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 …
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 …
Weekly Torah Reading, Vayyakhel-Pekudei, March 13, 2021
Exodus 35:1-40:38 Mirrors of Modesty This week’s reading recounts in detail how the Israelites carried out God’s commandment to build a tabernacle (mishkan)—the moveable sanctuary that would serve as a kind of temple during their wanderings in the wilderness. …
Weekly Torah Reading, Ki Tissa, March 6, 2021
30:11-34:34 The Mystery of Hur 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 27, 2021
Exodus 27:20-30:10 Adam’s Clothes 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 in …
Weekly Torah Reading, Purim, 2021
What to Remember The holiday of Purim, celebrated this week, commemorates the downfall of the wicked Haman, who sought to “kill off, destroy and massacre” all the Jews in the king’s domain. Haman’s plan was ultimately thwarted, but …
Weekly Torah Reading, Terumah, February 20, 2021
Exodus 25:1-27:19 Return to the Garden This week’s reading contains God’s instructions for the building of the mishkan, the traveling tabernacle (that is, a big tent) in which the Israelites will offer sacrifices to God. Hardly a detail is left …
Weekly Torah Reading, Mishpatim, February 13, 2021
Exodus 21:1-24:18 Watching for Free Could you be a good Talmudist? This week’s reading is full of different rules and regulations: the Hebrew slave who wants to remain a slave; the goring ox; the burning field, and so forth. Some …