Parshat Sh'mot - January 21, 2017
Many years have passed since Joseph died and a new King rises in Egypt who doesn't remember Joseph. This King doesn't like how many Israelites there are in his country, so he oppresses and enslaves them. But that doesn't stop them from having more children. Then the King makes a rule that all Israelite boys born to should be thrown in the Nile river. One Israelite mother, Yocheved, can't bear to hurt her son. She places him in a basket in the Nile and his sister, Miriam, watches over him. Miraculously, this baby, Moses, is discovered and adopted by Pharaoh's daughter. Moses grows up in the palace, a prince of Egypt, unaware of his Israelite heritage. One day, Moses ventures out of the palace and sees an Egyptian beating an Israelite slave. Moses kills the Egyptian and flees Egypt when his crime is discovered. He becomes a shepherd in neighboring Midian and marries Tzipporah. While out with his flock, Moses sees a burning bush that is not consumed by the fire. God speaks to Moses from within the bush and commands Moses to go back to Egypt and tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites go. Moses returns to Egypt and teams up with his brother Aaron to confront Pharaoh. Instead of letting the Israelites go, Pharaoh makes the slave work even more difficult. God promises that soon, Pharaoh will be punished.
Parshat Va'iera - January 28, 2017
God reveals God's special name: Yud-Hey-Vav-Hey to Moses. God brings the plagues upon Egypt. Each plague is increasingly more difficult for the Egyptians to bear. But after each one, Pharaoh still refuses to let the Israelites go. God turns to the Nile to blood, sends frogs to overrun the land, lice to live on humans and animals, swarms of insects, cattle disease, boils, and hail to rain down. Still, Pharaoh remains stubborn and won't let the Israelites go.
Parshat Bo - February 4, 2017
God hardens Pharaohs' heart. Three more plagues are sent to Egypt: Locusts, Darkness and, the most severe, the death of the first born. The Israelites protect themselves from this last plague by painting a special sign on their doorposts. This becomes the first Passover. Not only does this Torah portion describe the first Passover, but also the Torah tells us how to celebrate Passover in future generations.
Parshat B'shalach - February 11, 2017
Pharaoh finally decides to let the Israelites go, but immediately regrets his decision. He orders his powerful army to chase after the newly freed slaves. Pharaoh and his Egyptian soldiers corner the Israelites on the banks of the Sea of Reeds. Moses lifts his staff towards the sky and miraculously, the water parts allowing for the Israelites to walk through on dry land. With the Israelites safe on the opposite shore, Moses lifts his hand again and the waters return to their normal place. Pharaoh and his army drown in the waters and the Israelites escape to freedom. The Israelites receive a special food from God called Manna to eat while they journey to the promised land. The people complain bitterly to Moses that they do not have water to drink. Moses strikes a rock and water pours out.
Parshat Yitro - February 18, 2017
Moses reunites with his wife, Tzipporah, his sons, Gershom and Eliezer, and his father-in-law, Yitro. Yitro advises Moses on delegating leadership responsibilities among the newly free nation. The people arrive at Mt. Sinai where they receive the Ten Commandments amid a wild display of thunder and lightening. The Ten Commandments are: 1. I am Adonai your God, 2. Do not worship Idols, 3. Do not use God's name unnecessarily, 4. Keep Shabbat holy, 5. Honor your father and mother, 6. Do not commit murder, 7. Do not commit adultery, 8. Do not steal, 9. Do not give false testimony, 10. Do not be jealous of other people's possessions.
Parshat Mishpatim - February 25, 2017
Since we received the Big Ten last week, this week, we read some of the other commandments. For this group of slaves, these laws are crucial. They have never had to govern themselves. They have always been told what to do. The laws in this Torah portion cover lots of different topics like how to treat your slaves, the right to self defense, returning a lost animal to its owner, to not take bribes and many more. If the Israelites keep these laws, God promises they will be rewarded with good fortune in their new homeland. At the end of this portion, the people agree to follow these laws and enter into this covenant (agreement) with God. Then, Moses goes up Mt. Sinai where he stays for forty days to receive the tablets with the laws inscribed (written) on them.
