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T’tzaveh – תְּצַוֶּה (Exodus 27:20−30:10)

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This Week’s Torah Portion: T’tzaveh – תְּצַוֶּה (Exodus 27:20−30:10)

וְאַתָּ֗ה תְּדַבֵּר֙ אֶל־כׇּל־חַכְמֵי־לֵ֔ב אֲשֶׁ֥ר מִלֵּאתִ֖יו ר֣וּחַ חׇכְמָ֑ה וְעָשׂ֞וּ אֶת־בִּגְדֵ֧י אַהֲרֹ֛ן לְקַדְּשׁ֖וֹ לְכַהֲנוֹ־לִֽי׃

“And you shall speak with those who have wisdom in their heart, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they shall make the clothing for Aaron, sanctifying them to serve Me as priests” – Exodus 28:3

While Aaron and his sons were born into the responsibility of the priesthood, they were unable to perform their duties until the whole people chose to come together, with wisdom in their hearts, to make for them the sacred clothing required for them to offer sacrifices to God. This Shabbat, may we all pause to recognize the sacred wisdom that lives in our hearts, and that each of us has a holy responsibility to bring that wisdom into the world.

Parsha T’tzaveh – תְּצַוֶּה Torah Summary:

Make sacral vestments for your brother Aaron (The high priest), for dignity and adornment” (Exodus 28:2) The clothes might be making the person. But it should depend on our actions if we deserve dignity and adornment. Just because someone is in a position of power does not mean they deserve dignity or respect. T’tzaveh – תְּצַוֶּה וְאַתָּ֗ה תְּדַבֵּר֙ אֶל־כׇּל־חַכְמֵי־לֵ֔ב אֲשֶׁ֥ר מִלֵּאתִ֖יו ר֣וּחַ חׇכְמָ֑ה וְעָשׂ֞וּ אֶת־בִּגְדֵ֧י אַהֲרֹ֛ן לְקַדְּשׁ֖וֹ לְכַהֲנוֹ־לִֽי׃ “And you shall speak with those who have wisdom in their heart, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they shall make the clothing for Aaron, sanctifying them to serve Me as priests” – Exodus 28:3 While Aaron and his sons were born into the responsibility of the priesthood, they were unable to perform their duties until the whole people chose to come together, with wisdom in their hearts, to make for them the sacred clothing required for them to offer sacrifices to God. This Shabbat, may we all pause to recognize the sacred wisdom that lives in our hearts, and that each of us has a holy responsibility to bring that wisdom into the world.

T’rumah – תְּרוּמָה (Exodus 25:1−27:19)

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This Week’s Torah Portion: T’rumah – תְּרוּמָה (Exodus 25:1−27:19)

וְעָ֥שׂוּ לִ֖י מִקְדָּ֑שׁ וְשָׁכַנְתִּ֖י בְּתוֹכָֽם׃

“They shall make for Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst” – Exodus 25:8

The Torah teaches us that God is ready to dwell with us wherever we are; all we need to do is create an intentional opening to let the Divine in. This Shabbat, may we all have the wisdom to pause and the courage to open ourselves to the possibility of God dwelling among us, right here, right now.

Parsha T’rumah – תְּרוּמָה Torah Summary:

God asks the Children of Israel to donate gifts (t’rumah) for the building of the Tabernacle so that God may “dwell among them.” (25:1-9) Instructions for the construction of the Ark, table, and menorah are provided. (25:10-40) Detailed directions are given on how to build the Tabernacle. (26:1-27:19) T’rumah – תְּרוּמָה וְעָ֥שׂוּ לִ֖י מִקְדָּ֑שׁ וְשָׁכַנְתִּ֖י בְּתוֹכָֽם׃ “They shall make for Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst” – Exodus 25:8 The Torah teaches us that God is ready to dwell with us wherever we are; all we need to do is create an intentional opening to let the Divine in. This Shabbat, may we all have the wisdom to pause and the courage to open ourselves to the possibility of God dwelling among us, right here, right now.

Mishpatim – מִשְׁפָּטִים (Exodus 21:1−24:18)

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This Week’s Torah Portion: Mishpatim – מִשְׁפָּטִים (Exodus 21:1−24:18)

וְכִֽי־יִנָּצ֣וּ אֲנָשִׁ֗ים וְנָ֨גְפ֜וּ אִשָּׁ֤ה הָרָה֙ וְיָצְא֣וּ יְלָדֶ֔יהָ וְלֹ֥א יִהְיֶ֖ה אָס֑וֹן עָנ֣וֹשׁ יֵעָנֵ֗שׁ כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֨ר יָשִׁ֤ית עָלָיו֙ בַּ֣עַל הָֽאִשָּׁ֔ה וְנָתַ֖ן בִּפְלִלִֽים׃

“If men brawl and collide with a pregnant woman, causing a miscarriage, but no other damages are incurred, he shall surely be punished according to what the woman’s husband imposes on him, he shall pay by the judgment.” – Exodus 21:22

Jewish tradition teaches that each person is made in the Image of God, and that each person deserves respect and autonomy over their own bodies. May we have the courage to answer the Torah’s call to fight for freedom, safety, and bodily autonomy for all!

