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B’har – B’chukotai (Leviticus 25:1-27:34)

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This Week’s Torah Portion: B’har – B’chukotai – בְּהַר – בְּחֻקֹּתי (Leviticus 25:1-27:34)

In Parashat B’har/B’hukotai God explains that the Torah is a covenant, a mutual promise between God and the people of Israel. And putting aside the fact that we have not always kept our part of that covenant all too well, or the times of trial when perhaps being God’s chosen people has not been such a blessing –  still and all, let’s focus for a moment on the ideal world which the Torah presents here and consider what it would mean to make it real. 

God calls us to walk in God’s ways and when we do God promises:

  1. The rains will come and the earth will thrive and bring forth its produce 
  2. We will have plenty to eat and plenty in store and safety in knowing we are secure 
  3. We will live in peace without fear of war or attack 
  4. God will look favorably upon us and our children who will become strong and many
  5. And God will establish a sanctuary with us so that God can dwell in our midst

This is a biblical wish list of blessings, the promise of those things mostly beyond our control, the things we worried most about and prayed for the most. And, interestingly enough, things that would be a more secure part of our lives were we to practice the values of the Torah in our lives and in the life of our community. 

So let me ask you, what would you put on your greatest wish list? What do you value the most, worry over the most? And how might being a just and righteous person and building a just and righteous society bring us closer to making that hopeful future become real for us all?

Parsha B’har – B’chukotai 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) 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’har – B’chukotai

B’har – B’chukotai (Leviticus 25:1-27:34)

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This Week’s Torah Portion: B’har – B’chukotai (Leviticus 25:1-27:34)

“Consecrate the fiftieth year and proclaim liberty throughout the land to all its inhabitants” (Leviticus 25:10).

The Torah is commanding us to make sure the human right for freedom will be kept in our land.

This pillar of our faith is engraved on the American liberty bell in Philadelphia, one of many wonderful gifts that our Torah and our tradition gave the world.

We end the book of Leviticus, and say the traditional blessing we need so much at this time, “May we be strong and continue to go from strength to strength”.

B’har – B’chukotai 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) 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)