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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Portion Summary Pinchas is the Hebrew name translated in English Bibles as Phinehas. It is also the name of the forty-first reading from the Torah because of the second verse […]

Portion Summary Devarim is both the title for the last book from the scroll of the Torah and the title of the first Torah portion therein. Devarim means “words.” The English-speaking world […]

Portion Summary The forty-fifth reading from the Torah and the second reading from the book of Deuteronomy is named Va’etchanan, which means “and I besought.” The title comes from the […]