Hi,
This week's portion is Behar (pronounced Bi-har).
The previous Torah portions expressed holiness-centered themes – the holiness of the people, and the holiness of the Kohanim and Temple service. B’har teaches about the holiness of the land of Israel.
Behar instructs the Jews to let the land rest every seventh year, a year which is called "Sh'mitah" in Hebrew, Sabbatical in English. Further, in every fiftieth year the Jews should return ancestral fields to their families; this year is called "Yovel" in Hebrew, Jubilee in English.
The Jews are also instructed that if an impoverished person sells his ancestral land, his family must be allowed to buy back that field at the rate paid for it initially. One who sells a home in a walled, established city, must be allowed to buy it back by refunding the purchase price within the first year after the sale.
Once the Torah discusses poverty and the possibility of selling an ancestral plot, the Torah discusses other situations in which people get into financial trouble and need to be helped out. The portion thus instructs us to extend interest-free loans, and to treat slaves well. If a Jew is sold to a non-Jew as a slave, other Jews should redeem him.
The portion sums up the issues of sanctity by tying it back to Gd as the root of all holiness – of individuals, of communities, and of land.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Wednesday, May 7, 2008
Emor
Hi,
This week's portion is Emor.
The previous Torah portion (Kedoshim) dealt with laws of sanctity for the general Jewish population. Emor begins with laws of sanctity for Kohanim, the 'priests' who served in the Mishkan and Beit haMikdash (Central Temple).
The Kohanim are taught that as priests of life, they must stay away from any association with death other than to take care of the burial of an immediate family member. They are also instructed that they may not marry divorcees; we are given no reason for this law, but some explain that it is meant to prevent any potential animosity or scandal from tainting the public view of the Beit haMikdash.
The Kohen Gadol (Head Kohen) is not even allowed to come in contact with death to bury a family member, and has even greater restrictions on whom he may marry.
The portion then presents laws governing offerings, as well as consumption of animals which are not offerings. The portion then lists the various holidays of the year, starting with Shabbat as the foundation of Creation and then moving through the calendar.
Moshe’s brother Aharon is then told to bring the oil for the Menorah, as well as the flour for the bread which would be on display in the Temple during the week.
The Torah portion concludes with the story of a man who blasphemed Gd. Blaspheming against Gd, invoking the Divine Name, involves a rejection of Gd’s existence and power, and so he was harshly punished.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
This week's portion is Emor.
The previous Torah portion (Kedoshim) dealt with laws of sanctity for the general Jewish population. Emor begins with laws of sanctity for Kohanim, the 'priests' who served in the Mishkan and Beit haMikdash (Central Temple).
The Kohanim are taught that as priests of life, they must stay away from any association with death other than to take care of the burial of an immediate family member. They are also instructed that they may not marry divorcees; we are given no reason for this law, but some explain that it is meant to prevent any potential animosity or scandal from tainting the public view of the Beit haMikdash.
The Kohen Gadol (Head Kohen) is not even allowed to come in contact with death to bury a family member, and has even greater restrictions on whom he may marry.
The portion then presents laws governing offerings, as well as consumption of animals which are not offerings. The portion then lists the various holidays of the year, starting with Shabbat as the foundation of Creation and then moving through the calendar.
Moshe’s brother Aharon is then told to bring the oil for the Menorah, as well as the flour for the bread which would be on display in the Temple during the week.
The Torah portion concludes with the story of a man who blasphemed Gd. Blaspheming against Gd, invoking the Divine Name, involves a rejection of Gd’s existence and power, and so he was harshly punished.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Kedoshim
Hello,
This week's portion is Kedoshim.
Kedoshim begins with various laws subsumed under the heading of "laws of holiness."
Nachmanides explains that this ‘holiness’ refers to transcending the letter of the law and imbuing day-to-day decisions with spirituality.
Seforno, on the other hand, identifies 'holiness' with 'being Gd-like,' imitating the acts of HaShem described in the Torah and drawing closer to HaShem in general.
