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 and mincha. For today, G-d...
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 continue all night. In the morning the Cohen shall take some of the ashes from the altar and place...
The theme of the parsha is sacrifices. Different offerings will be required in a variety of circumstances later in the book of Vayikra. This parsha outlines the rules of those offerings, so that when they come up later, their procedure will be familiar. The parsha outlines...
Parshat Mishpatim 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, describing the impending entry...
The Jewish holiday of Tu B’Shevat, or, literally, the 15th day of the Hebrew month of Shevat, is also called Rosh HaShanah La'Ilanot, which means 'New Year for the Trees'. Tree planting, fruit eating, special ‘seders’ for the holiday and other celebrations of nature and...
By Rav 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 in law,...
By Rav Reuven Tradburks The Torah Reading of Rosh Hashana is read with a unique nusach, a stirring melody. During the year we have a number of different musical trop used for public reading: there is one trop or tune during the year for Torah reading,...
I've always known my family has Jewish roots as it had been transmitted to me by my grandfather, one of the few remaining Jews in Portugal who lived in the Detrás das Montanhas region in Belmonte. Because of it, our family kept traditions and repeated...
Parshat Emor by Rabbi Reuven Tradburks 1st aliya (Vayikra 25:1-18) Shmita: The Land of Israel has its Shabbat. Work 6 years, the 7th is a Shabbat to G-d. What grows on its own is available to be used. Yovel: 7 cycles of 7 years is followed...
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. ...
