Keep up with the weekly parsha with Rabbi Ravid Tilles! In this episode: As B’nai Yisrael is figuring out how to properly use the newly built Mishkan, we learn about the health attestation that has to be performed by the Kohanim to make sure that everyone who is bringing sacrifices is considered Tahor (ritually fit). It’s not just the physical body that has to be prepared, but we come to find out that bad behaviors can also lead to bad outcomes!

Keep up with the weekly parsha with Rabbi Ravid Tilles! In this episode, Aaron and his sons have been studying the laws of the Korbanot (sacrifices) and are finally ready to consecrate the Mishkan and start using the Tabernacle as a functioning location. All of the Israelites gather to watch the first successful sacrifice, which is followed by a tragic accident. This sad event causes Moshe to remind the people to be diligent about animals they can and can't bring for sacrifices.

Keep up with the weekly parsha with Rabbi Ravid Tilles! In this episode, Moshe continues to convey the laws of the Kohen, the Kohen Gadol and the korbanot (sacrifices) to his brother Aaron. Aaron asks important questions to more deeply understand the expectations of him and his children. Also this week, we review the story of Eliyahu Ha’Navi and how he awaits the opportunity to return to earth to usher in the coming of the Mashiach.

Keep up with the weekly parsha with Rabbi Ravid Tilles. In this episode: With the Mishkan finally built, it is time for B’nai Yisrael to start bringing korbanot to get closer to G-d. However, not just anyone can bring whatever sacrifices they want whenever they want, so Moshe has to convey the strict expectations to Aaron and his sons. Moshe and G-d convene in their new meeting place: the Ohel Moed. While there, G-d and Moshe make a plan for how to share this extremely important, and holy, information.

In this week’s double parsha, Moshe instructs the people how to build the Mishkan, the portable house where God will dwell. Thanks to the generous donations and hard work of B’nai Yisrael (for six days at a time), the Mishkan is completed after one year. Now the Divine Presence, the shechina, is able to dwell among the people and journey with them through their travels in the Midbar (wilderness).

Dr. David Reich, a Schechter parent and Harvard geneticist, joins Rabbi Ravid Tilles, Dr. Jonah Hassenfeld and Schechter 8th graders in a discussion of history, science and heritage.

Keep up with the weekly parsha with Rabbi Ravid Tilles! In this episode, B’nai Yisrael’s impatience with Moshe’s being on top of Har Sinai finally reaches a boiling point and they gather to confront their deputized leader: Aaron. Seemingly in attempt to buy time while they waited for Moshe’s return, Aaron advises the people to build an idol as a replacement for Moshe. The Israelites end up worshipping this cow and, in the meantime, break the first and second of the Ten Commandments that they had just received. This all angers Moshe and God, though Moshe learns an important lesson about forgiveness and kindness through this story.

Keep up with the weekly parsha with Rabbi Ravid Tilles! In this episode, God continues to share mitzvot about the Mishkan. We learn about more elements of the Mishkan and about the role that the Kohanim would play in the Mishkan including their special clothing. Once such special garb is the Hoshen Mishpat which seemingly offers the Kohen Gadol (High Priest) a chance to connect to God in magical, spiritual ways. There are multiple stories about the power of the Hoshen Mishpat in the story of the Israelites. All of these laws are given to Moshe while B'nai Yisrael is becoming increasingly impatient with Moshe's being on Har Sinai. Next week is when this impatience reaches a boiling point!

Keep up with the weekly parsha with Rabbi Ravid Tilles! In this episode, Moshe is still up on Har Sinai receiving the rest of the Torah to share with B'nai Yisrael. The majority of the instructions enumerated in this week’s parsha are about the construction of God's home: the Mishkan, which is to be built out of precious materials (metals, stones and textiles). This week, we explore some Midrashim that give answers to the natural question that emerges in this Parsha: where do a bunch of slaves find precious materials?

Keep up with the weekly parsha with Rabbi Ravid Tilles! Moshe ascends to the top of the mountain to begin the process of receiving the rest of the Torah now that all of B'nai Yisrael has heard the Aseret Hadibrot. These first laws given by God to Moshe on Har Sinai lay the foundation for a moral society that is based on laws and share understandings, including what to do when someone you hate needs your help.