In this context, we are given a series of financial laws mandating meticulous honesty in our transactions, respect and love for others, and generosity toward those in need. We are taught to love even the stranger who has come to us from the outside, and to take care not to harm him.
The latter part of the portion reiterates a constant biblical message, warning the Jews not to imitate the Egyptians and Canaanites. Various activities associated with idol worship and sexual immorality are forbidden, as the Jews are supposed to develop a lifestyle which will reflect the Torah and its values.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
This week's portion is Kedoshim.
Kedoshim begins with various laws subsumed under the heading of "laws of holiness."
Nachmanides explains that this ‘holiness’ refers to transcending the letter of the law and imbuing day-to-day decisions with spirituality.
Seforno, on the other hand, identifies 'holiness' with 'being Gd-like,' imitating the acts of HaShem described in the Torah and drawing closer to HaShem in general.
In this context, we are given a series of financial laws mandating meticulous honesty in our transactions, respect and love for others, and generosity toward those in need. We are taught to love even the stranger who has come to us from the outside, and to take care not to harm him.
The latter part of the portion reiterates a constant biblical message, warning the Jews not to imitate the Egyptians and Canaanites. Various activities associated with idol worship and sexual immorality are forbidden, as the Jews are supposed to develop a lifestyle which will reflect the Torah and its values.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Acharei Mot
Hi,
This week's portion is Acharei Mot.
Our portion begins where Sh'mini, the portion from three weeks ago, left off. [The intervening two portions, Tazria and Metzora, listed ritual purity-related instructions Gd gave to Aharon (Aaron) during the events that occurred during the Sh'mini portion.]
Now, having dedicated the Mishkan in Sh'mini, the Jews learn about the Mishkan's greatest day of the year, Yom Kippur. Specifically, they learn about the offerings of Yom Kippur and that day's special capacity for purification.
After this section the Torah provides general rules related to offerings. Among the benefits of these rules, such as the laws prohibiting consuming blood and bringing offerings outside the Mishkan, is that they help keep people away from idolatry.
The portion concludes with the laws prohibiting immoral relationships; these laws are mentioned here because the prohibited relationships were actually part of the practices of the idolatrous Egyptian and Canaanite cults that Gd wanted the Jews to reject.
Note that there will be no Torah Portion Outline next week, since the Shabbat reading will be a Pesach reading (from the portion of B'shalach).
Have a great day,
Mordechai
This week's portion is Acharei Mot.
Our portion begins where Sh'mini, the portion from three weeks ago, left off. [The intervening two portions, Tazria and Metzora, listed ritual purity-related instructions Gd gave to Aharon (Aaron) during the events that occurred during the Sh'mini portion.]
Now, having dedicated the Mishkan in Sh'mini, the Jews learn about the Mishkan's greatest day of the year, Yom Kippur. Specifically, they learn about the offerings of Yom Kippur and that day's special capacity for purification.
After this section the Torah provides general rules related to offerings. Among the benefits of these rules, such as the laws prohibiting consuming blood and bringing offerings outside the Mishkan, is that they help keep people away from idolatry.
The portion concludes with the laws prohibiting immoral relationships; these laws are mentioned here because the prohibited relationships were actually part of the practices of the idolatrous Egyptian and Canaanite cults that Gd wanted the Jews to reject.
Note that there will be no Torah Portion Outline next week, since the Shabbat reading will be a Pesach reading (from the portion of B'shalach).
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Metzora
Hi,
This week's portion is Metzora.
The portion of Metzora defines the process of repair for a person with Tzaraat. Our sages teach that even when Tzaraat manifests itself as a skin disease (as opposed to the clearly supernatural marks on clothes or walls), it represents an internal, spiritual disease related to slandering other people.
The treatment process for Tzaraat begins with inspection by a Kohen to determine whether one truly has Tzaraat, and to determine the end of the Tzaraat infection. One then immerses in a Mikvah, and brings offerings in the Beit haMikdash (Temple).
