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Korach: The Genesis of Discord and Strife

A Jewish 13-year-old male reads from a Torah scroll protected by an elaborately decorated Torah tik.

God loves peace and the Ruach HaKodesh (Holy Spirit) dwells in peace (shalom). God hates strife, discord, and division between brothers, calling the one who sows them an abomination. To highlight the sin of causing discord, this week’s portion of Scripture is also called the Parasha of Machloket (Strife) since Korach created division, strife, and disaster within the community through his rebellion, discontent and dirty politics.

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Parasha Behaalotecha: The Light of the Menorah and the Power of the Holy Spirit

Reading the Torah scroll at the Western (Wailing) Wall

Parasha Behaalotecha opens with the kindling of the Menorah. This lampstand is a symbol of the light of revelation and truth. The fire in the lampstand represents the fire of the Divine Light spreading throughout the entire world, beginning with Israel. God commanded Moses to make it out of gold according to the pattern shown him on Mount Sinai. Why gold and not bronze or silver? Gold symbolizes something precious—of great value. Gold is a metaphor for purity in the Bible.

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Parasha Naso (Elevate): Sanctified Heads, Holy Hands, and Blessing

A mosaic of the positioning of the hands during the Priestly Blessing in Ashkenazi communities.

In this week's Torah portion, Naso, the headcount of the Israelites is completed with a census of the Levites who are between the ages of 30 and 50. They are to do the work of transporting the Mishkan (Tabernacle). Besides discussing the duties of the Levites, this Scripture portion also provides the law of the nazir, or Nazirite, and the Aaronic Benediction (Birkat Kohanim—ברכת כהנים) or more commonly known as the Priestly Blessing.

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Bamidbar (In the Wilderness): United Under One Authority

A depiction of the Jewish priests

In Bamidbar, the Israelites are still camped at Mount Sinai after having received the law, built the Tabernacle, and been instructed in worship. But before they move forward to the Promised Land, they must be prepared for the threats that lay ahead on the journey, so the Lord commanded Moses to take a census of all Israelite males able to bear arms from ages twenty and up.

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Behar-Bechukotai: Exile or Living in the Blessings in the Holy Land

A woman holds up the Israeli flag and her new Israel identification after making Aliyah. (Jewish Agency photo by Brian Hendler)

God commands Israel to observe the Shemitah every seventh year, a Sabbath for the land. Of course, this rest parallels God’s rest after creating the universe, as well as the Shabbat. In Judaism, “seven” signifies a completion as well as holiness. It is considered the “all-encompassing number that celebrates the sacred purpose of a Jew to infuse holiness into the whole of Creation.”

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Parasha Tazria-Metzora: Tzaraat, Purification, Restoration, and the Messiah

Messiah and the Lepers, by Gebhard Fugal

Both Tazria and Metzora focus on the laws of leprosy, a spiritual condition that causes the afflicted to become impure. These portions outline laws regarding how to handle the metzora, the one who is infected, as well as how he or she may be purified once healed. The Hebrew word that is translated leprosy, tzaraat, does not actually correspond to the modern day affliction of leprosy. Its origin is spiritual, but it obviously has a physical manifestation. The condition is identified by a priest, not by a doctor.

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Parasha Shemini (Eighth): The Shekhinah and New Beginnings

A child sits at her father's feet as he prays at the Western (Wailing) Wall in Jerusalem. (Israel Tourism photo by VuTheara Kham)

For seven days, Aaron and his sons stayed at the Tent of Meeting as part of their ordination process. On the eighth day, Moses called for them to begin presenting the offerings (קָרְבֳּנוֹת, korbanot) to the Lord. These offerings were given as a kind of “welcoming ceremony” to greet the arrival of God’s Shekinah (Glory or Divine Presence): “Then Moses said, ‘This is what the LORD has commanded you to do, so that the glory of the LORD may appear to you.’” (Leviticus 9:6)

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