Eikev, Ekev, Ekeb, or Eqeb (עקב — Hebrew for “if [you follow],” the second word, and the first distinctive word, in the parshah) is the 46th weekly Torah portion (parshah) in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the third in the book of Deuteronomy. It comprises Deuteronomy 7:12–11:25. Jews in the Diaspora generally read it in August. Ekev is named Ekev (עקב), a word from the first verse of the portion. Deuteronomy 7:12 says, “Then it shall come about, because (ekev, עקב) you listen to these judgments and keep and do them, that HaShem your God will keep with you His covenant and His lovingkindness which He swore to your forefathers.” Usually the word ekev means “heel.” In fact, this word shares the same three-letter root as the name Jacob (Yaakov, יעקב), whose name actually means “heel.” He was born holding on to Esau’s heel. However, [...]
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Va’etchanan or Va’eschanan (ואתחנן — Hebrew for “and I pleaded,” the first word in the parshah) is the 45th weekly Torah portion (parshah) in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the second in the book of Deuteronomy. The forty-fifth reading from the Torah and the second read ...
Devarim, D’varim, or Debarim (דברים — Hebrew for “words,” the second word, and the first distinctive word, in the parshah) is the 44th weekly Torah portion (parshah) in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the first in the book of Deuteronomy. It constitutes Deuteronomy 1:1–3:22. J ...
Balak (Balak, בלק) was the name of a Moabite king in the days of Moses. It is also the name of the fortieth reading from the Torah. It comes from the second verse of this week’s reading, which says, “Now Balak the son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites” (Numbers 22:2). This week’s Torah ...
Chukat, Hukath, or Chukkas (Hebrew: חקת, “decree,” — the ninth word, and the first distinctive word, in the parsha of this week) is the 39th weekly Torah portion (parshah) in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the sixth in the book of Numbers. It constitutes Numbers 19:1–22:1. The word chukat ...
The thirty-seventh reading from the Torah is called Shelach (שלח), an imperative verb that means “send out.” The portion is so named from the first few words of the second verse: “Send out for yourself men so that they may spy out the land of Canaan” (Numbers 13:2). The Torah reading tells the tragic story ...
Weekly Sidra: Beha’alotcha (when you step up) Torah Portion: Bamidbar/ Numbers 8:1-12:16 Haftorah: Zecharyah / Zechariah 2:14-4:7 The third reading from the book of Numbers and the thirty-sixth reading from the Torah is called Beha’alot’cha (בהעלותך), a word that literally m ...
The second reading from the book of Numbers and the thirty-fifth reading from the Torah is called Nasso (נשא), a word that literally means “lift up.” It comes from the first word of the second verse in Hebrew, which could literally be translated to say, “Lift up the heads of the sons of Gershon,” an idiomat ...
Bamidbar, Bemidbar, BeMidbar, or B’midbar (במדבר — Hebrew for "in the wilderness,” the fifth word, and the first distinctive word, in the parshah) is the 34th weekly Torah portion (parashah Hashavua) in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the first in the book of Numbers. It constitutes ...
In leap years (for example, 2011, 2014, and 2016), parshah Acharei is read separately on the 29th Sabbath after Simchat Torah. In common years (for example, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, and 2018), parshah Acharei is combined with the next parshah, Kedoshim, to help achieve the needed number of weekly readings. This year is not a leap year, therefo ...
Weekly Sidra: Tazria-Metzora (Conceived-Leper) Torah Portion: Vayikra / Leviticus 12:1-15:33 Haftorah: Melachim Bet / II Kings 7:3-7:20 Parashat Tazria – Metzora. The Parshahs of Tazria and Metzora continue the discussion of the laws of Tumah v’Taharah, ritual impurity and purity. A woman giving birth should undergo a pro ...
Weekly Sidra: Vayakhel (and he assembled) Torah Portion: Shemot / Exodus 35:1–38:20 Haftorah: Melechim alef / 1 Kings 7:13–26 Vayakhel, Wayyaqhel, VaYakhel, Va-Yakhel, Vayak’hel, Vayak’heil, or Vayaqhel (וַיַּקְהֵל – Hebrew for "and he asse ...
Weekly Sidra: Terumah (Gift) Torah Portion: Shemot / Exodus 25:1-27:19 Haftorah: Yeshayahu / Isaiah 66:1-24 Parsha Terumah is our Torah reading this week, and is Exodus / Shemot 25:1-27:19. We have the “Open Box” instructions for the building of the Mishkan or Temple. Does it matter how we feel as we follow the instruction? We agreed to ...
Weekly Sidra: Terumah (Gift) Torah Portion: Shemot / Exodus 25:1-27:19 Haftorah: Yeshayahu / Isaiah 66:1-24 Terumah or Trumah (תרומה — Hebrew for "gift" or “offering,” the twelfth word and first distinctive word in the parasha / sidra) is the nineteenth weekly Torah portion (parshah) in the ...
Yitro, Yithro, or Yisro (יתרו — Hebrew for “Jethro,” the second word and first distinctive word in the parshah) is the seventeenth weekly Torah portion (parshah) in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading and the fifth in the book of Exodus. It constitutes Shemot / Exodus 18:1–20:23. Jews in the Dias ...
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