Vayikra
The Book of Vayikra starts by detailing the olah (elevation) offering. One who brought an offering had to lay their hands upon it (semicha). The shechita (slaughter) of the animal…
Pekudei
The Torah lists the overall weight of gold, silver and copper used in building the Mishkan. The amount of half-shekel silver coins donated formed the basis of a census of…
Vayakhel
Moshe gathered the nation. He instructed them to keep Shabbat, mentioning specifically the prohibition to kindle a fire. He then asked them to volunteer the materials needed for the construction…
Ki Tissa
God instructs Moshe to take a census. Instead of counting people, each man over 20 gave a half shekel coin towards the construction of the Mishkan (Tabernacle); the census figure…
Tetzaveh
God told Moshe to instruct the people to bring pure, pressed olive oil for lighting the Menorah in the Mishkan (Tabernacle). Aharon and his sons take charge of setting up…
Terumah
God told Moshe to ask the Jews for voluntary offerings towards the construction and functioning of the Mishkan (Tabernacle). The materials needed are gold, silver and copper; turquoise, purple and…
Mishpatim
The sidra contains many mitzvot, of which a selection has been included here. It starts with the laws of a Jewish servant. He is to work for six years, after…
Yitro
Yitro, Moshe’s father-in-law and Midianite priest, heard about the miraculous Exodus from Egypt. He came to meet Moshe in the desert, together with his daughter Tziporah (Moshe’s wife) and Moshe’s…
Beshalach
After Pharaoh sent the Israelites out of Egypt, God did not lead them straight through the land of the Philistines towards Cana’an (Israel), but rather towards the Sea of Reeds.…
Bo
After the first seven plagues, Moshe and Aharon again warned Pharaoh to let the nation go, lest Egypt suffer an eighth plague. Pharaoh’s advisors encouraged him to agree. However, he…