Parshat Terumah - March 4, 2017
God tells the Israelites to create a special sanctuary. This sanctuary, the mishkan (in English it is sometimes called a tabernacle), will serve as God's home on earth. It is to be carefully constructed out of elaborate materials according to a specific plan. But the most important part is that the Israelites are all encouraged to donate to the building of the mishkan. God asks any Israelite who has a generous spirit to donate to the construction of the mishkan. Eventually, so many Israelites donate gifts that Moses has to ask them to stop being so generous!
Parshat Tetzaveh - March 11, 2017
This portion is almost entirely dedicated to instructions for the special garments for the Cohen Gadol, the high priest. The Cohen Gadol wore an elaborate outfit bedecked in jewels and fine cloth. It was colorful which was rare for clothing back in Biblical times. Remember how jealous Joseph's brothers were when he received a colorful coat? The Cohen Gadol wore this special outfit while he performed his religious duties which mainly centered on caring for the mishkan, God's home on earth.
Parshat Ki Tisa - March 18, 2017
God selects Betzalel, a very talented artist, to be in charge of creating the special things needed for the mishkan, God's home on earth. God writes all of the laws on two tablets and gives them to Moses to bring down to the Israelites. Meanwhile, the Israelites have become nervous with Moses being away for so long. They decide to build a golden calf to worship. When Moses comes down from the mountain, he sees the people worshiping a statue and not God. He is so angry, he smashes the tablets God gave him and punishes the Israelites. Then, he climbs up the mountain again to receive new tablets.
Parshat Vayakhel - Pikudei - March 25, 2017
Moses assembles the people and reminds them of the importance of keeping shabbat. All of the elaborate decorations for the mishkan, God's home on earth, and the priestly garments are completed. The book of Sh'mot ends with God's presence descending on the mishkan a symbol that God has moved into the beautiful home the Israelites built.
Many years have passed since Joseph died and a new King rises in Egypt who doesn't remember Joseph. This King doesn't like how many Israelites there are in his country, so he oppresses and enslaves them. But that doesn't stop them from having more children. Then the King makes a rule that all Israelite boys born to should be thrown in the Nile river. One Israelite mother, Yocheved, can't bear to hurt her son. She places him in a basket in the Nile and his sister, Miriam, watches over him. Miraculously, this baby, Moses, is discovered and adopted by Pharaoh's daughter. Moses grows up in the palace, a prince of Egypt, unaware of his Israelite heritage. One day, Moses ventures out of the palace and sees an Egyptian beating an Israelite slave. Moses kills the Egyptian and flees Egypt when his crime is discovered. He becomes a shepherd in neighboring Midian and marries Tzipporah. While out with his flock, Moses sees a burning bush that is not consumed by the fire. God speaks to Moses from within the bush and commands Moses to go back to Egypt and tell Pharaoh to let the Israelites go. Moses returns to Egypt and teams up with his brother Aaron to confront Pharaoh. Instead of letting the Israelites go, Pharaoh makes the slave work even more difficult. God promises that soon, Pharaoh will be punished.
Parshat Va'iera - January 28, 2017
God reveals God's special name: Yud-Hey-Vav-Hey to Moses. God brings the plagues upon Egypt. Each plague is increasingly more difficult for the Egyptians to bear. But after each one, Pharaoh still refuses to let the Israelites go. God turns to the Nile to blood, sends frogs to overrun the land, lice to live on humans and animals, swarms of insects, cattle disease, boils, and hail to rain down. Still, Pharaoh remains stubborn and won't let the Israelites go.
Parshat Bo - February 4, 2017
God hardens Pharaohs' heart. Three more plagues are sent to Egypt: Locusts, Darkness and, the most severe, the death of the first born. The Israelites protect themselves from this last plague by painting a special sign on their doorposts. This becomes the first Passover. Not only does this Torah portion describe the first Passover, but also the Torah tells us how to celebrate Passover in future generations.
