Weekly Torah Reading, the Shabbat Before Passover, April 9, 2022

Telling the Children   The whole purpose of the Passover seder (which is celebrated a week from today, on next Shabbat) is to carry out the biblical commandment for parents to tell their children about Israel’s enslavement in Egypt and …

Read More »

Weekly Torah Reading, Shabbat ha-Hodesh, April 2, 2022

April 2, 2022 In addition to this week’s regular Torah reading (Tazri‘a) in the annual cycle, this Shabbat also includes two special readings, one to mark the first day of the new month (Shabbat Rosh Hodesh) which falls on this …

Read More »

Weekly Torah Reading, Shemini, March 26, 2022

Leviticus 9:1-11:47 Aaron’s Silence   Why were Aaron’s two sons, Nadab and Abihu, struck dead in the desert tabernacle (mishkan)? Everything was all set for the inauguration of regular sacrificial worship in the mishkan, and then this tragedy—why?   The …

Read More »

Weekly Torah Reading, Vayyikra, Leviticus 1:1-5:26

Leviticus 1:1-5:26 Can a convert to Judaism keep his or her old name? Nowadays it is customary (though not obligatory) for someone who converts to Judaism to take on a Hebrew name, if only for the inside world of the …

Read More »

Weekly Torah Reading, Pekudei, March 5, 2022

Exodus 38:21-40:38 Why Keep Repeating?   A short comment on a short Torah reading, Pekudei:   In general, rabbinic interpreters (and some of their predecessors) shied away from recognizing any cases of repetition in the biblical text. “Every word counts” …

Read More »

Weekly Torah Reading Vayyakhel February 26, 2022

Exodus 35:1-38:20   The Real Sanctuary   It is customary in different Jewish communities to recite regularly a certain rabbinic saying—a saying found in the Mishnah which, on reflection, seems a bit odd:   “Rabbi Ḥananya ben ‘Akashya said: ‘The …

Read More »

Weekly Torah Reading, Ki Tissa February 19, 2022

Exodus 30:10-35:1 The Real Hero   Moses was on Mt. Sinai for forty days and forty nights, during which time God revealed to him the various laws and regulations to be included in the Torah. But as this period dragged …

Read More »

Weekly Torah Reading, Tetsavveh, February 12, 2022

Exodus 27:20-30:10 Clothes Made the Man This week’s Torah reading describes the special garments to be worn by the kohanim (priests) in the Temple. Those garments were no minor detail. In ancient Israel, clothes made the kohen. Kohanim couldn’t serve …

Read More »