Weekly Torah Reading, Behar-Behukkotai, May 15, 2020
Leviticus 25:1-27:34 Very Very! The second part of this week’s double reading, the portion Behukkotai, contains of a long list of misfortunes that will befall the people of Israel if they fail to keep God’s commandments. These punishments—including various …
Weekly Torah Reading, Emor, May 7, 2020
Leviticus chapters 21 through 24 Down for the Count In this week’s reading, the Torah commands the people of Israel to bring the first sheaf (‘omer) of the new grain harvest to the Temple. This is to be …
Weekly Torah Reading, Aḥarei Mot-Kedoshim, May 2, 2020
Leviticus 16:1-20:27 Two Sanctuaries The very beginning of the reading for this Shabbat ought to appear somewhat surprising. Following the death of Aaron’s two sons, Nadab and Abihu, in the wilderness sanctuary (mishkan), God says to Moses: “Tell your …
Weekly Torah Reading, Tazria‘-Metzora‘, April 24, 2020 Leviticus 12:1-15:33 Why These Two Readings? Last week’s reading, Shemini, began with the death of Aaron’s two sons, Nadab and Abihu. They obviously did something wrong in what was to be …
Weekly Torah Reading, Shemini, April 18, 2020
Leviticus 9:1 to 11:47 Rules Don’t Apply In this week’s reading, Aaron’s two sons, Nadab and Abihu, are suddenly struck dead—on the very day that the people of Israel were to celebrate the start of regular worship in …
The Seventh Day of Passover, April 15, 2020
Exodus 13:17-15:26 The seventh day of Passover is usually a happy occasion, the recounting of Israel’s miraculous escape from danger at the Red Sea and the great relief and celebration that followed. But at the end of today’s reading comes …
Weekly Torah Reading, Shabbat ha-Gadol, April 4, 2020
Leviticus 6:1-8:36 A Pesaḥ to Remember The Torah does not tire of reminding us of the whole purpose of this festival: to tell our children about Israel’s enslavement in Egypt and their ultimate escape to freedom. But what …
Weekly Torah Reading, Vayyikra, March 28, 2020
Leviticus 1:1-5:26 Hebrew doesn’t have capital letters: the first letter in a sentence, or the first letter of a proper noun, is written the same size as a letter in the middle of a sentence or name. But this …