Our guest this week is Rabbi Elyse Goldstein, the Rabbi of Toronto's City Shul synagogue. A Graduate of Brandeis University and of Hebrew Union College (where she was ordained in 1983), Rabbi Goldstein was the founder of Kolel: The Adult Centre for Liberal Jewish Learning in Toronto, which she successfully directed for 20 years. She is the author of four books published by Jewish Lights and the recipient of the YWCA Award for Woman of the Year, the Covenant Award for Outstanding Educator, and an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree from the HUC.
This week's Torah Portion – Parashat Vayikra (Leviticus 1:1-5:26) – is the first portion of the book of Leviticus. The portion introduces the sacrificial service and describes five different kinds of sacrifice. Our discussion focuses on the relevance of the sacrifices described in the parasha (and of the book of Leviticus in general) to our lives today.