5101 US-42 • LOUISVILLE, KY 40241 • (502) 423-1818

Sh’mini – שְׁמִינִי (Leviticus 9:1-11:47)

/in

This Week’s Torah Portion: Sh’mini – שְׁמִינִי (Leviticus 9:1-11:47)

So many times we do everything by the book, everything the way we learned and know how to do it, and still, nothing happens the way it should! We need to try again, not to quit. With God’s or other people’s help, the second or third attempt might work.

Parsha Sh’mini – שְׁמִינִי Torah Summary:

Aaron and his sons follow Moses’ instructions and offer sacrifices so that God will forgive the people. (9:1-24) Two of Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, offer “alien fire” to God. God punishes these two priests by killing them immediately. (10:1-3) God forbids Moses, Aaron, and his surviving sons from mourning but commands the rest of the people to do so. Priests are told not to drink alcohol before entering the sacred Tabernacle and are further instructed about making sacrifices. (10:4-20) Laws are given to distinguish between pure and impure animals, birds, fish, and insects. (11:1-47) Sh’mini – שְׁמִינִי So many times we do everything by the book, everything the way we learned and know how to do it, and still, nothing happens the way it should! We need to try again, not to quit. With God’s or other people’s help, the second or third attempt might work. Aaron and his sons follow Moses’ instructions and offer sacrifices so that God will forgive the people. (9:1-24) Two of Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu, offer “alien fire” to God. God punishes these two priests by killing them immediately. (10:1-3) God forbids Moses, Aaron, and his surviving sons from mourning but commands the rest of the people to do so. Priests are told not to drink alcohol before entering the sacred Tabernacle and are further instructed about making sacrifices. (10:4-20) Laws are given to distinguish between pure and impure animals, birds, fish, and insects. (11:1-47) Sh’mini – שְׁמִינִי

Seventh Day of Passover – יוֹם שְׁבִיעִי שֶׁל פֶּסַח (Exodus 14:30–15:21)

/in

This Week’s Torah Portion: Seventh Day of Passover – יוֹם שְׁבִיעִי שֶׁל פֶּסַח (Exodus 14:30–15:21)

More than 90% of world Jewry reads the Passover Haggadah. An annual program of action, a journey that takes us from bondage to freedom.

There are 15 stages of hope in the Haggadah, from Egypt to the Promised land. We end the story by hoping to be free next year. This is the constant Jewish aspiration for freedom.

Anyone who asks, “How can we celebrate this year?” should be reminded that the first celebration of Passover happened when we were still in Egypt, and the Egyptians were still oppressing us.

Passover is not a celebration because we have reached our destination, but rather an important reminder what is our destination. It is a night in which there is both matzah and bittersweet, both praise for what we have (“dayinu”), and also prayer and hope for a better future.

Seventh Day of Passover – יוֹם שְׁבִיעִי שֶׁל פֶּסַח Torah Summary:

As the observance of Passover draws to an end, the Torah portion includes the dramatic recounting of the splitting of the sea in this poem known as “The Song at the Sea.” Written with great emotion, this poem attempts to convey the power of “God’s might hand.” So powerful is the imagery that verses of this poem have become part of the Jewish liturgy. The poem comes to a climatic finish with Miriam, the prophetess, picking up her timbrel and leading the women in dance. Seventh Day of Passover – יוֹם שְׁבִיעִי שֶׁל פֶּסַח

Tzav – צַו (Leviticus 6:1−8:36)

/in

This Week’s Torah Portion: Tzav – צַו (Leviticus 6:1−8:36)

“The fire on the altar shall be kept burning, not to go out:” (Leviticus 6:5) – the unending human attempt to connect with the Divine. Fire is a symbol for the Divine presence – we want the fire to burn 24/7 at the dwelling place of God. We want God to be ever present in our lives

Parsha Tzav – צַו Torah Summary:

The five sacrifices that the priests are to perform are described. (6:1-7:38) Limitations on the consumption of meat are delineated. (7:17-27) Details about the ordination of Aaron and his sons as priests and the preparation of the Tabernacle as a holy place are given. (8:1-36) Tzav – צַו “The fire on the altar shall be kept burning, not to go out:” (Leviticus 6:5) – the unending human attempt to connect with the Divine. Fire is a symbol for the Divine presence – we want the fire to burn 24/7 at the dwelling place of God. We want God to be ever present in our lives

Vayikra – וַיִּקְרָא (Leviticus 1:1−5:26)

/in

This Week’s Torah Portion: Vayikra – וַיִּקְרָא (Leviticus 1:1−5:26)

“When a leader (chieftain in the Hebrew) sins and incurs guilt by doing unwittingly any of the things which by the commandment of his God יהוה ought not to be done” Leviticus 4:22

Rashi: based on many places in the Talmud — “The word אשר is connected in meaning with ‎‎‏אשרי “happy”. Happy is the generation whose leader takes care to bring an atonement sacrifice even for an inadvertent act of his; how much the more certain is it that he will do penance for his willful sins”! Let’s pray for a leader who takes responsibility for their mistakes and admits them and publicly atones for their sins and mistakes.

Parsha Vayikra – וַיִּקְרָא Torah Summary:

God instructs Moses on the five different kinds of sacrifices that were to be offered in the sanctuary: The olah or “burnt offering” was a voluntary sacrifice that had a high degree of sanctity and was regarded as the “standard” offering. The entire animal, except for its hide, was burned on the altar. (1:1-17) The minchah or “meal offering” was a sacrifice made of flour, oil, salt, and frankincense that was partly burned on the altar and partly given to the priests to eat. (2:1-16) The zevach sh’lamim or “sacrifice of well-being” was a voluntary animal offering from one’s herd, sometimes brought to fulfill a vow. (3:1-17) The chatat or “sin offering” was an obligatory sacrifice that was offered to expiate unintentional sins. This offering differs from the others in the special treatment of the blood of the animal. (4:1-5:13) The asham or “penalty offering” was an obligatory sacrifice of a ram that was required chiefly of one who had misappropriated property. (5:1-26) Vayikra – וַיִּקְרָא “When a leader (chieftain in the Hebrew) sins and incurs guilt by doing unwittingly any of the things which by the commandment of his God יהוה ought not to be done” Leviticus 4:22 Rashi: based on many places in the Talmud — “The word אשר is connected in meaning with ‎‎‏אשרי “happy”. Happy is the generation whose leader takes care to bring an atonement sacrifice even for an inadvertent act of his; how much the more certain is it that he will do penance for his willful sins”! Let’s pray for a leader who takes responsibility for their mistakes and admits them and publicly atones for their sins and mistakes.