Beth Zion Congregation
10 communiqués
Parsha Bamidbar
This Shabbat we read Parshat Bamidbar, the start of the fourth book of the Torah. We find the Jewish people wandering through the desert, starting their epic 40-year journey. But first, Moses and Aaron take a census of the Jewish people. This is the reason that the English name for this book is Numbers. According […]
Parsha Behar – Bechukotai
In many ancient cultures, slavery was a social and economic necessity. In Parashat Behar, the Torah outlines the laws of slavery that would apply throughout B’nei Yisroel (the Jewish people) upon their settlement in Israel. Unlike some of the prevalent practices, for B’nei Yisroel , the institution of slavery would exist only within a carefully […]
Parsha Emor
Parashat Emor (Vayikra 21–24) opens with a striking, almost redundant phrase: “Speak to the Kohanim, the sons of Aharon, and say to them…” (21:1) Chazal famously ask: why the double language — emor… ve’amarta? Rashi, quoting the Midrash, explains: “lehazhir gedolim al haktanim” — to warn the adults regarding the minors. The Kohanim are commanded […]
Acharei Mot/Kedoshim
Parashat Acharei Mot describes a very strange sacrificial ceremony performed by the Kohen Gadol on Yom Kippur to atone for the sins of Bnei Yisrael. The Kohen Gadol takes two identical goats and places Goralot – lots -on each of them: one lot for Hashem and one lot for Azazeil (the scapegoat). He takes the […]
Parsha Tazria-Metzora
A person who contracted the skin disease of tzora’as – leprosy – was not allowed to enter the Sanctuary. Thus, when a person’s skin color indicated that he might have the disease, he was examined by a Kohen. If the Kohen, after examining the spots or scabs on the person’s skin, was unable to make […]
Parsha Shemini
This week, we read the portion of Shemini, which means “the eighth”. It refers to the eighth day of the opening of the Tabernacle in the desert, which was actually its first day of regular activity, after seven days of inaugural rituals and sacrifices performed by Moshe, Aharon, and the other priests. On this celebratory […]
Shabbat Chol Hamoed Pesach
The Rambam, in his philosophical work the Moreh Nevuchim, (3:43) offers a reason for the Mitzvah of Sefirat Haomer, noting that Matan Torah was the goal of Yetzi’at Mitzrayim. The Rambam explains that we anxiously await our Matan Torah commemoration (Shavuot) after we have commemorated Yetzi’at Mitzrayim on Pesach. Just as one who anticipates meeting a loved one […]
Parsha Tzav
“A constant fire shall burn upon the altar; it shall never go out.” (6:6) Throughout their journeys in the wilderness, the Jewish People carried with them the Mishkan. The word Mishkan comes from the word in Hebrew which means “to dwell.” Through the Mishkan, G-d caused the Divine Presence, the Shechina, to dwell amongst the Jewish People. There […]
Parsha Vayikra
This week’s Torah reading begins with the following statement: “And He (God) called to Moshe (Moses)” Rabbi Tzvi Black explains that the word “Vayikra” (and he called) indicates an indication of love that God had for Moses. Moses -so to speak- received a personal “calling” or invitation whenever God wished to speak with him. The […]
Parsha Vayakhel – Pekudei
At the outset of Parshat Vayekhel, we read that Moses assembles all the Israelites and gives them instructions concerning the Sabbath. He states as follows: “Six days work may be done, but on the seventh day you shall have a Sabbath of complete rest, holy to the lord; whoever does any work on it shall […]
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