Weekly Torah Reading, Shabbat Zakhor, March 14, 2019
Remember to Forget? The Shabbat just preceding Purim is called “Shabbat Zakhor” because the Torah reading on that day ends with the commandment of Deut 25:17-19: Remember (Zakhor) what Amalek did to you on your way out of …
Weekly Torah Reading, Pekudei, March 9, 2019
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” meant that no verse, …
Weekly Torah Reading, Vayyakhel, March 2, 2019
Mirrors and Their Meaning 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. The …
Weekly Torah Reading, Ki Tissa February 23, 2019
Why Aaron Took the Blame 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 on …
Weekly Torah Reading, Tetsavveh, February 16, 2019
Adam Had No 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 the …
Weekly Torah Reading, Terumah, March 4, 2017
The Human Garden This week’s reading contains God’s instructions for the building of the mishkan, the traveling tabernacle (i.e., a big tent) in which the Israelites will offer sacrifices to God. Hardly a detail is left unmentioned. We learn about …
Weekly Torah Reading, Mishpatim, February 2, 2019
Is Abortion Legal? 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 for your …
Weekly Torah Reading, Yitro, January 26, 2019
How Much Is Torah Worth? This week’s reading includes the famous account of the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. The people of Israel stood at the foot of the mountain as the Ten Commandments were solemnly proclaimed. Of …