“Take to heart these instructions with which I charge you this day.”  (Deut. 6:6) In Parashat Va-etchanan, Moses prepares the Israelites to enter the land of Canaan by teaching the laws of the Torah.  He begins by repeating the Ten Commandments (with slight variations from the version in Exodus) and presents the Sh’ma  (Hear, O [...]

“You saw how Adonai your God carried you, as a man carries his son, all the way that you travelled until you came to this place.” (Deuteronomy 1:31) Parashat D’varim opens the fifth and final book of the Torah (known in English as Deuteronomy), which comprises Moses’ five last speeches to the Israelites.  The central [...]

“And you shall take possession of the land and settle in it, for I have assigned the land to you to possess.” (33:53) These two parashot (portions) close the book of Numbers by describing each of the 42 stops the Israelites make on their journey from Ramses to Sinai to Kadesh and finally, to the [...]

 “These are what you shall make for God on your appointed festivals, aside from your vows and your free-will offerings…” (Numbers 29:39) There is a story about King Solomon, who tries to confound his wisest minister. The king instructs him to find a ring that can turn a happy person sad, and a sad person [...]

“My message was to bless:  when He blesses, I cannot reverse it.”  (Numbers 23:20) Parashat Balak is mostly taken up with the story of Bilam, the prophet sent to curse the Israelites who instead blesses them.  Many commentators consider this episode an independent composition inserted into the Torah because it is completely disconnected from the [...]

“The Cohen shall take cedar wood, hyssop, and crimson thread, and he shall throw them into the burning of the cow.” (Numbers 19:6) Parashat Chukat opens with a mysterious and puzzling command.  Moses and Aaron are to find a 100% pure red cow.  Once it is slaughtered and prepared, its ashes are to be used [...]

“From all your gifts you shall raise up every gift of God, from all its best part, its sacred part from it.” (Numbers 18:29) This week’s parasha (portion) is named for Korach, a Levite who challenges Moses’ (and God’s) authority.  Korach accuses Moses of vanity and of setting himself above the community, arguing that if [...]

“And the Lord’s cloud kept above them by day, as they moved on from camp.” (Numbers 10:34) In Parashat B’haalot’cha God commands Moses to assign the lighting of the menorah to his brother Aaron, the first High Priest.  This is a signal honor, and foreshadows the role Aaron’s descendants, the Hasmoneans, will play in saving [...]

“This was the dedication of the altar, on the day it was anointed, from the leaders of Israel: twelve silver bowls, twelve silver basins, twelve gold ladles.” (Numbers 7:84) Parashat Naso closes with the chieftains of the twelve tribes bringing gifts to the newly completed and consecrated mishkan, or Tabernacle, one offering each day.  The [...]

“They shall take charge of all the furnishings of the Tabernacle, a duty on behalf of the Israelites, doing the work of the Tabernacle” (Numbers 3:8) Parashat Bamidbar (in the desert), like Exodus, opens with a list of names. In Exodus it is Jacob’s twelve children, who become the Israelite tribes. In Bamidbar, two leaders [...]