Parshat B'shalach - February 11, 2017
Pharaoh finally decides to let the Israelites go, but immediately regrets his decision. He orders his powerful army to chase after the newly freed slaves. Pharaoh and his Egyptian soldiers corner the Israelites on the banks of the Sea of Reeds. Moses lifts his staff towards the sky and miraculously, the water parts allowing for the Israelites to walk through on dry land. With the Israelites safe on the opposite shore, Moses lifts his hand again and the waters return to their normal place. Pharaoh and his army drown in the waters and the Israelites escape to freedom. The Israelites receive a special food from God called Manna to eat while they journey to the promised land. The people complain bitterly to Moses that they do not have water to drink. Moses strikes a rock and water pours out.
Parshat Yitro - February 18, 2017
Moses reunites with his wife, Tzipporah, his sons, Gershom and Eliezer, and his father-in-law, Yitro. Yitro advises Moses on delegating leadership responsibilities among the newly free nation. The people arrive at Mt. Sinai where they receive the Ten Commandments amid a wild display of thunder and lightening. The Ten Commandments are: 1. I am Adonai your God, 2. Do not worship Idols, 3. Do not use God's name unnecessarily, 4. Keep Shabbat holy, 5. Honor your father and mother, 6. Do not commit murder, 7. Do not commit adultery, 8. Do not steal, 9. Do not give false testimony, 10. Do not be jealous of other people's possessions.
Parshat Mishpatim - February 25, 2017
Since we received the Big Ten last week, this week, we read some of the other commandments. For this group of slaves, these laws are crucial. They have never had to govern themselves. They have always been told what to do. The laws in this Torah portion cover lots of different topics like how to treat your slaves, the right to self defense, returning a lost animal to its owner, to not take bribes and many more. If the Israelites keep these laws, God promises they will be rewarded with good fortune in their new homeland. At the end of this portion, the people agree to follow these laws and enter into this covenant (agreement) with God. Then, Moses goes up Mt. Sinai where he stays for forty days to receive the tablets with the laws inscribed (written) on them.
Parshat Terumah - March 4, 2017
God tells the Israelites to create a special sanctuary. This sanctuary, the mishkan (in English it is sometimes called a tabernacle), will serve as God's home on earth. It is to be carefully constructed out of elaborate materials according to a specific plan. But the most important part is that the Israelites are all encouraged to donate to the building of the mishkan. God asks any Israelite who has a generous spirit to donate to the construction of the mishkan. Eventually, so many Israelites donate gifts that Moses has to ask them to stop being so generous!
Parshat Tetzaveh - March 11, 2017
This portion is almost entirely dedicated to instructions for the special garments for the Cohen Gadol, the high priest. The Cohen Gadol wore an elaborate outfit bedecked in jewels and fine cloth. It was colorful which was rare for clothing back in Biblical times. Remember how jealous Joseph's brothers were when he received a colorful coat? The Cohen Gadol wore this special outfit while he performed his religious duties which mainly centered on caring for the mishkan, God's home on earth.
Parshat Ki Tisa - March 18, 2017
God selects Betzalel, a very talented artist, to be in charge of creating the special things needed for the mishkan, God's home on earth. God writes all of the laws on two tablets and gives them to Moses to bring down to the Israelites. Meanwhile, the Israelites have become nervous with Moses being away for so long. They decide to build a golden calf to worship. When Moses comes down from the mountain, he sees the people worshiping a statue and not God. He is so angry, he smashes the tablets God gave him and punishes the Israelites. Then, he climbs up the mountain again to receive new tablets.
Parshat Vayakhel - Pikudei - March 25, 2017
Moses assembles the people and reminds them of the importance of keeping shabbat. All of the elaborate decorations for the mishkan, God's home on earth, and the priestly garments are completed. The book of Sh'mot ends with God's presence descending on the mishkan a symbol that God has moved into the beautiful home the Israelites built.