Dvar Torah
This week’s Parsha, Emor, discusses three main topics: laws regarding the Kohanim (Priests); laws regarding prominent Jewish holidays; and the forty-nine-day counting of the Omer.
Our Parsha, Parshat Kedoshim, commands us to be holy and gives us examples of what that entails.
Acharei Mot, which translates to “After the death” follows the deaths of Aaron's sons Nadav and Avihu. G‑d warns against unauthorized entry “into the holy”.
Our memory is who we are. It shapes our identity and defines us...
In this week's parashat Metzora, we continue on the topic of tzara'at: the discussion of the laws of ritual impurity and purity. Metzora is Hebrew for "one being diseased,".
Parshat Tazria details the steps to be taken for a person afflicted with Tzara’at, referred to in the modern day as leprosy.
This week's parsha is Shemini and it translates into “eight”; “Chet” is the eighth letter of the Hebrew alphabet and when combined with “Yud” it creates the word חי – meaning life. The number eight is normally used in Jewish history as indicating a celebration or a joyous occasion (eight days of Sukkot, eight days of Hanukkah).
In this week's Parsha, G-d calls on Moshe to instruct Aaron and his sons regarding their duties and rights as Kohanim who offer the Korbanot - the animal and meal offerings - in the Sanctuary.
Our parsha this week, Vayikra, is the first parsha of the third book of the Chumash. In addition, because it is the week before Purim, we also read Zachor - a short paragraph describing how we should not forget to wipe out the Amalekites, whose aim was to destroy the Jewish people.