by Sarah Gazitt | May 30, 2024 | Torah Reflections
B’chukotai Leviticus 26:3 – 27:34 “If you follow My laws and faithfully observe My commandments, I will grant your rains in their season, so that the earth shall yield its produce and the trees of the field their fruit.” (Lev. 26:3-4) Thus promises...
by Sarah Gazitt | May 18, 2024 | General
Emor Leviticus 21:1 – 24:23 Toward the end of this week’s Torah portion, we find the verses that have fueled centuries of anti-Semitism and often have been used as a pretext for abandoning one’s Jewish faith. If anyone kills any human being, he shall be...
by Sarah Gazitt | May 10, 2024 | Torah Reflections
Kedoshim Leviticus 19:1 – 20:27 “The Eternal One spoke to Moses, saying: Speak to the entire Israelite community and say to them: You shall be holy, for I, the Eternal your God, am holy.” (Lev. 19:1-2) Many rabbinic and scholarly commentators read this...
by Sarah Gazitt | Apr 22, 2024 | Torah Reflections
Metzorah Leviticus 14:1 – 15:33 Parashat M’tzora is usually read around the time of Passover, which means that it often coincides with our preparations for the quintessential Jewish festival. This spring cleaning is both an outer process of emptying our...
by Sarah Gazitt | Apr 5, 2024 | Torah Reflections
Sh’mini Leviticus 9:1 – 11:47 The ceremony to dedicate the Tabernacle and to ordain Aaron and his sons, which began in last week’s Torah portion (Tsav), was a protracted affair that lasted more than a week. Finally, on the eighth day (“BaYom...
