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Acharei Mot – K’doshim – אַחֲרֵי מוֹת – קְדֹשִׁים (Leviticus 16:1-20:27)

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This Week’s Torah Portion: Acharei Mot – K’doshim – אַחֲרֵי מוֹת – קְדֹשִׁים (Leviticus 16:1-20:27)

לֹֽא־תִקֹּ֤ם וְלֹֽא־תִטֹּר֙ אֶת־בְּנֵ֣י עַמֶּ֔ךָ וְאָֽהַבְתָּ֥ לְרֵעֲךָ֖ כָּמ֑וֹךָ אֲנִ֖י יְהֹוָֽה׃

You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against members of your people, loving your neighbor as yourself: I am Adonai. (Leviticus 19:18).

When Rabbi Hillel was asked to teach the entire Torah while the challenger stood on one foot. After pausing for a moment, Rabbi Hillel gave his own interpretation of this verse, stating that the point of the entire Torah is to treat others the way we would want to be treated; the rest is commentary.

Parsha Acharei Mot – K’doshim – אַחֲרֵי מוֹת – קְדֹשִׁים 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) 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) לֹֽא־תִקֹּ֤ם וְלֹֽא־תִטֹּר֙ אֶת־בְּנֵ֣י עַמֶּ֔ךָ וְאָֽהַבְתָּ֥ לְרֵעֲךָ֖ כָּמ֑וֹךָ אֲנִ֖י יְהֹוָֽה׃ You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against members of your people, loving your neighbor as yourself: I am Adonai. (Leviticus 19:18). When Rabbi Hillel was asked to teach the entire Torah while the challenger stood on one foot. After pausing for a moment, Rabbi Hillel gave his own interpretation of this verse, stating that the point of the entire Torah is to treat others the way we would want to be treated; the rest is commentary. Acharei Mot – K’doshim – אַחֲרֵי מוֹת – קְדֹשִׁים

Tazria – M’tzora – תַזְרִיעַ – מְצֹרָע (Leviticus 12:1-15:33)

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This Week’s Torah Portion: Tazria – M’tzora – תַזְרִיעַ – מְצֹרָע (Leviticus 12:1-15:33)

כׇּל־יְמֵ֞י אֲשֶׁ֨ר הַנֶּ֥גַע בּ֛וֹ יִטְמָ֖א טָמֵ֣א ה֑וּא בָּדָ֣ד יֵשֵׁ֔ב מִח֥וּץ לַֽמַּחֲנֶ֖ה מוֹשָׁבֽוֹ׃

All the days on which the disease is present, they shall surely be impure. Being impure, they shall dwell apart; in a dwelling outside the camp. (Leviticus 13:46).

Tazria-Metzora is the dreaded Torah Portion for any B’nei Mitzvah student, given the graphic descriptions of diseases our ancestors faced in the ancient world. Despite how disgusting it may be, we learn from this Torah that each one of us is responsible for the health of not just ourselves, but our entire community. This Shabbat it is my prayer that we can slow down and really take care of ourselves.

Parsha Tazria – M’tzora – תַזְרִיעַ – מְצֹרָע Torah Summary:

God describes the rituals of purification for a woman after childbirth. (12:1-8) God sets forth the methods for diagnosing and treating a variety of skin diseases, including tzara-at (a leprous affection), as well as those for purifying clothing. (13:1-59) Priestly rituals to cure tzara-at when it afflicts humans are described. (14:1-32) Rituals to rid dwelling places of tzara-at are presented. (14:33-57) The parashah denotes male impurities resulting from a penile discharge or seminal emission. (15:1-18) The parashah concludes with accounts of female impurities caused by a discharge of blood. (15:19-33) Tazria – M’tzora – תַזְרִיעַ – מְצֹרָע כׇּל־יְמֵ֞י אֲשֶׁ֨ר הַנֶּ֥גַע בּ֛וֹ יִטְמָ֖א טָמֵ֣א ה֑וּא בָּדָ֣ד יֵשֵׁ֔ב מִח֥וּץ לַֽמַּחֲנֶ֖ה מוֹשָׁבֽוֹ׃ All the days on which the disease is present, they shall surely be impure. Being impure, they shall dwell apart; in a dwelling outside the camp. (Leviticus 13:46). Tazria-Metzora is the dreaded Torah Portion for any B’nei Mitzvah student, given the graphic descriptions of diseases our ancestors faced in the ancient world. Despite how disgusting it may be, we learn from this Torah that each one of us is responsible for the health of not just ourselves, but our entire community. This Shabbat it is my prayer that we can slow down and really take care of ourselves.

