Parashat Vayikra (And He Called) Vayikra (Leviticus) 1:1–5:26 Haftarah: Isaiah 43:21–44:23 This week, we begin reading from the Book of Leviticus. I was talking to a good friend of mine about it, and he rightly … Read More
Holding On Too Tight
Parashat Bahar (On the Mountain)& Bechukotai (In My Decrees) VaYikra (Leviticus) 25:1–26:2 & 26:3–27:34 Our weekly reading made me think about things that we hold on to, and the possessions that we think belong to … Read More
Deadly Sin
Parashat Acharei Mot (After the Death) & Parashat Kedoshim (Holy Ones) VaYikra (Leviticus) 16:1–18:30 & 19:1–20:27 Our weekly Scripture reading brings us to two very interesting portions, “After Death” and “Holy Ones”. I have previously … Read More
Bold Belief
Parashat Tazria (She Conceives) & Metzora (Leprosy) VaYikra (Leviticus) 12:1–13:8 & 14:1–15:33 In our Scripture reading this week, we read an interesting and sometimes puzzling set of purity laws that have a powerful connection to … Read More
A Strange Fire
Parashat Shmini (Eighth) Vayikra (Leviticus) 9:1–11:47 In my last blog entry, Don’t Miss this Opportunity, I wrote that, if after the current Covid-19 pandemic, everything will simply “return to normal”, we will have missed an … Read More
God’s Endless Grace
Parashat Bechukotai (In my decrees) Vayikra (Leviticus) 26:3–27:34 Our weekly parasha opens with the word “if”: If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments so as to carry them out. Leviticus 26:3 “If”, … Read More
Slaves to Righteousness
Parashat Bahar (On the Mountain) Vayikra (Leviticus) 25:1–26:2 In this week’s Scripture portion, we find a description of what is known as the Sabbatical Year (“Year of Shmita”), which is the seventh year of the … Read More
Cleanse the Unclean
Parashat Emor (Say) Vayikra (Leviticus) 21:1–24:3 The Tanakh (Hebrew Scriptures) have a great deal to say about cleanliness. Nothing unclean could come before God, because He is holy. As I was reading this week’s Parasha … Read More