Monthly Archives: April 2013

Parshat Emor in Leviticus/Vayikra 21:1- 24:23 contains regulations for our Priestly class; their do’s and don’ts, their qualifications and disqualifications. Whenever I read Emor (or much of Leviticus), I wonder about our honoring the status of being a Kohen. What … Continue reading →

We are commanded in this week’s Torah reading, Kedoshim tihiyu. “You shall be holy!” Vayikra/Leviticus 19:1. What exactly does that mean? On some level we are each holy without any effort whatsoever. God created us as holy. We are supposed … Continue reading →

This week’s double portion is a complex recitation of ritual purity laws and practices and the role of the Kohanim. The challenge is to find the relevance of this in our lives today. Some people find that to be a … Continue reading →

This week’s Parasha contains some of the laws of Kashrut (the creatures that we are permitted to eat). Vayikra 11:1-47. The Midrash has created very interesting explanations and reasons for why a particular creature is or is not kosher. One … Continue reading →

This is the beginning of a special time in the Jewish calendar. We began the counting of the Omer. It is actually the countdown until we receive the Torah on Shavuot. It is a tradition during these coming 7 weeks … Continue reading →