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Parsha of the Week

What happens in Parashat Acharei Mot-Kedoshim?

Torah Portion Acharei Mot-Kedoshim in a Nutshell Name: Acharei Mot-Kedoshim Reading: Acharei Mot: Leviticus 16:1 – 18:30; Kedoshim: Leviticus 19:1 – 20:27 Double Parasha!     Parashat Acharei Mot-Kedoshim Summary   The Rituals of Yom Kippur God tells Moses to command Aaron not to approach the Holy of Holies, because He appears in the cloud […]

What happens in Parashat Tazria-Metzorah?

Torah Portion Tazria-Metzorah in a Nutshell Name: Tazria-Metzorah Reading: Tazria: Leviticus 12:1 – 13:59; Metzorah: Leviticus 14:1 – 15:33 Haftarah: Kings 2 7:3-20 Double Parasha!     Parashat Tazria-Metzorah Summary   Purification After Childbirth God tells Moses that after giving birth to a boy, women are unclean for seven days. The baby will be circumcised […]

What happens in Parashat Shemini?

Torah Portion Shemini in a Nutshell Name: Shemini Reading: Leviticus 9:1 – 11:47 Haftara Samuel 1 20:18 – 20:42     Parashat Shemini Summary   Tzav ended with Moses sending Aaron and his sons into the Tent of Meeting for a full week. God Accepts the Offerings Moses calls Aaron, his sons, and the elders […]

What happens in Parashat Tzav?

Torah Portion Tzav in a Nutshell Name: Tzav Reading: Leviticus 6:1 – 8:36 Haftarah: Malachi 3:4-24     Parashat Tzav Summary God Instructs Moses Regarding the Sacrifices God tells Moses to command Aaron and his sons regarding the burnt offering. It must be burnt through the night into the morning, keeping the altar fire lit. […]

What happens in Parashat Ki Tisa?

Torah Portion Ki Tisa in a Nutshell Name: Ki Tisa Reading: Exodus 30:11 – 34:35 Haftarah: Ezekiel 36:16 – 36:38     Parashat Ki Tisa Summary The Shekel Census God tells Moses to count the children od Israel by asking each person to give half a shekel to the Mishkan. The rich are not to […]

What happens in Parashat Tetzaveh?

Torah Portion Tetzaveh in a Nutshell Name: Tetzaveh Reading: Exodus 27:20 – 30:10 Haftarah: Samuel 1 15:2 – 15:34     Parashat Tetzaveh Summary   God Instructs Moses Regarding the Mishkan Instructions regarding the travelling Temple, also called the mishkan, continue: Use pure olive oil in the lamp and never let it go out. The […]

What happens in Parashat Terumah?

Torah Portion Terumah in a Nutshell Name: Terumah Reading: Exodus 25:1 – 27:19 Haftarah: Kings 1 5:26 – 6:13     Parashat Terumah Summary   God Speak to Moses The previous Torah portion ended when Moses ascended Mount Sinai in clouds and smoke to collect the tablets on which the Ten Commandments are inscribed. God […]

What happens in Parashat Mishpatim?

Torah Portion Mishpatim in a Nutshell Name: Mishpatim Reading: Exodus 21:1 – 24:18 Haftarah: Kings 2 12:1 – 12:17     Parashat Mishpatim Summary   God Gives the Israelites More Laws A Hebrew servant must be freed after seven years. One who strikes or curses his parents will be put to death. Murders and attackers […]

What happens in Parashat Yitro?

Torah Portion Yitro in a Nutshell Name: Yitro (Jethro) Reading: Exodus 18:1 – 20:23 Haftarah: Isaiah 6:1 – 7:6; 9:5-6     Parashat Yitro Summary   Moses is Reunited with his Family Jethro hears of everything God has done for the Israelites and that they have been freed from Egypt. He takes his daughter (Moses’s […]

What happens in Parashat Beshalach?

Torah Portion Beshalach in a Nutshell Name: Beshalach Reading: Exodus 13:17 – 17:16 Haftarah: Judges 4:4 – 5:31     Parashat Beshalach Summary   The Israelites Leave Egypt God leads the Israelites away from Egypt via an indirect route, through the desert and by the Red Sea. Moses takes Joseph’s bones for reburial in their […]

What happens in Parashat Bo

Torah Portion Bo in a Nutshell Name: Bo Reading: Exodus 10:1 – 13:16 Haftarah: Jeremiah 46:13 – 46:28     Parashat Bo Summary   Locusts God tells Moses to go to Pharaoh and warn him of the impending plague of locusts. Moses tells Pharaoh that the locusts will cover the face of the earth and […]

What happens in Parashat Vaera?

Torah Portion Vaera in a Nutshell Name: Vaera (Va’era) Reading: Exodus 6:2 – 9:35 Haftara: Ezekiel 28:25 – 29:21     Parashat Vaera Summary   God Commands Moses to Deliver the Israelites God tells Moses that He is the Lord that appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and that He promised to give them the […]

What happens in Parashat Shemot?

Torah Portion Shemot in a Nutshell Name: Shemot Reading: Exodus 1:1 – 6:1 Haftarah: Isaiah 27:6 – 28:13; 29:22 – 29:23     Parashat Shemot Summary   Pharaoh Enslaves the Israelites Joseph, his brothers, and their whole generation dies. The Jews in Egypt are fruitful and multiply. A new king rose over Egypt who didn’t […]

What happens in Parashat Vayechi?

Torah Portion Vayechi in a Nutshell Name: Vayechi Reading: Genesis 47:28 – 50:26 Haftarah: Kings I 2:1- 2:12     Parashat Vayechi Summary   Jacob Prepares to Die Jacob realizes that he’s close to death, so calls Joseph to him. He asks his son to bury him with his fathers in Canaan and not in […]

What happens in Parashat Vayigash?

Torah Portion Vayigash in a Nutshell Name: Vayigash Reading: Genesis 44:18 – 47:27 Haftarah: Ezekiel 37:15 – 37:28     Parashat Vayigash Summary   Preface: Joseph’s silver goblet has just been recovered in Benjamin’s bag. Joseph commands the brothers to leave and decrees that Benjamin must remain behind as a slave. Judah Begs Joseph Judah […]