Shivim Panim ... the Torah, we are told, has at least 70 different reflecting angles of vision that might catch our attention. Often enough the most available "Torah reflections" have to do with our own rootedness in a particular Jewish context. In our case, we are a Cleveland Jewish community with primarily Ashkenazic roots.

In hopes of catching some different rays of Torah, I will assume the voice(s) of Jacob Culi and the succeeding rabbis and scholars who created the Me'am Loez Sephardic commentary. Perhaps this will serve as an early warm-up for the various commemorations that will occur in 2004 as the North American Jewish community celebrates the 350th anniversary of its founding by Sephardic Jews.

More modestly, I'm hoping that the reader will find that exposure to this perspective on Torah will have become friendly and accessible.  read more »