weekly torah portion Archives - Page 3 of 4

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…

Weekly Torah Portion: Priestly Garments

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. Following closely on the heels of last week’s portion, Tetzaveh opens with a command to prepare pure olive oil for…

Weekly Torah Portion: A Tabernacle for All

This week’s Torah portion is the first of four Torah portions that discuss the building of the Tabernacle and the vessels within. The details are amazing – the exact dimensions of the building and of each vessel, the materials used for both inner and outer…

Weekly Torah Portion: Long-Term Planning for 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. The Tabernacle building itself is to be constructed out of several parts. Its walls are to consist of planks with…

Weekly Torah Portion: The Spiritual and the Mundane

Most of this week’s Torah portion involves various civil laws which help govern a kind and generous society. The portion begins with the laws of slavery, which, when compared to the norms of society in Biblical times, are particularly humane. It continues to deal with…

Weekly Torah Portion: Damages and Capital Crimes

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. In this extended passage, the Torah deals with a variety of cases involving damages and capital crimes. These include theft,…

Weekly Torah Portion: An Ally to the Children of Israel

This week's portion begins with Jethro's historic visit to the Children of Israel in the desert. The story begins in Exodus Chapter 18: "Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel his people, how…

Weekly Torah Portion: Preparing to Receive the Torah

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. The Israelites travel from Rephidim to the Sinai Desert, where they encamp opposite the mountain. God tells Moses to remind…

Weekly Torah Portion: God and Israel at War

This week’s Torah portion begins with the Exodus of the Children of Israel from Egypt and ends with the war against Amalek. And war is a theme that runs through this week’s portion in a very interesting way. The portion begins with an explanation of…

Weekly Torah Portion: Holy Acronyms

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. Throughout the night, God keeps His angel and His Pillar of Cloud between the Israelite camp and the Egyptians. Moses…