Weekly Torah Reading

Lo, or else Lo   In this week’s Torah reading, Isaac is now dwelling in Beer Sheba, and the Philistine king, Abimelech, comes with his aides to meet him. Isaac and Abimelech have had rather frosty relations, so as soon …

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Laban and Nephew   In this week’s portion, Abraham sends his (unnamed) servant to the city of Nahor to find a bride for his son Isaac. When the servant arrives, we are introduced to two important figures: Rebekah—who, as Isaac’s …

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“Now I know”—”But Why Didn’t You Know Before?”   Nowadays, this week’s Torah reading justly troubles a great many readers. It contains the famous account of God’s command to Abraham to kill his own son, sacrificing him like some animal …

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Weekly Torah Reading, Bereshit, October 18, 2025 Don’t Touch That Tree!   Who was responsible for what happened to humanity in the garden of Eden, Adam or Eve?   On the face of things, it was mostly Eve’s fault. After …

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      A Jewish New Year’s Card                                        Summery exaltation or summary execution? The more-than-august judgments have been handed down in …

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Going by the Book     This week’s reading contains a curious provision. Moses instructs the Israelites that as soon as they cross the Jordan River to enter their future homeland, they are to write down the words of “this …

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The More, the Merit   This week’s Torah reading is full of divine commandments—by tradition, more commandments than any other week in the annual cycle of readings. They cover a broad variety of topics in ritual, civil, and criminal law, …

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Weekly Torah Reading, Shofetim, August 30, 2025   Extra Scrutiny   This week’s reading opens with the subject of courts and the proper administration of justice. Judges and other officials are to be appointed in all your [city] gates, that …

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