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Articles by Oded Israeli
The Face of God
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... Parashat Nitzavim opens with a declaration: “You stand this day, all of you, before the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 29:9). Standing before God is also the foundational experience of the High Holidays that lie ahead. But how does one “stand before” God, who has no body? Generations of Jewish thinkers, rabbis and philosophers have each, in their own way, grappled with this question.
These Realms Are Off Limits
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... Among the prominent commandments in Parashat Ki Teitzei is the mitzvah of shiluach hakan, literally “sending away the nest.” According to Deuteronomy 22:6-7, if you come upon a bird’s nest with a mother bird sitting upon her fledglings or eggs, you must send the mother away before taking the young birds.
Missed Opportunity
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... Tradition regards the revelation at Mount Sinai and the giving of the Torah as a singular, foundational event in the history of the Jewish people. In Parashat Vaetchanan, the Torah tells us of an unexpected disruption to that awesome event. The Israelites, overwhelmed by the sound and light show of revelation, beg Moses to continue receiving the Torah without them, saying: “If we hear the voice of our Lord God any longer, we shall die.
Too Holy for This World
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... Pinchas opens with God blessing the parashah’s namesake. What did Pinchas do to earn this divine favor? He plunged a spear through the Israelite Zimri and his Midianite lover, skewering them together. This one zealous act is credited with putting a stop to the Israelites’ descent into idolatry (precipitated by alluring Midianite women), and halting the plague that was their divine punishment.
The Soul of the Soul of Torah
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... Parashat Chukat opens with the commandment of the parah adumah, the Red Heifer, one of the most peculiar precepts in the Torah. The commandment states that to purify someone who has become ritually impure through contact with the dead, a red heifer must be slaughtered, its body burned, the ashes dissolved in water, and the mixture sprinkled on the impure person.
Dispute for the Sake of Heaven
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... In Parashat Korach, simmering resentment erupts into full-scale mutiny when Korach and his followers challenge Aaron’s appointment as high priest. The ensuing battle ends when the earth “opens its mouth” and swallows Korach and his mob into Gehenna (hell).
What Makes Moses Different?
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... Parashat Beha’alotcha recounts that in the wilderness Aaron and Miriam spoke out against their brother, Moses, complaining about his marriage to a Cushite woman and decrying the lack of recognition they themselves received as God’s prophets. God rebukes the siblings: “If there be a prophet among you, I the Lord will make Myself known to him in a vision, and will speak to him in a dream.
The Greatest Generation?
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... The Book of Numbers, which opens with this week’s parashah, recounts the story of the Israelites during their years of wandering through the desert on their way to the promised land. Almost none of those who took part in that journey ever entered the land of Israel; they all perished in the wilderness. The portrait of that generation that emerges from Numbers is, to put it mildly, unflattering.
Sons and Servants
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... In Parashat Behar, the Torah declares: “… the Children of Israel are servants to Me” (Leviticus 25:55). Elsewhere, the relationship is described more intimately: “You are children of the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 14:1).
The House Plague
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... This week’s Torah portion discusses tzaraat, a mysterious spiritual-medical condition that causes impurity and can manifest itself in one’s skin, clothes, belongings or even one’s house. Most commonly, it appears on the skin, and perhaps for this reason it is often mistranslated as leprosy. While the skin manifestation is more common, tzaraat of the home is undoubtedly the strangest of the disease’s incarnations.
The Secret of Wine
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... In Parashat Shmini, we learn that priests are forbidden from drinking wine while on duty: “Do not drink wine or strong drink, you or your sons with you, when you go into the Tent of Meeting, lest you die — it is a statute forever throughout your generations.” (Leviticus 10:9) Perhaps the concern is simply that they be sober while performing the Temple service, which seems reasonable enough.
The Purpose of Sacrifice
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... The Book of Leviticus, which begins with Parashat Vayikra this week, primarily concerns the laws of sacrifice in the ancient Jewish Temple. It has long offered commentators an opportunity to reflect on the meaning and purpose of sacrificial worship. The Zohar, too, devotes considerable ink to explaining the meaning of sacrifice in a kabbalistic world view. One day, Rabbi Elazar was sitting before Rabbi Shimon bar Yohai.
