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B’chukotai – בְּחֻקֹּתי (Leviticus 26:3-27:34)

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This Week’s Torah Portion: B’chukotai – בְּחֻקֹּתי (Leviticus 26:3-27:34)

“If you follow my laws” (If you do what I tell you), says God to our people, “you will be rewarded, if you do not you will be punished.” Then we read 13 verses about rewards, followed by 32 verses regarding punishment and curses on us if we do not listen to God.

We all know this is not true in real life, good people suffer many times through no fault of their own, and evil people prosper, for no good reason. This is a misleading Torah teaching.

Parsha B’chukotai – בְּחֻקֹּתי Torah Summary:

God promises blessings to the Children of Israel if they follow the law and warns about the curses that will befall the people if they do not observe God’s commandments. (26:1-46) Gifts made to the Sanctuary whether by conditional vows or by unconditional acts of pious gratitude are discussed. (27:1-34) B’chukotai – בְּחֻקֹּתי “If you follow my laws” (If you do what I tell you), says God to our people, “you will be rewarded, if you do not you will be punished.” Then we read 13 verses about rewards, followed by 32 verses regarding punishment and curses on us if we do not listen to God. We all know this is not true in real life, good people suffer many times through no fault of their own, and evil people prosper, for no good reason. This is a misleading Torah teaching.

B’har – בְּהַר (Leviticus 25:1-26:2) (copy)

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This Week’s Torah Portion: B’har – בְּהַר (Leviticus 25:1-26:2)

“You shall proclaim liberty throughout the land for all its inhabitants” Leviticus 25:10, also written on the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia. The Torah strongly believes every human being deserves to be free. We are the first religion and culture that values freedom and dignity for every human being.

Parsha B’har – בְּהַר Torah Summary:

God instructs Moses to tell the Israelites that in every seventh year, the land shall observe a Sabbath of complete rest: Fields should not be sown and vines should not be pruned. (25:1-7) After forty-nine years, a jubilee year is to be celebrated when all the land that had been sold during that time should be returned to its original owners and slaves are to be freed. (25:8-55) God instructs Moses to tell the Israelites not to make idols, to keep the sabbath, and to venerate the sanctuary of the Eternal. (26:1-2) B’har – בְּהַר “You shall proclaim liberty throughout the land for all its inhabitants” Leviticus 25:10, also written on the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia. The Torah strongly believes every human being deserves to be free. We are the first religion and culture that values freedom and dignity for every human being.

Emor – אֱמֹר (Leviticus 21:1−24:23)

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This Week’s Torah Portion: Emor – אֱמֹר (Leviticus 21:1−24:23)

“Fracture for fracture, eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth. The injury inflicted on a human being shall be inflicted in return” Leviticus 24:20. The Torah has a huge appreciation for human lives, we were created in the image of God if you hurt another human being, you will be hurt similarly.

Parsha Emor – אֱמֹר Torah Summary:

Laws regulating the lives and sacrifices of the priests are presented. (21:1-22:33) The set times of the Jewish calendar are named and described: the Sabbath, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and the Pilgrimage Festivals of Pesach, Shavuot, and Sukkot. (23:1-44) God commands the Israelites to bring clear olive oil for lighting the sanctuary menorah. The ingredients and placement of the displayed loaves of sanctuary bread are explained. (24:1-9) Laws dealing with profanity, murder, and the maiming of others are outlined. (24:10-23) Emor – אֱמֹר “Fracture for fracture, eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth. The injury inflicted on a human being shall be inflicted in return” Leviticus 24:20. The Torah has a huge appreciation for human lives, we were created in the image of God if you hurt another human being, you will be hurt similarly.

K’doshim – קְדֹשִׁים (Leviticus 19:1-20:27)

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This Week’s Torah Portion: K’doshim – קְדֹשִׁים (Leviticus 19:1-20:27)

“You shall be holy, for I, your God יהוה, am holy” Leviticus 19:2. God is the total other, how can we be as holy as God? We strive to achieve holiness through acts of kindness and compassion! “The strangers who reside with you shall be to you as your citizens; you shall love each one as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I יהוה am your God” Leviticus 19:34. Our history should lead us to empathy and kindness, towards our kin and the strangers amongst us.

K’doshim – קְדֹשִׁים Torah Summary:

God issues a variety of commandments, instructing the Israelites on how to be a holy people. (19:1-37) Various sex offenses are discussed and punishments for them are presented. (20:1-27) K’doshim – קְדֹשִׁים “You shall be holy, for I, your God יהוה, am holy” Leviticus 19:2. God is the total other, how can we be as holy as God? We strive to achieve holiness through acts of kindness and compassion! “The strangers who reside with you shall be to you as your citizens; you shall love each one as yourself, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I יהוה am your God” Leviticus 19:34. Our history should lead us to empathy and kindness, towards our kin and the strangers amongst us.

Acharei Mot – אַחֲרֵי מוֹת (Leviticus 16:1–18:30)

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This Week’s Torah Portion: Acharei Mot – אַחֲרֵי מוֹת (Leviticus 16:1–18:30)

The Torah portion that believes in boundaries, boundaries between the sacred and the daily, between humans and God. Religious fever can be dangerous, in the name of God religious zealots do horrible things to other people. The Torah teaches that too much religious fever is dangerous! We know from our history, ancient and recent, how dangerous religious zealotry can be! We have seen pure evil coming from Hamas, we also see Jewish zealots do horrible things to innocent Palestinians. The Torah does not tolerate any of those actions.

Parsha Acharei Mot – אַחֲרֵי מוֹת Torah Summary:

The duties that the head kohein must perform on Yom Kippur are delineated and the ceremony of the scapegoat is outlined. (16:1-28) Moses instructs Aaron about the Yom Kippur laws for fasting and atonement. (16:29-34) Warnings are issued against the offering of sacrifices outside the Sanctuary and the consumption of blood. (17:1-16) Moses condemns the sexual practices of some neighboring peoples. Certain forms of sexual relations are prohibited. (18:1-30) Acharei Mot – אַחֲרֵי מוֹת The Torah portion that believes in boundaries, boundaries between the sacred and the daily, between humans and God. Religious fever can be dangerous, in the name of God religious zealots do horrible things to other people. The Torah teaches that too much religious fever is dangerous! We know from our history, ancient and recent, how dangerous religious zealotry can be! We have seen pure evil coming from Hamas, we also see Jewish zealots do horrible things to innocent Palestinians. The Torah does not tolerate any of those actions.