The Torah portion, or parasha, this week is a double selection called Tazria-Metzora and is found in Leviticus 12:1-15:33. God instructs Moses and Aaron about tzara’at, a scaly skin disease traditionally translated as “leprosy” but clearly not the condition we call leprosy today. When a person developed a rash or other signs of skin disease, the priest was to examine it […]
The Torah portion, or parasha, this week is called Shmini and is found in Leviticus 9:1-11:47. In this parasha, God tells Moses and Aaron to instruct the people about the animals they are permitted to eat. Land animals must have cloven hooves and chew their cud. Animals that have only one of these signs and therefore are not permitted […]
This week’s Shabbat is the seventh day of Pesach, and we review the story of Passover, found in Exodus 13:17-15:26. In this parasha, God leads Moses and the Israelites through the wilderness to the Sea of Reeds. God leads the people, providing a pillar of fire by night and a pillar of cloud by day […]
The Torah portion, or parasha, this week is called Tzav and is found in Leviticus 6:1-8:36. Last week’s parasha gave a description of the different types of sacrifices and their uses. Parashat Tzav provides instructions on how the kohanim (priests) are to offer the various sacrifices. We also learn that the zevah sh’lamim, the offering of well-being, was […]
The Torah portion, or parasha, this week is called Vayikra which is also the name of the third book of Torah commonly known as Leviticus. Leviticus is often called “Torat Kohanim“, literally “teaching of priests”, and begins with verses 1:1-5:26. The parasha focuses on the various kinds of sacrifices or offerings: The first category of offerings, is the olah, […]
The Torah portion, or parasha, this week is a double portion called Vayakhel-Pekudei and is found in Exodus 35:1-40:38. In this parasha, Moses asks the Israelites to bring materials for building the mishkan — the portable sanctuary in the wilderness — and for those who have skills to come forward to perform the work. Bezalel […]
The Torah portion, or parasha, this week is called Ki Tisa and is found in Exodus 30:11-34:35. While Moses is on the mountain receiving the Ten Statements (10 Commandments), the people despair of his return and demand that Aaron “make us a god who shall go before us.” Aaron fashions the Golden Calf and the next day the people […]
The Torah portion, or parasha, this week is called Tetzaveh and is found in Exodus 27:20-30:10. Moses is told to instruct the Israelites to prepare olive oil for lighting the Ner Tamid, the “eternal light” in the wilderness sanctuary. God then gives instructions for making the special vestments for Aaron, the high priest, and his sons, the regular priests. […]
The Torah portion, or parasha, this week is called Terumah and is found in Exodus 25:1 – 27:19. God tells Moses to instruct the Israelites to bring gifts – precious metals, fine fabrics, skins, wood, oil, spices, and jewels – for the building of the mishkan – the portable sanctuary – and its furnishings. God says, “Let them […]
The Torah portion, or parasha, this week is Mishpatim and is found in Exodus 21:1-24:18. This parasha is also called Sefer HaBrit, the Book of the Covenant, for it begins the presentation of the mitzvot, the particulars that define the relationship between God and the Jewish people. In fact, Mishpatim contains 53 of the 613 mitzvot found in the Torah. The […]