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

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

וַיָּבֹ֨א מֹשֶׁ֤ה וְאַהֲרֹן֙ אֶל־אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֔ד וַיֵּ֣צְא֔וּ וַֽיְבָרְכ֖וּ אֶת־הָעָ֑ם וַיֵּרָ֥א כְבוֹד־יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־כׇּל־הָעָֽם׃

Then Moses and Aaron went into the Tent of Meeting. When they exited, they blessed the people, then the Presence of Adonai appeared to the entire People. (Leviticus 9:23).

This beautiful piece of Torah is a powerful reminder that we are all deserving of blessings and that each one of us has access to the Divine. This Shabbat, my prayer is that we take the time to acknowledge just how special and deserving of blessing each of us is, just for being who we are.

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 וַיָּבֹ֨א מֹשֶׁ֤ה וְאַהֲרֹן֙ אֶל־אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֔ד וַיֵּ֣צְא֔וּ וַֽיְבָרְכ֖וּ אֶת־הָעָ֑ם וַיֵּרָ֥א כְבוֹד־יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־כׇּל־הָעָֽם׃ Then Moses and Aaron went into the Tent of Meeting. When they exited, they blessed the people, then the Presence of Adonai appeared to the entire People. (Leviticus 9:23). This beautiful piece of Torah is a powerful reminder that we are all deserving of blessings and that each one of us has access to the Divine. This Shabbat, my prayer is that we take the time to acknowledge just how special and deserving of blessing each of us is, just for being who we are. Sh’mini – שְׁמִינִי

Chol HaMo-eid Pesach – חוֹל הַמֹּעֵד פֶּסַח (Exodus 33:12-34:26)

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This Week’s Torah Portion: Chol HaMo-eid Pesach – חוֹל הַמֹּעֵד פֶּסַח (Exodus 33:12-34:26)

יְהֹוָ֣ה ׀ יְהֹוָ֔ה אֵ֥ל רַח֖וּם וְחַנּ֑וּן אֶ֥רֶךְ אַפַּ֖יִם וְרַב־חֶ֥סֶד וֶאֱמֶֽת׃

Adonai, Adonai, compassionate and kind God, slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness & faithfulness… (Exodus 34:6).

During Passover, the Torah reminds us that God yearns to be in relationship with us through lovingkindness, faithfulness, and compassion. This also teaches us that if God chooses to do this with us, all the more so we should be willing to treat those in our communities and the stranger in our midst with lovingkindness, faithfulness, compassion, and acceptance.

Chol HaMo-eid Pesach – חוֹל הַמֹּעֵד פֶּסַח Summary: On the Shabbat during Passover, we are reminded of the age-old desire to know God. Moses implores God to let him see God. While God will not allow Moses to see God’s face, God tells Moses, “I will make My goodness pass before you…” Perhaps we experience the divine presence throgh the goodness we create in the world. The Torah then sets forth the thirteen attributes of God, among them that God is compassionate, gracious, slow to anger and abounding in kindness. By emulating these very attributes, we create the goodness which allows us to know God. יְהֹוָ֣ה ׀ יְהֹוָ֔ה אֵ֥ל רַח֖וּם וְחַנּ֑וּן אֶ֥רֶךְ אַפַּ֖יִם וְרַב־חֶ֥סֶד וֶאֱמֶֽת׃ Adonai, Adonai, compassionate and kind God, slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness & faithfulness… (Exodus 34:6). During Passover, the Torah reminds us that God yearns to be in relationship with us through lovingkindness, faithfulness, and compassion. This also teaches us that if God chooses to do this with us, all the more so we should be willing to treat those in our communities and the stranger in our midst with lovingkindness, faithfulness, compassion, and acceptance.