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The Rejection of Israel

Parashat Behar-Bechukotai - Leviticus 25:1-27:34

The double portion of Behar-Bechukotai is the last reading in the book of Leviticus. And although the bulk of the book of Leviticus deals with laws of the sacrificial system and the inauguration of the levitical duties, it ends on quite a different tone. Parashat Bechukotai begins with a reminder that if the Children of Israel heed Hashem’s instructions and obey His commandments, they will be blessed. It begins, “If you walk in my statutes and observe my commandments and do them,” and is followed by a list of things that will happen as a result of their obedience. 

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Keep The Fire Burning

Parashat Tzav (Leviticus 6:1[8]-8:36)

In our second week of learning about the sacrificial system, we read about the laws of what is known as the korban tamid, or the daily offering. Our portion begins by telling us, “This is the law of the burnt offering” (Leviticus 6:2[9]). The burnt offerings in this passage are not voluntary burnt offerings brought by petitioners, but rather the continual (tamid) or daily offerings required to be brought at the beginning and end of every single day: “One lamb you shall offer in the morning, and the other lamb you shall offer toward the evening” (Exodus 29:39). These two offerings serve as bookends to the daily services of the Holy House. They also serve as the basis for the daily prayer times. The morning prayers (shacharit) and the afternoon prayers (minchah) correspond to these two daily offerings.

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Beam Me Up, Scotty!

Parashat Vayikra (Leviticus 1:1-5:26[6:7])

Parashat Vayikra is the first reading in the book of Leviticus. It is a natural continuation of what we have concluded in the book of Shemot, Exodus. The Mishkan (Tabernacle) has just been completed and is now “open for business.” Thus, the book of Leviticus begins by spelling out the operational procedures for the Tabernacle, describing what kinds of offerings may be brought, the parameters for these offerings, and how they are to be offered. Within these descriptions there are various kinds of offerings, all of which require the blood of animals with the exception of a handful of offerings that are from the produce of the field.

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Zeal, Tzitzit, Knowledge, and Humility

Parashat Vayakhel (Exodus 35:1-38:20)

Although Parashat Vayakhel is almost entirely focused on the construction of the Tabernacle it begins by reminding the Children of Israel that no work may be done on the Sabbath. Why does it begin here, rather than jumping right into how the Tabernacle was constructed? As we have previously mentioned, placing the topic of the Sabbath against the construction of the Tabernacle  was God’s way of defining the boundaries of the Sabbath. However, there is another layer to understanding this point and it actually connects back to the golden calf.

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Half Shekels and Whole People

Parashat Ki Tisa (Exodus 30:11-34:35)

Although Parashat Ki Tisa covers a wide range of topics and events, the opening paragraph of this portion is our focus for this week’s insight. It is the LORD’s command for each of the Israelites who are at least twenty years old to bring a half-shekel offering to the LORD:

Each one who is numbered in the census shall give this: half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary (the shekel is twenty gerahs), half a shekel as an offering to the LORD. Everyone who is numbered in the census, from twenty years old and upward, shall give the LORD's offering. The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less, than the half shekel, when you give the LORD's offering to make atonement for your lives. (Exodus 30:13–15)

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The Invisible Leader

Parashat Tetzaveh (Exodus 27:20-30:10)

Parashat Tetzaveh is unique from all of the other Torah portions from the beginning of Exodus to the end of Numbers in an unusual way. How so? The name of Moses is curiously missing from the text. In every other portion we hear his name mentioned at least once, if not multiple times. This week, however, the Torah is silent when it comes to actually naming Moses. Why is this the case?

There are several theories as to why this Torah portion does not mention the name of Moses. The predominant theory connects this week’s Torah portion to the major event that happens in our next reading, Parashat Ki Tisa. What is this? The sin of the golden calf. While Moses was still up on Mt. Sinai receiving the Torah from Hashem, the Israelites forced Aaron to make an idol they could worship. The LORD revealed to him what was going on in the camp and told Moses that He was going to destroy the entire nation and start over with him:

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