Category: Torah Talks
Torah Talk for Parashat Beha’alotecha
June 21, 2016 by
In this parasha, the Bnei Yisrael receive instructions regarding Pesach; they journey forth from Sinai and complain to God on several occasions, provoking God’s anger; Miriam and Aaron speak against Moshe. Chapter 10, verses 1-10 describe the construction of the chatzotzrot, the trumpets used in the worship service. Many people do not realize that the […]
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Torah Talk for Parashat Nasso
June 14, 2016 by
In this parasha, Hashem describes the service of the Gershonite family of Levi’im (Levites); laws relating to the sotah (suspected adulteress) and the nazir (nazirite) are given; Hashem tells Moshe and Aharon the Birkat Cohanim (Priestly Blessing); the heads of tribes bring gifts to the Mishkan (Tabernacle). The Birkat Cohanim is a simple blessing that […]
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Torah Talk for Parashat Bamidbar
June 1, 2016 by
In this parasha, Moshe conducts a census of the Israelites and the Levites, and he sets up the structure of the wilderness encampment; Hashem describes the unique duties of the Kehati family from where the cohanim (priests) come. The Torah contains many hidden messages. Some of these messages appear in the names used in the […]
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Torah Talk for Parashat Bechukotai
May 31, 2016 by
In this parasha, God enumerates the rewards for keeping the commandments and the punishments for violating them; the laws of tithes are then listed. The parasha mentions different legal terms in various places: Chukim, Mishpatime, Mitzvot, and Torot. There are many, many different explanations for the differences between these terms. The translations do us no good […]
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Torah Talk for Parashat Behar
May 24, 2016 by
In this parasha, God tells Moshe to instruct the people on the laws of the Sabbatical and Jubilee years, as well as on how to relate to those in the community who become impoverished. Anyone who has visited the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia (including all those who have passed through our fifth grade) knows that it […]
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Torah Talk for Parashat Emor
May 17, 2016 by
In this parasha, Hashem gives Moshe a series of laws specific to the cohanim (priests); Hashem then instructs Moshe to tell the people about the festivals in addition to the laws of blasphemy and murder. The Torah commands us the following (23:15-16): “And you shall count for yourselves from the day after the day of […]
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Torah Talk for Parashat Kedoshim
May 9, 2016 by
In this parasha, God tells Moshe to give the people a series of ethical and ritual laws instructing them in how to be holy. The parasha opens with the words Kedoshim tihiyu – “You shall be holy.” A very simple statement, but how does one achieve this, and what is holiness anyway? The American Heritage Dictionary […]
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Torah Talk for Parashat Acharei Mot
May 2, 2016 by
In this parasha, God instructs Moshe regarding the procedures for the Day of Atonement; sexual prohibitions are then listed. In one of those strange vicissitudes of the Jewish calendar, the parasha we read immediately following Pesach addresses the Temple service on Yom Kippur. Our minds are still wrapped around the fun we had at the […]
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Torah Talk for Parashat Metzora
April 12, 2016 by
In this parasha, God describes the purification ritual for people and homes afflicted with tzara’at (leprosy); God also instructs Moshe and Aharon regarding laws related to the emission of bodily fluids. Chapter 14, verse 11 tells us: “The cohen that cleanses him shall set the man that is to be cleansed and those things before […]
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Torah Talk for Parashat Tazria
April 5, 2016 by
In this week’s parasha, God instructs Moshe about the purification rituals for mothers following childbirth; God then describes to Moshe and Aharon the procedures for identifying and responding to those infected with tzara’at (usually translated as leprosy). Commentators, most notably Rashi, maintain that the Torah is written in thematic order so that we can ascertain […]
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