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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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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