Weekly Torah Lesson

At sundown, Wednesday, 3/22/2023, the month of Adar comes to its end and Rosh Chodesh  Aviv (The first Month)  begins. You are invited to participate in the Rosh Chodesh liturgy by clicking this link. … [Read more...] about Rosh Chodesh

Parasha: Tzav – CommandTorah: VaYikra 6:8 – 8:36 8 And Avinu spoke to Moshe, saying, 9 Command Aharon and his sons, saying, This is the law (these are instructions – v’zot torat) of the Olah offering: It is the Olah offering, because of the burning on the altar all night to the morning, and the fire of the altar shall be burning in it. 10 And the priest shall put on his linen garment, and his linen breeches shall he put on his flesh, and take up the ashes which the fire has consumed with the … [Read more...] about Why a “Burnt Offering”

Parasha: Tetsaveh He commandedTorah: Shemot 27:20 – 30:10 This week’s parsha is a continuation of last week. The previous parsha, Teruma, began with “and Avinu spoke..” “Daber” was the verb translated as “spoke”. This week’s parsha begins, “And Avinu commanded..”. The verb “tetsaveh” is used. Avinu is still talking about a teruma but the teruma that He is referring to isn’t a one time offering like those previously mentioned. This Teruma is to continue forever! 20 And you shall command … [Read more...] about Long Term Giving

Parasha: Teruma – Heave Offering – Lift UpTorah: Shemot 25:1 – 27:19 There were six appliances that were specifically built for the sole purpose of worshipping Avinu in His mishkan.  Four of the appliances were made with gold and two with copper.  Every appliance was built with four rings on their corners so that when they were being prepared to be moved, two staves, built with the same material as the appliance, were inserted into the rings and eventually carried by the priests and … [Read more...] about The Staves Shall Not Be Removed

Parasha: Mishpatim – judgmentsTorah:  Shemot 21:1 – 24:18 The Torah goes to great effort to protect the life of an accidental murderer. Six cities in Israel were established as sanctuaries to protect  accidental murderers from facing execution from “theRedeemer of Blood”. This week’s Torah portion puzzled me as I tried to understand why there was no mention of the “victim” in an accidental death.  Here is how it is … [Read more...] about Accidental Murder

Parasha:  Yitro – JethroTorah:  Shemot 18:1 – 20:26 These words appear in this week’s parsha. We are blessed to witness just how this commandment is supposed to be executed two chapters before it’s actual appearance. Before we get into the Scriptures, I want to point out that Moshe is applying this commandment to his father in law which helps us to understand the depth of every Torah command. 5  And Yitro, Moshe’s father in law, came with his sons and his wife to Moshe into the … [Read more...] about Honor your father and mother