My notes on Vayikra

Parashat Vayikra (Leviticus 1-6:7) Leviticus 1 1:1   And the LORD called unto Moses, and spake unto him out of the tabernacle of the congregation, saying, Comment: This portion is named Vayikra, which means “(He) called”, taken from this verse 1:1.  Vayikra is also the “Jewish name” of this book Leviticus. This is the middle… Continue reading My notes on Vayikra

My notes on Pekudei

Parashat Pekudei (Exodus 38:21-40:38) (Parashat Vayakhel and Parashat Pekudei are often read together in the same week, in a non leap Jewish year. See https://aish.com/double-torah-portion/.) Exodus 38 (continued) 38:27   And of the hundred talents of silver were cast the sockets of the sanctuary, and the sockets of the vail; an hundred sockets of the… Continue reading My notes on Pekudei

My notes on Vayakhel

Parashat Vayakhel (Exodus 35:1-38:20) (Parashat Vayakhel and the subsequent Parashat Pekudei are often read together in the same week, in a non leap Jewish year. See https://aish.com/double-torah-portion/.) Exodus 35 35:3   Ye shall kindle no fire throughout your habitations upon the sabbath day. Comment: Jews don’t cook with fire on Sabbath. Instead they have cooked… Continue reading My notes on Vayakhel

My notes on Ki Tisa

Parashat Ki Tisa (Exodus 30:11-34:35) Exodus 30 (continued) 30:20   When they go into the tabernacle of the congregation, they shall wash with water, that they die not; or when they come near to the altar to minister, to burn offering made by fire unto the LORD: Comment: Jews still wash hands ritually before praying.… Continue reading My notes on Ki Tisa

My notes on Tetzaveh

Parashat Tetzaveh (Exodus 27:20-30:10) Exodus 27 (continued) 27:20   And thou shalt command the children of Israel, that they bring thee pure oil olive beaten for the light, to cause the lamp to burn always. Comment: Gd’s chosen people is likened by oil in many ways: (Adapted from, e.g., https://www.sefaria.org/Shemot_Rabbah.36?lang=bi) (1) It gathers together. (See… Continue reading My notes on Tetzaveh

My notes on Terumah

Parashat Terumah (Exodus 25:1-27:19) Exodus 25 25:8   And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. Comment: “that I may dwell” (vshachanti in Hebrew):  this is the goal of building a sanctuary. The Hebrew word “dwell” is related to shechinah https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shekhinah, which can denote the presence of Gd. Gd’s present… Continue reading My notes on Terumah

My notes on Mishpatim

Parashat Mishpatim (Exodus 21-24) Exodus 21 21:1   Now these are the judgments which thou shalt set before them. Comments: After the giving of the 10 commandments, Gd taught many detailed laws.  “judgments”: mishpatim in Hebrew, means Torah laws that make common sense. https://torah.org/torah-portion/ravfrand-5757-behar/ This is in contrast to chukim (“ordinances”, such as the red… Continue reading My notes on Mishpatim