Shemot is both the title for the second book from the scroll of the Torah and the title of the first Torah portion therein. Shemot means “names.” The English-speaking world calls this book Exodus. The Hebrew title for the book comes from the opening phrase of the book: “Now these are the names of the sons of […]
The second reading from the book of Exodus and fourteenth reading from the Torah is named Va’era, which means “and I appeared.” The title comes from the first words of the second verse of the reading, which says, “And I appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, as God Almighty” (Exodus 6:3). The portion begins with […]
The fifteenth reading from the Torah is named Bo, which means “come.” The title comes from the first words of the first verse of the reading, which say, “Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘ to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart’” (Exodus 10:1). The portion begins by concluding the narrative of the ten […]
The sixteenth reading from the Torah is named Beshalach, which means “when he sent.” The title comes from the first verse of the reading, which can be literally translated to say, “And it happened when Pharaoh sent out the people.” The reading tells the adventures of the Israelites as they leave Egypt, cross the Red […]
The seventeenth reading from the Torah is named Yitro, which is the literal Hebrew behind the name Jethro. The title comes from the first words of the first verse of the reading, which says, “Now Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses and for Israel His […]
The eighteenth reading from the Torah is named Mishpatim, which means “judgments.” The title comes from the first words of the first verse of the reading, which could be literally translated to say, “And these are the judgments which you will place before them” (Exodus 21:1). The first three chapters of this Torah portion deliver […]
The nineteenth reading from the Torah is named Terumah. In Exodus 25:2, the LORD commanded Moses to “tell the sons of Israel to a contribution for Me.” The word translated as “contribution” is terumah, which is the name of this Torah portion. Terumah is a word with no real English equivalent. In the Torah, terumah refers to a certain type […]
Tetzaveh is the twentieth reading from the Torah. Tetzaveh means “you shall command,” as in the first verse of the reading, which says, “You shall the sons of Israel, that they bring you clear oil of beaten olives for the light, to make a lamp burn continually” (Exodus 27:20). This Torah portion continues to narrate the instructions […]
The twenty-second reading from the Torah and the second-to-last reading from the book of Exodus is called Vayak’hel, which means “and he assembled.” The name comes from the first words of the first verse of the reading, which could be literally translated to read, “And Moses assembled all the congregation of the sons of Israel” […]
The title “Leviticus” is derived from the Greek Septuagint (LXX) version of the Torah. The book of Leviticus is predominantly concerned with Levitical rituals. An older Hebrew name for the book was “The Laws of the Priesthood,” but in Judaism today, it is referred to by the name Vayikra, which means “And He called.” Vayikra is the […]
The twenty-fifth reading from the Torah and second reading from the book of Leviticus is called Tzav, which means “command.” The name comes from the first word of Leviticus 6:9 where the LORD says to Moses, “Command Aaron and his sons.” Tzav reiterates the five types of sacrifices introduced in the previous portion and discusses […]
Sh’mini is the twenty-sixth reading from the Torah and third reading from the book of Leviticus. The word sh’mini means “eighth,” and it comes from the first words of Leviticus 9:1, which says, “Now it came about on the eighth day that Moses called Aaron and his sons and the elders of Israel” (Leviticus 9:1). The text […]
The name of the twenty-seventh reading from the Torah is Tazria, which means “conceived.” The name is derived from the words of Leviticus 12:2 where the LORD says to Moses, “When a woman and bears a male child.” Leviticus 12 discusses the laws of purification after childbirth. Leviticus 13 introduces the laws for diagnosing and […]
The twenty-ninth reading from the Torah and sixth reading from Leviticus is named Acharei Mot, two words that mean “after the death.” The title comes from the first words of the first verse of the reading, which say, “Now the LORD spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron” (Leviticus 16:1). […]