Beth HaDerech; Messianic Jewish Congregation, Toronto, Canada

Parasha Overview: Chol HaMo’ed Pesach

Weekly Sidra: Pesach (Passover) Torah Portion: Shemot / Exodus 12:21-12:51 Maftir: Bamidbar / Numbers 28:16-28:25 Haftorah: Yehoshua / Joshua 5:2-6:1 This week’s portion is Chol HaMo’ed Pesach. The morning Torah reading of Shabbat Chol Ha-moed consists of selected portions from Parshas Ki Tisa. The conclusion of the kriah summarily addresses the Shalosh Regalim (The Three Pilgrimage Festivals), and this would seem to be the relevance of the reading to the day. However, the first six aliyot have nothing to do with Yom Tov; rather, they deal with Moshe’s supplication to Hashem to forgive the people of Israel for the Chet Ha-egel (sin of the golden calf) and the grand rapprochement between God and His people. Is there thus any other connection between the Torah reading and the Moed? Shabbat Chol Ha-moed (as well as Shabbat which coincides with Yom Tov) is unique, for the character of the day is not just that [...]