weekly torah portion Archives - Page 2 of 4

Weekly Torah Portion: Vessels in the Service of God

Chapter 8 in Leviticus discusses the anointing of Aaron and his sons as priests in the Tabernacle and the anointing of the Tabernacle itself. The process is very detailed. The first step is the washing of both Aaron and his sons. Then Moses dresses Aaron.…

Weekly Torah Portion: Sacrificial Offerings: a How-To Guide

The following is a taste of our Israel Bible Reading Plan. Follow the weekly portion with summaries, insights and lively conversation. To register, click here. This lengthy passage deals with the details of several sacrifices discussed in last week’s Torah portion, Vayikra. Each section is…

Weekly Torah Portion: Everyone Makes Mistakes

The Book of Leviticus is dedicated primarily to instructing us in the various sacrifices that are brought in the Tabernacle and, later on, in the Temple, as well as other instructions pertaining to the work of the priests and the Levites. Chapter 4 begins with…

Weekly Torah Portion: Sin and Guilt Offerings

The following is a taste of our Israel Bible Reading Plan. Follow the weekly portion with summaries, insights and lively conversation. To register, click here. Two more types of offerings are discussed in this week’s portion, and they are intimately related. To begin with, they…

Weekly Torah Portion: God is a Gracious Host

The closing chapters of the Book of Exodus complete the section that deals with the construction of the Tabernacle. The last verses are particularly interesting. Then the cloud covered the Tent of Meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the Tabernacle. And Moses…

Weekly Torah Portion: A Generous Heart

This week’s Torah portion opens with Moses’ instruction to the Children of Israel to donate items for the construction of the Tabernacle and its various vessels. It echoes the very similar commandment that God gave to Moses in Chapter 25. It would seem, therefore, that…

Weekly Torah Portion: Symbolism in the Tabernacle

The following is a taste of our Israel Bible Reading Plan. Follow the weekly portion with summaries, insights and lively conversation. To register, click here. This portion reiterates much of what was written in the previous three Torah portions. The order, however, is different. Whereas Moses…

Weekly Torah Portion: A Man, not a Superhero

This week’s portion begins with the commandment to conduct a census among the Children of Israel through the donation of a half shekel. Other commandments follow, but the focus of the portion is the story of the Golden Calf. It has long puzzled commentators…

Weekly Torah Portion: The Half-Shekel

The following is a taste of our Israel Bible Reading Plan. Follow the weekly portion with summaries, insights and lively conversation. To register, click here. Our portion opens with God’s instructions on how to take a census. Rather than count the people straight up, He…

Miriam Shechter took this shot of Simchat Torah dancing with the Torah scrolls which is similar to the dancing at a Jewish wedding to emphasize a main theme of the holiday, that our relationship with God is comparable to the relationship between a husband and wife. We are married to God and to His holy Torah.

Weekly Torah Portion: A Meeting with God

This week's portion begins with the end of Exodus Chapter 27 and includes the instructions for Aaron and the priests in their worship roles -- their clothes, the sanctification process they will go through, and some instruction regarding the altar, the incense altar and the "tent…