2007 June

June 30, 2007

The Mad Prophet and The Innocent Donkey

Rabbi David Levine

June 30, 2007

Parsha Balak: Numbers 22:2-25:9

The story of Balaam and the talking donkey has fascinated young and old alike, and this week, Rabbi David brings a message for all age groups. Though this Bible story has an element of the fantastic in it, Rabbi David shows how the Bible treats it as a significant episode in history filled with important details and lessons.

He tells the story from the Torah Portion in Numbers, and brings additional insights from other scriptures, including 2 Peter 2:15, Revelation 2:14, and Micah 6:5.

June 23, 2007

The harlot’s son who became a Jewish leader

The story of Jepthah, the judge of Israel Rabbi David Levine Saturday, June 23, 2007 Parsha Khukat Haftarah: Judges 11:1-33

Jepthah, the son of a harlot, was disinherited by his Jewish half-brothers, and sent away from his home in Gilead. Through great rejection and testing, God brought him back into the family, and made Jephthah a victorious leader of Israel.

Rabbi David brings life to this story and helps make sense out of a perplexing passage which describes Jepthah's offering of his virgin daughter to the God of Israel.

This is a great message for anyone who is facing the challenges of being joined to the Jewish people. (Note: Listen to the Friday night message from June 22 for Rabbi David's teaching from the Torah portion in Numbers 19-22:1).