Events

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 […]