Weekly Torah Reading, Pineḥas, July 3, 2021

Numbers 25:10-32:42 A Tall Order   Last week’s Torah reading ended with a certain Israelite hero slaying a flagrantly offending couple, thereby turning aside God’s wrath. The name of the hero is written Phinehas in English, although Phineas used to …

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Weekly Torah Reading, Balak, June 26, 2021

Numbers 22:2-25:9 A People Dwelling Apart?   In this week’s Torah reading, the pagan seer Balaam is hired to curse the people of Israel, but every time he tries, he ends up blessing them instead. In the first of these …

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Weekly Torah Reading, Hukkat, June 19, 2021

Dear Readers, Sorry for the format problems–I’m working on it. Meanwhile, I hope you’ll find it nonetheless worth struggling with. James Kugel Numbers 19:1-22:1 Moses’ Mistake This week’s reading relates that, toward the end of their forty years of wandering …

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Weekly Torah Reading, Koraḥ, June 12, 2021

Numbers 16:1-18:32   Altogether Holy   Korah is the villain of this week’s Torah reading, the leader of a foiled rebellion against Moses and Aaron. “Look, all of us are holy,” Korah said to them. By this he meant that …

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Weekly Torah Reading, Shelaḥ Lekha, June 5, 2021

Numbers 13:1-15:41 Being an Ish   Commentators have long noticed a contradiction in the Torah’s account of the tribal leaders who were sent to spy out the land of Canaan. In this week’s reading, the idea of sending them clearly …

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Weekly Torah Reading, Beha‘alotekha, May 29, 2001

Numbers 8:1-12:16 Oh, the Cucumbers!   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 are not asking about this out of wisdom” …

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Weekly Torah Reading, Naso, May 22, 2021

Numbers 4:21-7:89   The Priestly Blessing   Among all the different items covered in this week’s reading is a brief commandment to Aaron and his sons. As is well known, Aaron’s sons will henceforth be the kohanim, the hereditary priests …

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Weekly Torah Reading: Shavu‘ot, May 17, 2021

By Word of Mouth  The festival of Shavu‘ot commemorates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. It is marked with special celebrations and readings in synagogue, and many Jews stay up all night on Shavu‘ot eve to devote themselves …

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