Parshat Emor by Rabbi Reuven Tradburks 1st aliya (Vayikra 21:1-15) Cohanim are not permitted to come in contact with the dead except for their nuclear family. Nor are they to adopt non Jewish mourning practices such as balding their head and beard or cutting their flesh. ...
Parshat Achrei Mot-Kedoshim by Rabbi Reuven Tradburks 1st aliya (Vayikra 16:1-24) Aharon is instructed to enter the Holy of Holies only through an elaborate process of offerings. He is to bring a private sin offering. And a communal sin offering of 2 identical goats, one as...
Parshat Tazria-Metzora by Rabbi Reuven Tradburks The double parsha of Tazria-Metzora is challenging. Their theme is simple: entry to the Mikdash is restricted for those who are Tamei. There are a number of situations that render a person Tamei. The removal of the Tuma status allows...
Parshat Shemini by Rabbi Reuven Tradburks 1st Aliya (Vayikra 9:1-16) On the eighth day of the inauguration of Aharon and the Cohanim, Moshe gathers the people. He instructs Aharon to offer a chatat and an olah. The people are also to bring a chatat, olah, shlamim...
Parshat Tzav by Rabbi Reuven Tradburks 1st aliya (Vayikra 6:1-11) Instructions are given to the Cohanim: while the offerings must be done during the day, the burning of the fats and limbs may continue all night. In the morning the Cohen shall take some of the...
Parshat Vayakel-Pekudei by Rabbi Reuven Tradburks This double parsha is the implementation of the building of the Mishkan. We have had 3 parshiot of commands to build the Mishkan. This is the actual construction and assembly. When we have a double parsha, the first parsha will have...
Parshat Tetzave by Rabbi Reuven Tradburks The commandments concerning the special garments of the Cohen Gadol as well as the garments for the regular Cohanim are given. The Cohanim and the altar are inaugurated in a 7-day inauguration. The command of the daily offering and of...
Parshat Teruma by Rabbi Reuven Tradburks Teruma has one theme: the instructions to build the Mishkan. Moshe calls for contributions of materials. Instructions are given for the construction of: the Aron to house the tablets of the 10 commandments, the table upon which the breads would...
Parshat Mishpatim by Rabbi Reuven Tradburks We begin a new era in the Torah: the Mitzvah era. In the first 86 verses of the Parsha, there are 51 mitzvot. The bulk of the Parsha is civil law mitzvot. The end of the Parsha resumes the narrative,...
Parshat Yitro by Rabbi Reuven Tradburks Yitro joins Moshe. He advises Moshe in delegating to judges. At Mt. Sinai, G-d offers the Jewish people to be a treasured people. The Ten Commandments are given at Sinai. The people quake in response. 1st aliya (18:1-12) Yitro, Moshe’s father...
