Tazria–Metzorah Leviticus 12:1–15:33 By Jen Smith Time, Transformation, and the Hidden Layers of Reality At first read, this week’s double portion, Tazria-Metzorah, feels almost uncomfortably clinical. Skin afflictions, isolation terms, detailed physical examinations by the priests? Just… No. But beneath the surface, this chapter in the Israelites journey isn’t really about skin at all. Beneath […]

Shemini Leviticus 9:1–11:47  By Jen Smith  There is something almost uncanny about this moment of the year. Just a week or so ago, the trees were bare save for a few pink buds, and it was just cold enough for my spring jacket. Then suddenly, we experienced a taste of August, but then, as always, the Maryland climate lost […]

Tzav Shabbat HaGadol Leviticus 6:1–8:36 By Jen Smith There is a quiet, almost easily overlooked command in this week’s Torah portion, Tzav: Esh tamid tukad al hamizbeach, lo tichbeh. A perpetual fire shall be kept burning on the altar; it shall not go out (Leviticus 6:6) A steady fire. Not a dramatic, nor a miraculous […]

Vayikra Leviticus 1:1 – 5:26  By Jen Smith  Vayikra el Moshe…And [God] called to Moses… (Leviticus 1:1)  This calling takes place not in a palace or a grand sanctuary, but from the Tent of Meeting, a simple, portable structure in the wilderness. And the Hebrew word Vayikra, “He called”, is written with a small Aleph at the end, a mysterious scribal tradition that […]

Vayakhel–Pekudei Exodus 35:1–40:38  By Jen Smith   Vayakhel Moshe et kol adat B’nei Yisrael. Moses gathered the entire community of Israel. (Exodus 35:1)  Before the gold and silver are donated and before the Mishkan is assembled piece by piece in the wilderness, the Torah begins with a gathering. The people must come together first before bringing God’s vision to fruition.  It is an easy detail to overlook, especially because Parashat Vayakhel–Pekudei contains so many […]