Weekly Torah Reading

Weekly Torah Reading, Devarim, August 2, 2025 A Man of Constant Sorrow   This week’s portion, Devarim, always precedes the reading of the book of Lamentations on the ninth of the Hebrew month of Ab, which commemorates the destruction of …

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Weekly Torah Reading, Mattot-Mas‘ei, July 26, 2025     The story of the tribes of Reuben and Gad in this week’s Torah reading contains a rather subtle message. Following Israel’s defeat of Midian, the Reubenites and Gadites realize that the …

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Weekly Torah Reading, Balak, July 12, 2025 All Alone? In this week’s Torah reading, the pagan seer Balaam is hired to curse the people of Israel, but every time he tries, he ends up blessing them instead. In the first …

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A Bit Too Confident   This week’s reading relates that, toward the end of their forty years of wandering in the wilderness, the Israelites ran out of water. They complained bitterly to their leaders, Moses and Aaron: “Why did you …

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Weekly Torah Reading, Korah, June 28, 2025 For Argument’s Sake   This week’s Torah reading recounts the attempted revolt of Koraḥ and his allies. According to Numbers 16:3, the rebels “assembled” (vay-yiqqahalu) against Moses and Aaron. The same verb appears …

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   Weekly Torah Reading, Shelaḥ-Lekha, June 21, 2025 One Man Job   Commentators have long noticed a contradiction in the Torah’s account of the tribal leaders who were sent to spy out the land of Canaan. In this week’s reading, …

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Weekly Torah Reading, Beha‘alotekha, June 14, 2025 Forget the Cucumbers   In the biblical book of Ecclesiastes (Kohelet), the author advises, “Do not  say, ‘How has it come about that things were better in earlier times than now?’ for you …

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Weekly Torah Reading, Naso, June 7, 2025 The Priestly Blessing   Among all the different items covered in this week’s reading is a brief commandment to Aaron and his sons. As is well known, Aaron’s sons will henceforth be the …

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