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). […]
Portion Summary The thirty-first reading from the Torah is called Emor, a title that comes from the first verse of the reading, which says, “Then the LORD said to Moses, ‘Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron’” (Leviticus 21:1). Emor begins with special laws of sanctity, propriety, and purity for the priesthood. Leviticus 23 […]
Portion Summary The thirty-second reading from the Torah and second-to-last reading from the book of Leviticus is called Behar, which literally means “on the mountain.” The name comes from the first words of the first verse of the reading, which could be translated to read, “The LORD then spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai” (Leviticus […]
Portion Summary The Hebrew name of the fourth book of the Torah and the name of its first reading is Bamidbar, which means “in the wilderness.” It comes from the first words of the first verse, which say, “Then the LORD spoke to Moses in the wilderness of Sinai” (Numbers 1:1). The English title of […]
Portion Summary The second reading from the book of Numbers and the thirty-fifth reading from the Torah is called Nasso, a word that literally means “lift up.” It comes from the first word of the second verse in Hebrew, which could literally be translated to say, “Lift up the heads of the sons of Gershon,” […]
Fifty days after the resurrection of the Master, God poured the Holy Spirit onto his disciples.
Portion Summary The third reading from the book of Numbers and the thirty-sixth reading from the Torah is called Beha’alotcha, a word that literally means “when you ascend.” It comes from the first verse of the portion, which could literally be translated as “when you ascend the lamps” (Numbers 8:2), a reference to the fact […]
Portion Summary The thirty-seventh reading from the Torah is called Shelach, an imperative verb that means “send out.” The portion is so named from the first few words of the second verse: “Send out for yourself men so that they may spy out the land of Canaan” (Numbers 13:2). The Torah reading tells the tragic […]
Portion Summary Korah (Korach in Hebrew) was the name of a prominent Levite. It is also the name of the thirty-eighth reading from the Torah. It comes from the first verse of this week's reading, which says, “Now Korah the son of Izhar … took action” (Numbers 16:1). This week’s Torah reading tells the story of […]
Portion Summary Chukat is the thirty-ninth reading from the Torah. The word chukat means “statute.” The name is derived from the second verse of the reading: “This is the statute of the law which the LORD has commanded” (Numbers 19:2). Chukat presents the mysterious laws of the red-heifer ceremony for purification after contact with human death. This […]
Portion Summary Balak was the name of a Moabite king in the days of Moses. It is also the name of the fortieth reading from the Torah. It comes from the second verse of this week’s reading, which says, “Now Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites” (Numbers […]