This week our parasha is Behaalotechah, which translates to “In your setting up” and covers Numbers 8:1-12:16. This parasha contains the separation of Levi, the second Passover, and our people leaving Sinai. But this morning we will be focusing on Numbers 11-12:16, which record three different rebellions against the Lord. Chapter 11 begins with the […]

The Torah reading for this week’s parsha is entitled Naso, which means “Take Up.” It is taken from the book of Numbers chapters 4:21-7:89. When the cloud moved from one location to another, the Tabernacle also was to be moved. The moving of the Tabernacle was not unplanned work, many instructions were given on how […]

This week we begin the book of Numbers with Parashat Bamidbar which translates to “In The Wilderness”. Bamidbar covers Chapter 1 through Chapter 4:20. These chapters contain censuses, encampment instructions, and duties for the special tribe, the Levites. Numbers begins with the Lord commanding Moses to take a census of the men available to fight. […]

This week’s parasha is titled, B’Chukotai, which means, “In my statutes” and covers Leviticus, chapter 26:3 – through 27:34.  This passage is end of the book of Leviticus. Chapter 26 is a reminder about the blessings of following Adonai’s teaching and the curses that happen when Adonai’s statutes are disobeyed.  A very similar reminder occurs […]

This week’s Torah portion is entitled Emor, which means “Say.” Adonai declared, “You shall be holy because I, the LORD am holy.” Israel was to be a different kind of people because the Lord loved and chose them as His own. In chapter twenty-one Moses exhorted Aaron and his descendants to live a higher level […]

The Torah reading for this week’s parasha is entitled Kedosheem which means Holy Ones. It is taken from the book of Leviticus 19:1-20:27. Adonai said to Moses, “Give these instructions to the entire community of Israel. You must be holy because I, the Lord your God, am holy.” Laws and statues were given to make […]

This week our parasha is Acharei Mot, which means “After The Death” and covers Leviticus 16:1–18:30. In this parasha we see the importance of atonement, accomplished only through the Lord’s will and not our own. Leviticus 16 begins after the death of Aaron’s two sons, who were killed for their unauthorized and disrespectful offering. The […]

Our Parasha this Shabbat is titled M’tzora meaning ‘Leper’. It primarily deals with ritual impurity, covering topics such as cleansing from skin diseases, houses with mold, male genital discharges, and female menstruation. While these laws might seem rather irrelevant today, they were critical for Israel, because ritual impurity would limit a person’s participation in worship […]

Parasha Tazria begins with the laws of ritual impurity and purity as it pertains to childbirth.  A new mother is treated as a niddah (a woman on her period) and is considered “impure” (tamei) and not allowed in the sanctuary for 40 days (if a boy) or 80 days (if a girl).  On the 8th […]

This week’s parasha is entitled, “Shemini,” which translates as “Eighth.” This “eighth” refers to the 8th day of the consecration ceremony for Aaron and his sons. Parasha Shemini covers Leviticus, chapter 9, verse 1 through chapter 11, verse 47. In chapter 9, Aaron, and his sons, who have been consecrating themselves for 7 days, are, […]