Weekly Torah Reading, June 4, 2016
In Israel: BeMidbar This week’s Torah reading begins with a detailed census of Israel’s tribes. However, the Levites are not included in the census; they are listed separately afterwards. The Torah says that there were three main clans of …
Weekly Torah Reading (in Israel): BeHukkotai, May 28, 2016
“I Will Walk About in Your Midst” This week’s reading is known in Hebrew as the tokhaḥah (“warning”), because it contains a detailed list of all the evils that will strike Israel if it fails to keep God’s laws …
Weekly Torah Reading (in Israel): BeHar, May 21, 2016
Good Old Slavery? This week’s reading includes a number of laws concerning the institution of slavery. Nowadays, the word slavery inspires justifiable horror, but in ancient times it was a common practice in many societies (ancient Israel and ancient Greece …
Weekly Torah Reading (in Israel): Emor; (outside Israel) Kedoshim
Weekly Torah Reading (in Israel): Emor, May 14, 2016 Why Do We Count the ‘Omer? In this week’s reading, the Torah commands the people of Israel to bring the first sheaf (‘omer) of the new grain harvest …
Weekly Torah Readings: (in Israel) Kedoshim, May 7, 2016
Starting this week and continuing into August, the weekly Torah readings in Israel will be different from those outside of Israel. I plan to include both readings each week: first the Torah reading in Israel, followed by the one read …
Weekly Torah Reading, Aḥarei Mot, April 30 (in Israel), May 7 (outside Israel)
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 brother Aaron …
Torah Reading, Seventh Day of Passover, April 2016
Disproportionate Measure for Measure With the last of the Ten Plagues, Pharaoh was forced to relent, and the Israelites left Egypt “with hand held high,” that is, full of confidence. Nevertheless, God did not lead them by the shortest …
Weekly Torah Reading, Passover, April 23, 2016
Haggadah Tips, Part II In four different passages of the Torah, Jewish parents are commanded to tell their children about the exodus from Egypt ((Exod 12:26-27, 13:8, 13:14, and Deut 6:20-21). We fulfill this commandment next Friday night …