The Parasha for this week is Pekudei, which means “accounts,” and covers the last two and a half chapters of Exodus, Chapters 38:21 to Chapter 40:38. Last week, in Parasha Vayakhel, we heard about how the people assembled together and donated generously to the building of the tabernacle, or Mishkan, as it was called in […]

The Torah reading for this week’s Parasha is entitled Vayakhel which mean, “And he assembled” it covers Exodus 35:1 – 38:20. Let’s recap, this paratha is a repeat of exodus chapters, 25:1-27:19. Remember Moses was given these same instructions on mount Sinai. The Israelis would then become corrupt, and the golden calf incident occurred. Moses […]

The name of this week’s parasha is T’tzaveh, which means “command” and covers Exodus 27:20 – 30:10.  The Israelis were commanded to bring clear oil from pressed olives to the Tent of Meeting so that Aaron and his sons could keep the lamps there burning.  This command is repeated in Leviticus 24. The garments for […]

Our parasha today is entitled Terumah, meaning ‘contribution’. It takes us from Exodus 25 through 27:19. The subject matter of these chapters, and most of the rest of the book of Exodus, is the construction of the Mishkan (Tabernacle) and the Ark of the Covenant. God gave Moses a detailed blueprint, as it were, and […]

Shabbat Shalom. This week’s parasha is Mishpatim, which means “Judgments” and covers Exodus 21:1-24:18. In the previous parasha, our people were given the Ten Commandments by the Lord. We continue in chapter 21 with additional laws given by Adonai. Starting with the laws regarding Jewish slaves and servants. Chapter 21 also contains how to handle […]

The Tora reading for this week’s Parasha is entitled Yitro meaning Jethro. It is taken from the book of Exodus, 18:1-20:23, The gods of the Egyptians have been defeated, Pharaoh has been humiliated, his firstborn son, “killed” and his army destroyed. The Red Sea has parted, Israel has been released from slavery, Adonai has been […]

This week’s parasha is entitled, B’Shalach, which means “when he sent” and covers Exodus 13:17 – 17:16.  When he sent refers to pharaoh letting the Israelis depart from Egypt after the 10th plague, the death of the first born. After their release, the Lord does not lead the Israelis in a direct route towards their […]

This week’s Parasha is entitled Bo which in Hebrew is the command form of “come” and covers Exodus 10:1 – 13:16. In the previous Parasha, due to the hardness of Pharaoh’s heart, the first seven of ten plagues were unleashed on the inhabitants of Egypt. We now pick up in Chapter 10 where The Lord […]

Our Torah reading this Shabbat bears the same name as the book it introduces: Shemot meaning ‘names’, since it begins with a recitation of the names of Jacob’s 12 sons, who, with their father and their families, had settled in Egypt after being reunited with Joseph. The English name for the book, Exodus, is borrowed […]

This week we end the book of Genesis with parasha Vayechi which translates to “and he lived”. It takes us from Genesis 47:28 to 50:26 and finishes the book of Genesis. This parasha contains the final Messianic prophecy of Genesis as well as a powerful reminder that the Lord is always in control. Our parasha begins with […]