Bemidbar
On Rosh Chodesh of the second month after the Exodus from Egypt, God instructed Moshe and Aharon to take a census of men above the age of 20. The leader…
Bechukotai
God promised that if we keep His laws, then He will provide rain, the Land will give plenty of produce and we will not suffer any physical threat from enemies.…
Behar
God instructed Moshe to tell the nation about the mitzvot of Shemitah. Every seventh year, the Land is ‘rested’ and no agricultural work is permitted. It is also forbidden to…
Emor
God instructed Moshe to tell the Kohanim not to come into contact with a corpse, with the exception of when burying specific close relatives. They are not allowed to shave…
Kedoshim
Kedoshim contains many mitzvot, a selection of which has been included here. We are commanded to revere our parents and to observe Shabbat. It is prohibited to worship and make…
Acharei Mot
God spoke to Moshe after the death of two of Aharon’s sons (detailed in parashat Shemini). Moshe was told to warn Aharon, the Kohen Gadol, not to enter the Holy…
Metzora
The Torah details the process through which a metzora – someone afflicted with the skin disease tzara’at – purified him/herself after the period of isolation and the healing of the…
Tazria
After childbirth, a woman would wait several weeks before bringing an elevation offering (olah) and a sin offering (chatat). A baby boy is circumcised on the eighth day after birth,…
Shemini
The sedrah begins almost a year after the Exodus from Egypt, on Rosh Chodesh Nisan. After seven days of inaugurating the Mishkan (Tabernacle), Moshe instructed Aharon to bring two special…
Tzav
The Torah adds new details about the offerings that were discussed in last week’s sedrah. The olah (elevation) offering could be left burning on the mizbeach (altar) throughout the night.…