Parsha Mishpatim – מִשְׁפָּטִים Torah Summary:

Interpersonal laws ranging from the treatment of slaves to the exhibition of kindness to strangers are listed. (21:1-23:9) Cultic laws follow, including the commandment to observe the Sabbatical Year, a repetition of the Sabbath injunction, the first mention of the Three Pilgrimage Festivals, rules of sacrificial offerings, and the prohibition against boiling a kid in its mother’s milk. (23:10-19) The people assent to the covenant. Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and seventy elders of Israel ascend the mountain and see God. Moses goes on alone and spends forty days on the mountain. (24:1-18) Mishpatim – מִשְׁפָּטִים וְכִֽי־יִנָּצ֣וּ אֲנָשִׁ֗ים וְנָ֨גְפ֜וּ אִשָּׁ֤ה הָרָה֙ וְיָצְא֣וּ יְלָדֶ֔יהָ וְלֹ֥א יִהְיֶ֖ה אָס֑וֹן עָנ֣וֹשׁ יֵעָנֵ֗שׁ כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֨ר יָשִׁ֤ית עָלָיו֙ בַּ֣עַל הָֽאִשָּׁ֔ה וְנָתַ֖ן בִּפְלִלִֽים׃ “If men brawl and collide with a pregnant woman, causing a miscarriage, but no other damages are incurred, he shall surely be punished according to what the woman’s husband imposes on him, he shall pay by the judgment.” – Exodus 21:22 Jewish tradition teaches that each person is made in the Image of God, and that each person deserves respect and autonomy over their own bodies. May we have the courage to answer the Torah’s call to fight for freedom, safety, and bodily autonomy for all!

Yitro – יִתְרוֹ (Exodus 18:1–20:23)

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This Week’s Torah Portion: Yitro – יִתְרוֹ (Exodus 18:1–20:23)

וַיֹּ֘אמֶר֮ יִתְרוֹ֒ בָּר֣וּךְ יְהֹוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר הִצִּ֥יל אֶתְכֶ֛ם מִיַּ֥ד מִצְרַ֖יִם וּמִיַּ֣ד פַּרְעֹ֑ה אֲשֶׁ֤ר הִצִּיל֙ אֶת־הָעָ֔ם מִתַּ֖חַת יַד־מִצְרָֽיִם׃

“Then Jethro exclaimed, ‘Baruch HaShem! Who delivered you from the hand of Egypt and the hand of Pharaoh, Who delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians!’” – Exodus 18:10

When Moses tells Jethro, his father-in-law, about all the miracles God performed to save the Israelites, he becomes the first person in the Torah to say, “Baruch HaShem – Thank God!” Sometimes it can be easy to overlook the miracles that happen in our lives every day, and it takes someone we love to help us find gratitude. May we all be open to embracing the miracles that happen in our everyday!

Parsha Yitro – יִתְרוֹ Torah Summary:

Yitro brings his daughter Zipporah and her two sons, Gershom and Eliezer, to his son-in-law Moses. (18:1-12) Moses follows Yitro’s advice and appoints judges to help him lead the people. (18:13-27) The Children of Israel camp in front of Mount Sinai. Upon hearing the covenant, the Israelites respond, “All that God has spoken we will do.” (19:1-8) After three days of preparation, the Israelites encounter God at Mount Sinai. (19:9-25) God gives the Ten Commandments aloud directly to the people. (20:1-14) Frightened, the Children of Israel ask Moses to serve as an intermediary between God and them. Moses tells the people not to be afraid. (20:15-18) Yitro – יִתְרוֹ וַיֹּ֘אמֶר֮ יִתְרוֹ֒ בָּר֣וּךְ יְהֹוָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר הִצִּ֥יל אֶתְכֶ֛ם מִיַּ֥ד מִצְרַ֖יִם וּמִיַּ֣ד פַּרְעֹ֑ה אֲשֶׁ֤ר הִצִּיל֙ אֶת־הָעָ֔ם מִתַּ֖חַת יַד־מִצְרָֽיִם׃ “Then Jethro exclaimed, ‘Baruch HaShem! Who delivered you from the hand of Egypt and the hand of Pharaoh, Who delivered the people from under the hand of the Egyptians!’” – Exodus 18:10 When Moses tells Jethro, his father-in-law, about all the miracles God performed to save the Israelites, he becomes the first person in the Torah to say, “Baruch HaShem – Thank God!” Sometimes it can be easy to overlook the miracles that happen in our lives every day, and it takes someone we love to help us find gratitude. May we all be open to embracing the miracles that happen in our everyday!