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Ki Tetze: The Tree, the Curse, and Holiness

Women's section at the Western (Wailing) Wall in Jerusalem.

This Torah portion is a very practical compilation of teachings on most real-life situations: from inheritance rights of the firstborn to how to deal with stubborn, rebellious children; from returning lost objects to their owner to building safety fences around the roof of a home in order to prevent loss of life; from protection of the living to how to treat the body of the deceased.

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Eikev: The Rewards of Faith in Action

Sefer Torah-yad

The title of this week’s Parasha, Eikev, means because. It is used in this Parasha as a conjunction to create a relationship between experiencing God’s blessings and obedience to His Torah. In connection with this, the Haftarah portion this week contains an important prophecy that provides us with added insight into how to walk in the blessings of Adonai—through faith and obedience.

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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 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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Parasha Kedoshim (Holy Ones): The Secret of Holiness

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Kedoshim (Holy Ones) begins with God's command that Israel be holy because God is holy. Because the Hebrew word Kedoshim is related to Kadosh, the word for holy, sanctified, or set apart, we understand that a person set aside for the service of God is holy because God is holy. But what does true holiness really look like? Most people have their own preconceived notions of holiness based on preferences, upbringing, and even systems. The answer, however, is found in the Word of God.

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Parasha Shemini (Eighth): The Manifestation of the Presence of God

The Death of Ananais, by Raphael

This week’s Parasha provides the laws of kashrut (Biblical dietary laws). In Leviticus 11, God outlines which animals are edible and which are not. Why should the God of the Universe care about what we eat? The main purpose of the dietary laws is not for hygienic or health reasons; they set the Israelites apart as a holy people. What we eat not only affects our physical body and mind, but also our soul.

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Parasha Yitro (Jethro): A Treasured Possession and a Kingdom of Priests

Ten Commandments-Hebrew

The Torah portion begins with Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro (Yitro), coming from Midian with Moses’ wife and two sons after hearing of the great miracles that God performed for His people. When Moses found himself in the desert, fleeing for his life after killing an Egyptian slave driver, Jethro was the first one to offer him hospitality, safety, and friendship. Moses eventually married Jethro's daughter, Tzipora (Zipporah).

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Parasha Pinchas (Phinehas): Destiny, Consecration and Knowing God

Torah-scroll-mantle-cover

Pinchas was filled with hatred and fury against the sexual sin that so grossly profaned God’s holy name, and so he acted. The Israelites, perhaps, were unsure of his motivation, and may have been willing to punish him for his fanatic extremism; however, God, who saw his heart, set the matter straight and came to Pinchas' rescue by openly rewarding him.

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