Parshat Behar-Bechukotai | Infusing holiness into our days
This week, we conclude the Book of Leviticus, whose aim is the establishment of holiness. Leviticus begins with a description of the sacrificial system...
Pesach Sheni | The lessons of the Second Passover
By Rabbi Chesky Tenenbaum
On Monday we celebrated Pesach Sheni (the Second Passover). The first Passover sacrifice was brought in Egypt in the year 2448...
Parshat Achrei Mot-Kedoshim: On our life experiences and Judaism
By Rabbi Elliot Kaplowitz
This week we read the double portion of Achrei Mot-Kedoshim. Parshat Achrei Mot opens by referencing the death of Aaron’s sons,...
Parshat Tazria-Metzorah: Why we blame those who are victims of random events
By Clifford S. Fishman
Leviticus chapter 13 contains a 44-verse recitation of the symptoms, diagnosis and treatment of a skin condition — tzara’at — that...
Parshat Shmini: Mourning in unusual circumstances
By Rabbi Daniel Plotkin
Parshat Shmini, unusual for a portion in Leviticus, begins with a narrative section. The Tabernacle is dedicated, and Aaron and his...
Passover: Singing the Song of the Sea … again
By Rabbi Neil Tow
Every Friday night, we sing Shiru L’Ado — nai Shir Chadash (Psalm 96) “Sing to God a new song,” and many...
Parshat Tzav: Tending to the fire of prayer
By Rabbi Linda Joseph
Here comes the rabbi’s confession: I struggle with prayer on Zoom. Because I must manage slide sharing, silencing congregants and other...
Parshat Vayikra: Why Leviticus can bring us closer
By Rabbi Lia Bass
I love the Book of Leviticus. It contains many important lessons about the power of community, and pathways for encountering the...
Parshat Vayakhel-Pekudei: A pledge to do and to hearken
By Donald Ray Schwartz
In this week’s parshah, which closes the Book of Exodus, we are gifted with the Torah. Our ancestors pledged to do...
Parshat Ki Tisa: What the census teaches us
By Hailey Cohen
My Torah portion is about the census of the Jewish people. Instead of doing the census the way we do it today,...
