Anat Barber

Commentary on Parashat Vayikra, Leviticus 1:1-5:26; Deuteronomy 25:17-19 The book of Vayikra preoccupies itself with korbanot, what today we might describe as the peculiarities of ritual sacrifice: which types of animals should be sacrificed, where they should be offered, what accompaniments should be presented alongside them and how and when they should be presented. The nature of sacrifice as we understand it has shifted dramatically in the last 2,000 years.

Commentary on Parashat Re'eh, Deuteronomy 11:26 - 16:17 The Israelites are in the wilderness of Moab, weary and exhausted, preparing for entry into the promised land. Having come so far and now standing on the cusp of crossing over, they are eager to move forward. But all of a sudden, their progress comes to a screeching halt. Parashat Re’eh finds the people continuing to listen as Moses delivers his farewell speech, a talk that some commentators say lasted for 36 days.

By Anat Barber | March 05, 2020 This article first appeared in The Jerusalem Post. This morning, as I put on my boots, a few crumbly pieces of mud sprinkled onto the floor. The mud had travelled home with me from Birkenau. Stuck between the ridges of my physical sole, it was only a small vestige of the powerful experiences forever imprinted on the deepest places of my spiritual soul.