The Secret of Youth
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... Parashat Terumah describes the construction of the tabernacle, the portable sanctuary the Israelites were commanded to construct in the desert. At its center lay the Holy of Holies, the inner sanctum that housed the Ark of the Covenant. According to the instructions in this week’s Torah portion, the ark was to have two winged cherubim facing each other at each end. What are these two cherubim and what is their significance?
The Exile of Speech
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready... Parashat Vaera opens with a dialogue between God and Moses. The backdrop is the crisis in the redemption story we saw at the conclusion of the previous Torah portion, where Moses’ initial request to free the children of Israel from slavery resulted in Pharaoh intensifying his oppression of them. Now God seeks to strengthen Moses’ resolve to go forth again on his mission and redeem the children of Israel from bondage.
Descent For the Sake of Ascent
Parashat Vayigash is the Torah portion in which the story of Joseph reaches its climax. Joseph reveals his identity to his brothers and discloses that he is the one they sold into slavery. But with the happy ending of this family story, another story begins, one that will accompany us until the middle of the Book of Exodus: The story of the Israelites’ exile in Egypt.
Hating the Hidden
The biblical figures Rachel and Leah hold a prominent place in the narrative of the Book of Genesis, perhaps more so than any other female characters. In parts of the story, we find the two sisters standing together as a united front, yet they are also frequently rivals. The contrast is particularly striking in Jacob’s relationship with them. The text tells us that while Jacob loved Rachel, he hated Leah (Genesis 29:31).
Abraham Encounters God
The biblical account of Abraham begins when he is 75 years old. In the opening line of Parashat Lech Lecha, God calls to Abraham and commands: “Go forth (lech lecha) from your land, from your birthplace and from your father’s house.” (Genesis 12:1) The Bible does not explain why Abraham, already advanced in years, was chosen for this singular mission. Moreover, nearly everything that happened to Abraham prior to this pivotal moment remains shrouded in mystery.
Faith in Uncertainty
In this week’s Torah portion, Parashat Vayera, we find the famous story of the Binding of Isaac, the Akedah, in which Abraham nearly sacrifices his son Isaac at God’s command. The story is seen in Jewish tradition as a great test of Abraham’s faith, yet the biblical text conveys nothing about Abraham’s feelings on his way to bind his son. The rabbis, too, rarely engage with this aspect of the Akedah.
The Wisdom of the East
At the heart of this week’s Torah portion, Chayei Sarah, is the story of Isaac, who continues the path of his father Abraham.
The Sin of Babel
The story of the Tower of Babel, which appears toward the end of this week’s Torah portion, is one of the most obscure sin narratives in the Bible. In just nine verses, the Torah describes how initially, everyone on earth spoke a single language.
GUEST COMMENT Less online sales to Europe due to new EU VAT Package - can it be fixed?
Sharelines GUEST COMMENT Less online sales to Europe due to new EU VAT Package - can it be fixed? Oded Israeli, chief marketing officer at empact and Eran Miller, vice president for business development at empact Last July, the EU introduced a new regulation to locally collect VAT on online sales. This resulted in a sharp decrease in ecommerce sales to Europe. What’s the problem exactly? Can it be overcome? And how do new technology solutions come into play?
EDITORIAL The importance of brand values to Made, Lego - and the brands suspending sales in Russia
Sustainability is a focus for brands that want to reflect customers' values. Image: Adobe Stock If today’s InternetRetailing newsletter has a theme, it’s all about the importance of brand values that reflect consumers’ own. Today we report on how luxury brands are now suspending sales in Russia. Indeed, more brands of all kinds are heeding calls for action as war in Ukraine intensifies – including, today, a highly apologetic Shell. This is far from a one-off in today’s newsletter.
