This week our parasha is Shelach Lecha which means “Send For Yourself”. Parasha Shalech Lecha covers Numbers 13:1 – 15:41. In this parasha we see both the mercy and justice of the Lord. We also see the consequences for constant rebellion. We begin in Numbers 13 with our people near the border of the Promised […]

This week Parasha is Beha’alotekkha which means “When You Go Up”, and it covers numbers 8:1 – 12:16. We begin in chapter 8.  The Lord spoke to Moses and instructed him to make the seven lamps and how to make them and that they would shine light on what was being done just as the […]

We’re doing something a little different today. I’ve expanded the parasha to be our main message this Shabbat. There is a theme woven throughout this section of the Torah, and I felt it deserved our deeper consideration. First, I’ll give an overview of the parasha, then we’ll address that underlying theme, and draw some applications. […]

The parasha for last week is entitled Bamidbar, meaning “In The Desert,” and it covers Numbers 1:1 – 4:20. The English name, Numbers, is because this book contains statistics, such as population figures, the totals of the priests and Levites, and other numerical data. And, this name comes from the two census’ that were taken […]

The name of this week’s parasha is Bechukotai, which means “in my statutes,” and covers Leviticus 26:3-27:34.  This parasha lists blessings for obeying God’s commandments; penalties for disobeying God’s commandments; and valuations for people, animals and property given to God.  If the Israelis obey Adonai’s commandments, they would be blessed with timely rainfall, abundant food, […]

This week’s parasha, Behar, means “on the mountain” and covers Leviticus 25:1-26:2. Here are more laws God gave to establish the new nation of Israel. The people promised to obey the instructions God gave through Moses. This was their part in the covenant God made with them, but they broke that covenant. We read and […]

This week our parasha is Emor which means “Speak” and covers Leviticus 21:1 – 24:23. In this parasha we see God’s plan for redeeming us through the biblical holidays and that Adonai is the source of holiness. We begin in Leviticus 21, which continues the theme of holiness found at the end of the previous […]

The name of this week’s parasha is Kedoshim, which means “holy ones,” and covers Leviticus 19:1 through 20:27.  This parasha covers commandments regarding societal interactions and worship practices; punishments for disobeying God’s standards regarding worship, family interactions, and sexuality; and exhortations for the Israelis to be holy.  Adonai tells Moses to inform the Israelis to […]

Our parasha for this week is entitled Achrei Mot, which means, “after the death” and covers Leviticus 16:1 – 18:30.  The title of the parasha refers to the time following the death of Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, who offered unauthorized fire before the Lord in Leviticus 10 and were put to death because of […]

Today’s Parasha is called Metzora which means “Diseased or Leprous One”.  It covers Leviticus 14-15.  Chapter 14 is a continuation of the laws concerning lepers.  If an Israeli was suffering from leprosy, and had undergone teshuvah (chuvah) (repentance), and had apparently been healed, he would first call for the priest to examine him.  If the […]