“When you enter the land that I am giving to you and you reap its harvest, you shall bring the first sheaf of your harvest to the priest.”  (Leviticus 23:10) Parashat Emor includes a complete listing of the holidays in the Jewish calendar.  Included in the descriptions is the injunction to “…Count for yourselves from the… [Continue Reading]

“You shall be holy to Me, for I the Lord am holy, and I have set you apart from other people’s to be mine.” (Leviticus 20:25) We read two parashot (portions) this week because of the way the Jewish calendar is calculated.  Months are determined by the moon’s cycle, but the year is determined by the… [Continue Reading]

“The owner of the house shall come and tell the priest, saying, ”Something like a plague has appeared upon my house.”  (Leviticus 14:35) We read two parashot (portions) this week because of the way the Jewish calendar is calculated.  Months are determined by the moon’s cycle, but the year is determined by the sun’s.  Therefore, a… [Continue Reading]

“For I am the Lord who brought you up from the land of Egypt to be your God: you shall be holy, for I am holy.” (Leviticus 11:45) Parashat Sh’mini includes the first of two major collections of dietary laws in the Torah (Deuteronomy 14 is the second).  The Torah gives no reason for why… [Continue Reading]

“You shall hold a festival for the Lord your God seven days, in the place that the Lord will choose…” (Deuteronomy 16:15) The ancient way of announcing the new Jewish month was to light bonfires on the hilltops, once witnesses had testified they had seen the new moon.  Because the diaspora Jewish communities lived at greater… [Continue Reading]

“That very day God freed the Israelites from the land of Egypt, in their legions.” (Exodus 12:51) Because this Shabbat falls during Pesach, the regular cycle of parashot (Torah portions) is interrupted by a special reading related to the holiday.   Not surprisingly, the reading focuses on the night of the Exodus:  God’s instructions to the… [Continue Reading]

“Moses said to the community,” This is what the Lord has commanded to be done.” (Leviticus 8:5) Parashat Tzav begins with the ritual duties of the kohanim (priests) for performing the sacrifices listed in last week’s parasha (portion) and concludes with Aaron’s and his sons’ ordination as kohahim (priests).  This is the beginning of organized,… [Continue Reading]

“It is a law for all time throughout the ages, in all your settlements: you must not eat any fat or any blood.” (Leviticus 3:17) Vayikra (“And he called”) is the name both of this week’s parasha (portion) and the entire third book of the Torah.  Vayikra opens with detailed instructions for offering the various types… [Continue Reading]

“And let all among you who are skilled come and make all that the Lord has commanded.” (Exodus 35:10) We read two parashot (portions) this week because of the way the Jewish calendar is calculated.  Months are determined by the moon’s cycle, but the year is determined by the sun’s.  Therefore, a Jewish year can have… [Continue Reading]

“Six days shall you work, but on the seventh day you shall cease from labor; you shall cease from labor even at plowing time and harvest time.”  (Exodus 334:21) Parashat Ki Tisa contains the story of the Golden Calf, crafted by Aaron for the Israelites, who panicked when Moses didn’t return from his 40 days… [Continue Reading]