In this week's Torah portion, God asks the people to provide a Ner Tamid - an eternal light - in the sanctuary. But does God need a light? And by extension, does God need our rituals and prayers? We look at some midrash and explore the question: Who are our rituals for?

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• Seven Minute Torah is a production of LAASOK. To support the production of this podcast, visit either www.patreon.com/sevenminutetorah (for per-episode contribution) OR https://laasok.org/support/ (for a tax-deductible one-time or monthly contribution).
• For info on our weekly Zoom Torah study groups or other learning opportunities go to https://laasok.org/.
• To join the Seven Minute Torah Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sevenminutetorahgroup
• Comments or questions? Email me at rabbistreiffer@gmail.com

The Torah commands: "Love your neighbor as yourself?" But who is the neighbor that I'm commanded the love? The answer is not straightforward. In fact, it's one of the great debates of Judaism.

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• Seven Minute Torah is a production of LAASOK. To support the production of this podcast, visit either www.patreon.com/sevenminutetorah (for per-episode contribution) OR https://laasok.org/support/ (for a tax-deductible one-time or monthly contribution).
• For info on our weekly Zoom Torah study groups or other learning opportunities go to https://laasok.org/.
• To join the Seven Minute Torah Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sevenminutetorahgroup
• Comments or questions? Email me at rabbistreiffer@gmail.com

Sacrifice? Demons? A scapegoat?? This parashah describes the strange, levitical practices of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. What meaning is there to be found for modern Jewish life in this ancient, priestly ritual?

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• Seven Minute Torah is a production of LAASOK. To support the production of this podcast, visit either www.patreon.com/sevenminutetorah (for per-episode contribution) OR https://laasok.org/support/ (for a tax-deductible one-time or monthly contribution).
• For info on our weekly Zoom Torah study groups or other learning opportunities go to https://laasok.org/.
• To join the Seven Minute Torah Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sevenminutetorahgroup
• Comments or questions? Email me at rabbistreiffer@gmail.com

How often do we dehumanize or ostracize people who are suffering from disease, poverty, mental health challenges, etc? This week we focus on some Midrash surrounding how you're supposed to treat people afflicted with leprosy. The Rabbis find some surprising and affirming messages embedded in this strange Torah portion.

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• Seven Minute Torah is a production of LAASOK. To support the production of this podcast, visit either www.patreon.com/sevenminutetorah (for per-episode contribution) OR https://laasok.org/support/ (for a tax-deductible one-time or monthly contribution).
• For info on our weekly Zoom Torah study groups or other learning opportunities go to https://laasok.org/.
• To join the Seven Minute Torah Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sevenminutetorahgroup
• Comments or questions? Email me at rabbistreiffer@gmail.com

Tazria is about scaly skin disease and priestly diagnosis. But when we examine it through the Rabbis' eyes, it is about our responsibility to each other in times of suffering. We explore a story from the Talmud that helps drive home that idea.

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• Seven Minute Torah is a production of LAASOK. To support the production of this podcast, visit either www.patreon.com/sevenminutetorah (for per-episode contribution) OR https://laasok.org/support/ (for a tax-deductible one-time or monthly contribution).
• For info on our weekly Zoom Torah study groups or other learning opportunities go to https://laasok.org/.
• To join the Seven Minute Torah Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sevenminutetorahgroup
• Comments or questions? Email me at rabbistreiffer@gmail.com

Sh'mini outlines the laws of kashrut - which animals traditionally may and may not be eaten in Judaism. How does liberal Judaism approach the rules and traditions around keeping kosher in modern Jewish life?

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• Seven Minute Torah is a production of LAASOK. To support the production of this podcast, visit either www.patreon.com/sevenminutetorah (for per-episode contribution) OR https://laasok.org/support/ (for a tax-deductible one-time or monthly contribution).
• For info on our weekly Zoom Torah study groups or other learning opportunities go to https://laasok.org/.
• To join the Seven Minute Torah Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sevenminutetorahgroup
• Comments or questions? Email me at rabbistreiffer@gmail.com

In this portion we find an obscure rule about the thanksgiving offering: it must be eaten on the day that it is offered. Turns out there is an important lesson there about our need for community.

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• Seven Minute Torah is a production of LAASOK. To support the production of this podcast, visit either www.patreon.com/sevenminutetorah (for per-episode contribution) OR https://laasok.org/support/ (for a tax-deductible one-time or monthly contribution).
• For info on our weekly Zoom Torah study groups or other learning opportunities go to https://laasok.org/.
• To join the Seven Minute Torah Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sevenminutetorahgroup
• Comments or questions? Email me at rabbistreiffer@gmail.com

This week's Torah portion is about sacrifice in the ancient Jewish Temple. It's a good opportunity for us to talk about the purpose(s) of prayer, and about how we can relate to prayer if we're not sure that God is on the other end listening.

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• Seven Minute Torah is a production of LAASOK. To support the production of this podcast, visit either www.patreon.com/sevenminutetorah (for per-episode contribution) OR https://laasok.org/support/ (for a tax-deductible one-time or monthly contribution).
• For info on our weekly Zoom Torah study groups or other learning opportunities go to https://laasok.org/.
• To join the Seven Minute Torah Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/sevenminutetorahgroup
• Comments or questions? Email me at rabbistreiffer@gmail.com