by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 22, 2022 | Bechukotai, Community, Covenant, Faith, God, Temple
Agriculture in Israel is a joint venture in which God partners with the farmers. God promises that if the Jews are faithful to the Torah and keep the commandments, He will ensure that the rain will fall in its proper season and the land will yield its bounty. And just...
by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 27, 2022 | Covenant, Tazriah
Leviticus commands that each Jewish male become a part of the covenant with God by removing his foreskin: On the eighth day the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised. Leviticus 12:3 The Israel Bible explains: Leviticus chapter 12 deals with the laws of purity...
by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 23, 2022 | Adar, Covenant, Ki Tisa, Purim, Temple
Shabbat Shekalim is the last Shabbat preceding the beginning of the Hebrew month of Adar*, or the 1st of Adar itself if the month begins on Shabbat. In synagogues, the Torah portion describing the bringing of the silver half-shekel is read (Exodus 30:11-16) in...
by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 21, 2022 | Covenant, Holiness, Shabbat, Temple, Vayakhel
After the instructions for the Tabernacle are given and right before the actual construction of the Tabernacle begins, Moses gives an incongruous message commanding the Jews to rest on Shabbat (Exodus 35:1-3). In no fewer than 12 places, the Torah reiterates the...
by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 16, 2022 | Covenant, Shabbat
Shabbat, the Sabbath, is the seventh day of the week and the culmination of creation. Exodus (31:12-17) gives it an additional special meaning, describing it as “a sign” and “eternal covenant” between God and the Children of Israel. Not only is Shabbat one of the...
by Shira Schechter (Moderator) | f 3, 2022 | Covenant, Repentance, Seventeenth of Tammuz, Temple, Terumah
As part of building the Tabernacle, God instructed Moses to place the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments into the Ark of the Covenant. But, as we know, there were two sets of tablets; the first, inscribed by the finger of God, was cast down and shattered when Moses...
