Golden Calf and the renewal of the covenant. It speaks both to Jewish and Christian readers, and especially to those of us in the Messianic movement who live at the intersection of these communities. At its heart is a question every believer wrestles with: what do we do when G-D seems silent, delayed, or distant? The answer in Ki Tisa...

Much of Parashat Tetzaveh reads like a royal tailor's notebook. G-D instructs Moses in meticulous detail about the garments to be made for Aaron and his sons — the bigdei kehuna , the priestly vestments. The ephod  and its jeweled shoulder-pieces. The choshen mishpat , the breastplate bearing the names of the twelve tribes. The golden tzitz headband engraved with the words Kodesh L'Adonai  — "Holy to the Lord." Eight distinct garments in all, described with a precision usually reserved for...

There is a moment in this week's Torah portion that is easy to rush past, but if you slow down and prayerfully consider it, it changes everything. G-D says to Moses: "Tell the Israelite people to bring Me gifts; you shall accept gifts for Me from every person whose heart so moves him."  (Exodus 25:2) Not from every person. Not from every taxpayer. Not from every dues-paying member. From every person whose soul wholly moves them. This is the opening of Parashat Terumah — the portion that...