The parasha for this week is entitled B’ha-alotecha, meaning “when you raise up”, and covers Numbers chapters 8 through 12. It begins with God’s command to consecrate B’nai Levi, the Levites, for the service of the Tabernacle. God chose the entire tribe of Levi to belong to Him in place of all the firstborn sons […]

Today’s Parasha is entitled Nasso, meaning “Lift Up,” and covers Numbers 4:1-7:89.  It begins with a God-ordained census of the three Levitical family lines following the census of the people. The parasha continues with instructions on how to deal with skin diseases and burying the dead, how to deal with wrongs against another person, suspected […]

This week we begin the book of Numbers with Parashat Bamidbar which translates to “In The Wilderness” and covers Chapter 1 through Chapter 4:20. These chapters contain censuses, encampment instructions, and duties for the special tribe, the Levites.  In this parasha we see the Lord’s involvement in every aspect of our lives and our need […]

The Big “IF…” B’chukotai (“In My Statutes”) Leviticus 26:3-27:34 How many times have you heard it said that God’s love is unconditional? Maybe you’ve said it yourself.  Now if what you mean by that is that God loves all people and that His love doesn’t depend on our behaving ourselves, and that those who reject […]

This week’s Torah portion is named, B’har, meaning “In the mountain.”  It covers Leviticus 25:1 to 26:2 and highlights the majesty of God and His compassion for His people and the Land.  The Sabbath, Sabbatical year and the Year of Jubilee are just a few of God’s gracious provisions.  In case you didn’t know it, […]

This week’s Parasha is entitled Emor, which means “speak.” It covers Leviticus chapters 21 through 24 and deals with several subjects:  the priesthood, the sacrifices and the holidays.  However, holiness is the theme that ties all these subjects together. A priest was not to make himself ceremonially unclean by touching a dead person, or even […]

This week’s Parasha is called Kedoshim and covers Leviticus 19:1-20:27. Chapter 19 reviews some of the Ten Commandments and reminds us that our lives are to be characterized by holiness. In fact, God states clearly, “You shall be holy, for I, the Lord your God, am holy”. God speaks as the Holy One, HaKadosh. We […]

Our parasha for this week is entitled Acharei 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 […]

The name of this week’s parasha is M’tzora, which means ‘lepers” and covers Leviticus 14:1 – 15:33.  In chapter 14 Adonai gives Moses instructions on the procedure for cleansing from leprosy. A person healed from leprosy was to go before the priest with two live clean birds, along with cedar wood, scarlet, yarn and hyssop. […]

This week’s Parasha is titled Tazria, meaning “she conceives.”  It covers Leviticus 12-13 and touches on ritual purity laws.  Here we get a glimpse into the lives of the women of Israel and discover what their days may have been like following the extraordinary experience of childbirth.  The time of post-delivery was different depending on […]