Added to your Bookmarks

X

NEW FEATURE

You can bookmark articles to Read Later

Parasha Korach (Korah): Learning from Korah’s Rebellion

June 22, 2012 Three groups expressed discontentment with the leadership of Moses and Aaron: Korach (a Levite), Dathan and Abiram (from the tribe of Reuven), and 250 Israelite leaders who were appointed members of the council. In the end, God vindicated Moses and Aaron and severely punished those who joined the rebellion by swallowing them up into the earth. It was as if God had created a small earthquake to end strife in the community.

more

---

Added to your Bookmarks

X

NEW FEATURE

You can bookmark articles to Read Later

Parasha Shlach (Send): The Twelve Spies – Why We Should Refuse to Entertain an Evil Report

June 15, 2012 In this week’s Parasha, Moses sent 12 leaders into the land of Canaan on a fact finding-mission. These leaders were to scout Canaan to discover the physical nature of the land and the feasibility of a military conquest, and bring back a report to Moses and the Israelites.

more

---

Added to your Bookmarks

X

NEW FEATURE

You can bookmark articles to Read Later

Parasha Behaalotecha (When You Raise): The Meaning of the Menorah

June 8, 2012 Aaron set the lights of the Menorah (which was hammered from a single piece of gold according to the pattern that God showed Moses) so that the area in front of the Menorah was lit. Only Aaron and his sons, the Cohanim (priests), were entrusted with the important duty of lighting the menorah.

more

---

Added to your Bookmarks

X

NEW FEATURE

You can bookmark articles to Read Later

Parasha Naso (Lift up): Can a Holy God Be Jealous?

June 1, 2012 This Parasha models community living, especially in regard to serving the Lord. When we live and work together in community, and everyone has their own assigned tasks so that each carries part of the load, the burden does not fall too heavily on a few key individuals. This is the ideal behind the communal lifestyle of the Israeli kibbutz movement. It's also the lifestyle of the early kehillah – the early community of Believers.

more

---

Added to your Bookmarks

X

NEW FEATURE

You can bookmark articles to Read Later

Parasha Bamidbar (In the Wilderness): Does God Ordain Suffering?

May 25, 2012 The Haftarah (prophetic portion) promises that God will allure Israel, bring her back to the Land, and that the relationship between God and Israel would be, once again, like a healthy marriage. To understand the themes of marriage, betrayal and redemption in Hosea, we must understand Hosea’s situation. God instructed him to take a harlot for a wife—a woman who was seemingly destined to be unfaithful to him. The rabbis, in fact, believe that Hosea’s resulting domestic tragedy was actually ordained by God

more

---

Added to your Bookmarks

X

NEW FEATURE

You can bookmark articles to Read Later

Parasha Behar-Bechukotai (On the Mount-By My Decrees): The Year of Jubilee

May 17, 2012 Every seven years, the Land wasn’t to be worked in any kind of way. It wasn’t planted, pruned, or harvested. You may wonder how the people ate. Although they couldn’t reap or sow, whatever the land yielded could be eaten (Leviticus 25:7). While the land lay fallow, fruits growing of their own accord could be eaten by anyone.

more

---

Added to your Bookmarks

X

NEW FEATURE

You can bookmark articles to Read Later

Parasha Emor (Speak): Discovering the Callings of Holiness

May 10, 2012 People often refer to God’s appointed times as the ”Jewish holidays” and the “Feasts of Israel”. Many non-Jewish Believers don't observe them, fearing that they will appear “too Jewish” or to have “come under the Torah (law).” But God calls them HIS feasts—His appointed times.

more

---

Added to your Bookmarks

X

NEW FEATURE

You can bookmark articles to Read Later

Parasha Acharei-Kedoshim (After-Holy Ones): Holy Confidence

May 5, 2012 This week’s combined Torah portion, Parasha Acharei-Kedoshim, discusses Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) and holiness, and begins with Aharon, the Cohen Hagadol (high priest), preparing for the crucial once-a-year sacrifice on the Day of Atonement. In order to minister before the Lord on this holy day, Aharon first immersed himself in the mikvah (ritual cleansing) and then put on a holy, linen tunic. Before he brought the ketoret (incense offering) into the Holy of Holies, the innermost chamber of the Sanctuary, he donned simple, white linen clothing, representing purity and humility, which was appropriate for this sacred day, instead of his resplendent golden garments.

more

---

Added to your Bookmarks

X

NEW FEATURE

You can bookmark articles to Read Later

Parasha Tazria-Metzorah: What Does Leprosy Have to Do with Slander and Gossip?

April 27, 2012 This week’s Torah portion deals with the laws of tumah (ritual impurity) and tahara (ritual purity). The laws pertaining to purification, including post childbirth, purity in marriage (niddah), and leprosy are discussed. These regulations may be understood in purely hygienic terms, or for their religious significance, or both. The issue, however, is not one of clean versus unclean, but pure (tahor).

more

---

Added to your Bookmarks

X

NEW FEATURE

You can bookmark articles to Read Later

Parasha Shemini (Eighth): Drawing Near to God

April 20, 2012 Today, since the Temple in Jerusalem no longer stands, the animal sacrifices that must be performed in the Temple can no longer be offered to the Lord. Judaism, therefore, focuses on the importance of the condition of the heart (repentance, charity, and good deeds), instead of the offering of animal sacrifices. Parasha Shemini, however, provides lessons that are relevant for all time, even today when animal sacrifices cannot be offered.

more

---