Weekly Torah Reading (in Israel), Beha‘alotekha, June 11, 2022

Weekly Torah Reading (in Israel), Beha‘alotekha, June 11, 2022 The Good Old Days   In the book of Ecclesiastes, the author advises, “Don’t say, ‘How has it come about that things were better in earlier times than now?’ for you …

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Weekly Torah Reading: for Shavu‘ot, June 5, 2022

The Giving of the Torah    As everyone knows, the festival of Shavu‘ot commemorates the giving of the Torah. Year in and year out, we mark the day with special celebrations and readings in synagogue; some Jews stay up all …

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Weekly Torah Reading (in Israel), BeHar, May 14, 2022

Leviticus 25:1-27:34 Very, Very Much Humble   This week’s reading mostly consists of a long list of misfortunes that will befall the people of Israel if they fail to keep God’s commandments. This list is so terrible that we tend …

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Weekly Torah Reading (Outside of Israel) Aharei Mot April 30, 2022

(Leviticus 16:1-18:30) The Two Temples   The very beginning of the reading for this Shabbat ought to appear somewhat surprising. Following the death of Aaron’s two sons, Nadab and Abihu, in the wilderness sanctuary (mishkan), God says to Moses: “Tell …

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Weekly Torah Reading, Kedoshim, April 30, 2022

Leviticus 19:1 to 20:27   Standing by My Word   This week’s reading begins with the much-discussed, perhaps over-discussed, commandment, “You shall be holy, because I, the Lord your God, am holy.” What’s not to understand? But in English we …

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Weekly Torah Reading, Aḥarei Mot, April 23, 2022

Leviticus 16:1-18:30 An Alternate Temple At the beginning of this week’s reading, the Holy One commands Moses: “Tell your brother Aaron not to enter the Holy of Holies (the most sacred part of the sanctuary) at any time… lest he …

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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 …

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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 …

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