Weekly Torah Lesson

Weekly Torah Lesson Parasha: Tazria she bears seedTorah: vaYikra 12:1 – 13:59 ** At eight verses, I think that this is the shortest chapter in the Torah. Surprisingly it isn’t dealing with ‘sin’ but with a spiritual condition called ‘tamei’ or ‘unclean’. What this means is that a person can become ‘unclean’ without sinning. There are certain events in our lives that make us ‘unclean’. This chapter defines this one event in detail. *** “vaYikra (Leviticus) 12:1 And Avinu spoke to Moshe, … [Read more...] about Childbirth and Uncleanness

Weekly Torah Lesson Parasha: Shemini – EighthTorah: vaYikra 9:1 – 11:47 ** Moshe had just completed the erection and purification of the Tent of Meeting as well as the inauguration of the Levitical priesthood which included Aharon as the high priest and Aharon’s four sons as regular priests. The process took seven days to complete and the Tabernacle and the Priesthood were ready to begin serving the Children of Israel. This eighth day was a big deal. If all went well, Avinu would appear in … [Read more...] about The Eight Day

Weekly Torah Lesson Parasha: Tzav – CommandTorah: VaYikra 6:8 – 8:36 With Pesach being ten days away, I have been thinking about the role that bread and wine played in the “old covenant sacrificial system”. Here are a couple of Scriptures that helps us to understand the significant role of these two elements in their system and in ours. *** 14 And this is the law of the grain offering (v’zot torat mincha): the sons of Aharon shall offer it before Avinu, before the altar. 15 And … [Read more...] about Bread and Wine in the Old Covenant

Weekly Torah Lesson Parasha: Va Yikra "And He Called"Torah: Va Yikra 1:1 - 6:7 After the Tabernacle was erected on the 1st of Aviv, 2449, Avinu called Moshe into the Tabernacle and began instructing him regarding the procedures for the sacrifices. There are four broad categories of sacrifices: ascent-offerings, Wholeness-offerings, sin-offerings, and guilt-offerings. Avinu first taught Moshe the procedures for ascent-offerings. *** “And Avinu said to Moshe, “When someone brings a … [Read more...] about Getting Close

Weekly Torah Lesson 2 Parasha: P'kudei "Accountings of"Torah: Shemot 38:21 - 40:38 (end of Exodus) ** In this final parsha (Torah portion) for the book of Shemot (Exodus), There is a general accounting of the materials that were used in the building of The Tent of Meeting. The names of two men also emerge as master craftsmen who are to lead the building of the structure. Shemot 38:21 This is the sum of the tabernacle, even of the tabernacle of testimony, as it was counted, according … [Read more...] about Who Built The Tent of Meeting?

Weekly Torah Lesson 1Parasha Va yakhel - and he assembledTorah: Shemot 35:1 – 38:20 ** While Aharon was alive, he was commanded to enter The Holy Place in the late afternoon and early in the morning. The Holy Place was the first ‘space’ in the Tent of Meeting. Aharon’s duties were to dress and light The Golden Candlestick and to burn incense on The Golden Altar. At this time, Aharon was The High Priest. However, in later mentions of The priest who offered The Incense, it was not The High … [Read more...] about The Golden Altar of Incense