The Torah portion, or parasha, this week is called Metzora and is found in Leviticus 14:1-15:33. The passage is a continuation of last week’s portion about tzara’at. God gives Moses instructions for the rites of purification and the sacrifices that the m’tzora (person afflicted with tzara’at, or potentially contagious skin diseases) must bring in order to complete the […]
The Torah portion, or parasha, this week is called Tazria and is found in Leviticus 12:1-13:59. 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 and determine […]
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 are […]
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 to be brought for three reasons – […]
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”. Vayikra begins this book: Leviticus 1:1- 5:26. The parasha focuses on the various kind of sacrifices or offerings: The first category of […]
The Torah portion, or parasha, this week is called Pekudei and is found in Exodus 38:21-40:38. In the closing portion of the Book of Exodus, the mishkan, or portable Tabernacle, is now completed. An inventory of the metals that had been contributed to the Sanctuary is given, as well as a head count of the number of people who gave. […]
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 […]
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 make Me […]
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 […]