Weekly Torah Reading, Korah, August 6, 2024
Numbers, chapter 16:1-18:32 Assembling Against Moses This week’s Torah reading recounts the attempted revolt of Koraḥ and his allies. According to Num 16:3, the rebels “assembled” (vay-yiqqahalu) against Moses and Aaron. The same verb appears again in Num 16:19, …
Weekly Torah Reading, Shelaḥ Lekha, June 29, 2024
Numbers 13:1-15:41 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, the idea of sending them clearly came …
Weekly Torah Reading, Beha‘alotekha, June 22, 2024
Numbers 8:1-12:16 The Inverted Nuns This week’s reading includes a minor oddity, one that has puzzled scholars from ancient times to the present. Numbers 10:33-34 reports that when the Israelites left Mount Sinai, they traveled for three days …
Weekly Torah Reading, Naso, June 15, 2024
Numbers 4:21-7:89 The Priestly Blessing (bis) 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 kohanim, the hereditary priests …
Weekly Torah Reading: Shavu‘ot, June 12, 2024
Weekly Torah Reading: Shavu‘ot, June 12, 2024 Half the Story The festival of Shavu‘ot, which starts tonight, commemorates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. It is marked nowadays with special celebrations and readings in synagogue, and many …
Weekly Torah Reading, BeMidbar, June 8, 2024
Numbers 1:1-4:20 Without Looking 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. According to the Torah, there were three main …
Weekly Torah Reading, Be-ḥukkotai, June 1, 2024
Leviticus 26:3-27:34 Very, Very Much During this time of year, many congregations make a practice of reading successive chapters from Pirkei Avot, the “Sayings of the Fathers.” Among the book’s various wise sayings, one in particular catches the eye: …
Weekly Torah Reading, Emor, May 18, 2024
Leviticus 21:1 – 24:23 Number One, Forever This week’s reading includes a detailed list of the holy days (mo‘adim) that make up Israel’s sacred calendar—Passover, Shavuot, and so forth. “These are the Lord’s fixed times,” God tells Moses, “which …