Interactive Torah Study

Summer time Shabbat morning gathering on zoom with friends from wherever you are. A link will be provided in the weekly email on Thursday. Please sign up to our mailing list to receive it. 

From Rabbi Sigal:

Hello Members and Friends, 

I hope you are enjoying a peaceful and fun Summer wherever you are.

Our first Interactive Torah Study on Zoom is this Shabbat, Saturday at 11:00 AM. I look forward to seeing you online from wherever you are. We will start on time. We will include a Mourner’s Kaddish at the end.

We will discuss the story of Balak.

In preparation please read Numbers chapters 22–25.  (If you do not have the time to prepare, that’s ok, you can still join our session.)

Link HERE to chapter 22 to 25 : https://www.sefaria.org/Numbers.22.2?lang=bi&aliyot=0

Please consider the following questions when reading:

1. Evaluate the quality of seeing, perceiving, in the story. Who is seeing clearly? Balaam, Balak, the donkey, or someone else?
2. What forms of “blindness” are present in this story?
3. What is the significance of the talking donkey?
4. Why do you think the Torah includes a truth-telling non-Israelite prophet?
5. What are other incidences in the Bible which involve non-Israelites heroes?
6. Is Balaam portrayed as a villain, a prophet, or something more complex?
7. Is Balaam spiritually gifted and morally flawed?
8. What is the most memorable, interesting, part of the story? Why?

See you on Saturday.

Shabbat Shalom, Rabbi Sigal