The portion then continues to discuss the appearance of Tzaraat marks on a person’s home, and what one should do if he sees such marks.
The portion concludes by discussing Tumah - ritual impurity - associated with male and female discharges. As some explain it, Tumah is associated with the loss of potential for life. Thus men with genital discharge, or women who lose an egg, go through a period of Tumah and then purify themselves in a Mikvah.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
This week's portion is Metzora.
The portion of Metzora defines the process of repair for a person with Tzaraat. Our sages teach that even when Tzaraat manifests itself as a skin disease (as opposed to the clearly supernatural marks on clothes or walls), it represents an internal, spiritual disease related to slandering other people.
The treatment process for Tzaraat begins with inspection by a Kohen to determine whether one truly has Tzaraat, and to determine the end of the Tzaraat infection. One then immerses in a Mikvah, and brings offerings in the Beit haMikdash (Temple).
The portion then continues to discuss the appearance of Tzaraat marks on a person’s home, and what one should do if he sees such marks.
The portion concludes by discussing Tumah - ritual impurity - associated with male and female discharges. As some explain it, Tumah is associated with the loss of potential for life. Thus men with genital discharge, or women who lose an egg, go through a period of Tumah and then purify themselves in a Mikvah.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Tazria and HaChodesh
Hi,
This week we read two portions: Tazria, and an additional segment called HaChodesh.
Tazria
The end of the previous Torah portion, Sh'mini, dealt with laws of ritual purity, and that theme continues into this Torah portion, Tazria.
The Torah portion describes a rite of purification and a set of offerings brought by a woman after giving birth. According to one explanation of the Torah portion, one must go through a rite of purification after any experience involving creation or destruction of life. Thus one who comes into contact with the dead requires such a rite, and a woman who loses an egg goes through such a rite - and so does a woman who had been carrying an extra life as part of her, and now no longer is.
The Torah portion then describes Tzaraat, which is usually mis-translated as ‘leprosy.’ Tzaraat is not the same as the modern skin ailment called ‘leprosy.’ Tzaraat is a spiritual malady which manifests itself physically as marks on one’s skin. The marks are shown to a Kohen, who determines whether they are leprous or not. (For proof that this is not the same as any physical ailment, realize that this phenomenon may appear on clothing or homes!)
This disease is usually understood as punishment for slander against others – if a person publicly maligns others, that person finds himself publicly maligned, by his own skin. The marks may also appear on one’s skin, or even one’s home.
HaChodesh
Each year we add a special reading on the week before the start of the month of Nisan. This reading, called "HaChodesh," includes Gd’s declaration to Moshe in Egypt that the Jewish annual calendar should start with the 1st of Nisan, and Gd’s initial instructions to the Jews regarding preparations for the first Pesach.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
This week we read two portions: Tazria, and an additional segment called HaChodesh.
Tazria
The end of the previous Torah portion, Sh'mini, dealt with laws of ritual purity, and that theme continues into this Torah portion, Tazria.
The Torah portion describes a rite of purification and a set of offerings brought by a woman after giving birth. According to one explanation of the Torah portion, one must go through a rite of purification after any experience involving creation or destruction of life. Thus one who comes into contact with the dead requires such a rite, and a woman who loses an egg goes through such a rite - and so does a woman who had been carrying an extra life as part of her, and now no longer is.
The Torah portion then describes Tzaraat, which is usually mis-translated as ‘leprosy.’ Tzaraat is not the same as the modern skin ailment called ‘leprosy.’ Tzaraat is a spiritual malady which manifests itself physically as marks on one’s skin. The marks are shown to a Kohen, who determines whether they are leprous or not. (For proof that this is not the same as any physical ailment, realize that this phenomenon may appear on clothing or homes!)
This disease is usually understood as punishment for slander against others – if a person publicly maligns others, that person finds himself publicly maligned, by his own skin. The marks may also appear on one’s skin, or even one’s home.
