Parashat Sh’mini [Levitcus 9-11] is the third parashah in Levitcus, and features the culminating ceremony for the inauguration of the mishkan, what Baruch Levine calls “The Initiation of Formal Worship” in his JPS Commentary on Leviticus. It culminates with the tragic deaths of Nadav and Avihu, which we discuss at …
This shabbat is shabbat/yom tov sh’vi’i of Pesach, the shabbat that coincides with the 7th day of Pesach, which is a holiday. In Israel, where Eliot is for the birth of his 2nd granddaughter, it is the last day of Passover. In the Diaspora, Sunday [April 20th] is the 8th …
Parashat Tzav [Leviticus 6:1-8:36] picks up where Parashat Va-yiqra leaves off, with a presentation of the principal individual sacrifices, only this time …
Parashat Va-yiqra [Lev. 1:1-5:26] in a sense takes up where Exodus 40:38 left off. The last passage in Exodus informs us [Exod. …
Parashat P’qudai [Exodus 38:21-40:38] concludes the book of Exodus. It also coincides with Shabbat Ha-Hodesh, the fourth special shabbat preceding Passover [beginning …
This week’s parashah is Va-yaqhel [Exodus 35:1-38:20]. It is also Shabbat Parah, the third special Shabbat before Passover. Shabbat Parah always falls …
Parashat Ki Tissa [Exodus 30:11-34:35] is perhaps best known for the episode of the Golden Calf and the repairs entailed by that …
Parashat T’tzavveh [Exodus 27:20-30:10] coincides with Shabbat Zakhor, the second of the four special shabbatot before Passover, each with its own maftir …