Retailers urged to rethink search marketing strategy as Amazon share of Google Shopping impressions grows 50%
Amazon: starting to dominate Google Shopping ads With lockdown restrictions lifted, the trajectory for online retail growth has returned to pre-pandemic levels, but a much more competitive search marketing landscape means that retailers and brands should review their online strategy.
Luxury brands among those suspending sales in Russia in protest at Ukraine invasion
Brands are joining demonstrators in showing support for Ukraine. Image: Wachiwit/Shutterstock.com More luxury brands have in recent days joined fashion and homewares retailers in putting sales in Russia on hold following its invasion of Ukraine. Even those with few links with either market are clarifying their position – and expressing sympathy with Ukraine at a time when war there is intensifying.
Sainsbury opens 400th digital format Argos store-in-store
Sainsbury's 400th Argos at Crystal Peaks, Sheffield. Image courtesy of Sainsbury's/Argos Sainsbury’s has reached the milestone of having 400 Argos digital format stores within branches of its supermarkets. The 400th Argos store within a store is now up and running at Sainsbury’s Crystal Peaks in Sheffield.
RetailX Sector Analyst Report: Luxury 2022
The RetailX Luxury 2022: Sector Analyst Report provides a clear picture of the luxury market from a strategic and commercial viewpoint. Driven by industry-leading research, we take you through the key growth drivers, digital advancements and largest businesses in the sector.
Made reports fast-growing sales - but losses widen as supply costs and delivery delays rise
More customers are buying from Made. Image courtesy of Made.com Made says sales, customer numbers and repeat orders grew strongly in its latest full-year – but pre-tax losses widened as supply chain costs rose. At the same time, supply chain delays had a knock on effect on customer deliveries. The furniture and homewares pureplay says it has been quicker to adapt than many as it expands is warehousing and logistics capacity, and it has already been able to reduce customer lease times.
A quarter of new Amazon sellers plan to sell their businesses to an aggregator: study
A quarter of new Amazon sellers are already planning their exit strategies – selling their business to an Amazon aggregator, a new study suggests. Amazon selling platform Jungle Scout surveyed 3,500 entrepreneurs, brands and businesses from 117 countries, and all 20 Amazon marketplaces, to find that while 45% of sellers said their profits increased between 2020 and 2021, and 95% plan to expand their businesses in 2022, 25% of new sellers now plan to sell their business to an Amazon aggregator.
Ted Baker launches new online store that runs 12 storefronts internationally from a single store
Ted Baker: headless streamlining (Image: Ted Baker) Ted Baker continues its move to become a digital-first brand, with the creation of a new website, increased international online reach and more engaging UX all run from a single store.
Domino’s Pizza Group reports 91% of sales online and plans to grow collection faster than delivery
Domino's wants to see more pizzas collected rather than delivered. Image courtesy of Domino's Pizza Group Domino’s Pizza Group says it’s now a “truly digital-first business”, with 91.2% of its sales taking place online, and 42% of system sales via its new mobile app. In its latest financial year, pizzas were delivered, it says, in an average of 25 minutes, while collections now stand at 87% of 2019 levels – having fallen during pandemic lockdowns.
6 Ways To Turn Business Travel Into Quality Time With Your Kids
The following was syndicated from Medium for The Fatherly Forum, a community of parents and influencers with insights about work, family, and life. If you’d like to join the Forum, drop us a line at TheForum@Fatherly.com. Last week I went to Mobile World Congress in Barcelona to launch our app. Before I left, my kids wished me a good trip with beautiful drawings they’ve made and didn’t forget to mention that they love me and want me back.
GUEST COMMENT How being PSD2 compliant can set you ahead of competitors
Ed Whitehead, managing director EMEA for Signifyd Ed Whitehead explains how the EU’s Second Payment Services Directive (PSD2) which came into force pre-Brexit can be something that online retailers can use to their advantage The second Payment Services Directive (PSD2) came into force on 13 January 2018, regulating payments across the EU and the UK. It aimed to create cohesive regulation for consumer protection and the rights and obligations of merchants and payment providers.
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