Weekly Torah Reading, May 12, 2018

In Israel: Be-Hukkotai:   This week’s reading consists for the most part of a long list of misfortunes that will befall the people of Israel if they fail to keep God’s commandments. These punishments—diseases, drought, military defeat, and exile—are recited …

Read More »

Weekly Torah Readings, May 5, 2018

Why Two Readings?   As sometimes happens, the Torah portions read in synagogues within Israel and those read in synagogues outside of Israel are scheduled to be out of sync for a while. So, for the coming weeks, I’ll be …

Read More »

Weekly Torah Reading, April 28, 2018

(Why Two Readings?)   As sometimes happens, the Torah portions read in synagogues within Israel and those read in synagogues outside of Israel are scheduled to be out of sync for a while. So, for the coming weeks, I’ll be …

Read More »

Weekly Torah Reading, April 21, 2018: in Israel, Aḥarei Mot-Kedoshim, Outside Israel, Tazria‘-Metzora‘

Why These Two Readings?   As sometimes happens, the Torah readings in Israel and outside it are scheduled to be out of sync for a while. So, for the coming weeks, I’ll be including comments on both Torah readings, the …

Read More »

Weekly Torah Reading in Israel, Tazria‘-Metzora‘, April 14, 2018

Weekly Torah Reading in Israel, Tazria‘-Metzora‘, April 14, 2018; Outside Israel, Shemini, April 14, 2018   Why These Two Readings?   As sometimes happens, the Torah readings in Israel and outside it are scheduled to be out of sync for …

Read More »

Torah Reading, Seventh Day of Passover, April 6, 2018

Don’t Forget My Bones   With the last of the Ten Plagues, Pharaoh was forced to relent, and the Israelites left Egypt “with hand held high,” that is, full of confidence. Nevertheless, God did not lead them by the shortest …

Read More »

Weekly Torah Reading, Pesah, March 30-31, 2018

Some Pointers for the Seder   In case you missed last week’s tips for the first night of Passover, here they are again:   Reclining   The whole reason for having a Passover seder is to carry out the Torah’s …

Read More »

Weekly Torah Reading, Shabbat ha-Gadol, March 24, 2018

Some Pointers for the Seder   Here are some of my annual tips for the first night of Passover:   Reclining   The whole reason for having a Passover seder is to carry out the Torah’s commandment, “And you shall …

Read More »