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 …
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 …
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” …
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 …
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 …
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 …
Weekly Torah Reading, Terumah, February 5, 2022
Exodus 25:1-27:19 Back to the Garden This week’s reading contains God’s instructions for the building of the mishkan, a kind of great, portable tent in which the Israelites could offer sacrifices to God. Hardly a detail is left unmentioned …
Weekly Torah Reading, Mishpatim, January 29, 2022
Exodus 21:1-24:18 A Case of Abortion This week’s reading contains numerous laws governing various aspects of daily life. At first, some of these might seem far removed from our own daily lives. You’re probably not going to pay anyone compensating …