HaChodesh
Each year we add a special reading on the week before the start of the month of Nisan. This reading, called "HaChodesh," includes Gd’s declaration to Moshe in Egypt that the Jewish annual calendar should start with the 1st of Nisan, and Gd’s initial instructions to the Jews regarding preparations for the first Pesach.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Shemini and Parah
Hello,
This week we read the regular portion of Shemini and an additional portion called Parah.
Sh'mini
This portion begins with the 8th day of the 8-day dedication of the Mishkan, the Jews’ Tabernacle with which they travelled through the desert. They brought special offerings for this day.
Aharon was the Kohen Gadol (Head Kohen), and he led the service in the Mishkan, for the first time.
Two of his sons, Nadav and Avihu, attempted to bring an unscheduled offering of incense on their first day on the job, while they were somewhat intoxicated from the celebrations of the Mishkan. A fire emerged from inside the Temple and consumed them.
Aharon was instructed to complete the service regardless of the death of his sons. He and Moshe disagreed about proper disposal of offerings in Aharon’s state of mourning; Aharon proved to be correct.
Moshe and Aharon were then given a joint instruction to convey to the nation – they were taught the laws of keeping Kosher:
1. Animals must have split hooves and must chew their cuds.
2. Fish must have fins and scales.
3. Almost all flying, swimming and crawling bugs are prohibited. Some grasshoppers are permitted, though.
4. Only certain birds are Kosher.
The Jews were taught these laws of keeping Kosher as part of using their animal aspects (eating) to attain holiness.
They were also taught about Tumah, a form of ritual impurity which could be communicated by various creatures.
Parah
Parah is the opening part of the portion of Chukat, found in the book of Bamidbar (Numbers).
In preparation for Passover, the Jews of Temple times were instructed to make themselves Tahor (ritually prepared) in order to be able to bring the Passover Offering. The rite of purification centered on the ashes of a slaughtered Parah Adumah (Red Heifer).
In order to remind people to begin this process before Passover, we read about the Red Heifer on the Shabbat preceding the Shabbat preceding the month of Nisan. Some consider this a biblical obligation, as part of preparing for Passover.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
This week we read the regular portion of Shemini and an additional portion called Parah.
Sh'mini
This portion begins with the 8th day of the 8-day dedication of the Mishkan, the Jews’ Tabernacle with which they travelled through the desert. They brought special offerings for this day.
Aharon was the Kohen Gadol (Head Kohen), and he led the service in the Mishkan, for the first time.
Two of his sons, Nadav and Avihu, attempted to bring an unscheduled offering of incense on their first day on the job, while they were somewhat intoxicated from the celebrations of the Mishkan. A fire emerged from inside the Temple and consumed them.
Aharon was instructed to complete the service regardless of the death of his sons. He and Moshe disagreed about proper disposal of offerings in Aharon’s state of mourning; Aharon proved to be correct.
Moshe and Aharon were then given a joint instruction to convey to the nation – they were taught the laws of keeping Kosher:
1. Animals must have split hooves and must chew their cuds.
2. Fish must have fins and scales.
3. Almost all flying, swimming and crawling bugs are prohibited. Some grasshoppers are permitted, though.
4. Only certain birds are Kosher.
The Jews were taught these laws of keeping Kosher as part of using their animal aspects (eating) to attain holiness.
They were also taught about Tumah, a form of ritual impurity which could be communicated by various creatures.
Parah
Parah is the opening part of the portion of Chukat, found in the book of Bamidbar (Numbers).
In preparation for Passover, the Jews of Temple times were instructed to make themselves Tahor (ritually prepared) in order to be able to bring the Passover Offering. The rite of purification centered on the ashes of a slaughtered Parah Adumah (Red Heifer).
In order to remind people to begin this process before Passover, we read about the Red Heifer on the Shabbat preceding the Shabbat preceding the month of Nisan. Some consider this a biblical obligation, as part of preparing for Passover.
Have a great day,
Mordechai
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