Weekly Torah Reading, BeHar-Beḥukkotai, May 8, 2021

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 …

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Weekly Torah Reading, Emor, May 1, 2021

“Which You Proclaim” Leviticus 21:1-24:23   How do you know today’s date in the Hebrew calendar? Simple: you look up “Hebrew Calendar” on the internet, or else consult the Hebrew calendar you got in the mail from your synagogue or …

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Weekly Torah Reading, Aharei Mot-Kedoshim, April 24, 2021

Leviticus 16:1 to 20:27 Like Yourself   No doubt the most famous verse in this week’s double reading, Aḥarei Mot-Kedoshim, is Lev 19:18, “You shall love your neighbor like yourself.” Rabbi Akiva declared that this verse is nothing less than …

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Weekly Torah Reading, Tazria‘-Metzora‘, April 17, 2021

Impurity and its Causes Leviticus 12:1-15:33 Last week’s reading, Shemini, began with the death of Aaron’s two sons, Nadab and Abihu. They obviously did something wrong in what was to be the inauguration of the tabernacle (mishkan). Whatever it was—bringing …

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Weekly Torah Reading, Shemini April 10, 2021

Not the Silence of Aaron Leviticus 9:1 – 13:47 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? …

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Weekly Torah Reading, Seventh Day of Passover, April 3, 2021

“This Is…” Shabbat this week is also the Seventh Day of Passover. On it we read again the events leading up to the great song of triumph that the Israelites sang after having been miraculously saved from their Egyptian pursuers. …

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Weekly Torah Reading, the Shabbat Before Passover, March 27, 2021

Leviticus 6:1-8:36 Telling the Children   The whole purpose of the seder on Passover evening (this year it falls on next Sunday night) is to carry out the biblical commandment for parents to tell our children about Israel’s enslavement in …

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Weekly Torah Reading, Vayyiqra, March 20, 2021

Leviticus 1:1-5:26 Almost Great The Shabbat preceding Passover used to have a special role in many Jewish communities. It was a time when the rabbi would stand before the congregation and review the various rules and customs surrounding the coming …

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