Shemini (Shabbat HaChodesh) Lev. 9:1 – 11:47  Rabbi Gary Pokras (based on the Torah commentary of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks for Shemini, 2018)  Come near to the altar and offer your sin offering and your burnt offering and make atonement for yourself and the people; sacrifice the offering that is for the people and make atonement […]

Tzav (Shabbat Parah) Lev. 6:1 – 8:36  By Rabbi Baht Weiss Last Friday night before Shabbat Services, we lit a yahrzeit candle for my father.  It felt awkward to leave the lit candle burning on the counter when we left for synagogue, but after making sure there were no paper products close by, we trusted […]

VaYikra (Shabbat Zachor) Lev. 1:1 – 5:26  Rabbi Gary Pokras  After God brought us out of Egypt with a mighty outstretched hand, what was our destination? According to Rabbi Menachem Nachum of Chernobyl (d. 1797) it was not the Promised Land! In his commentary, Meor Einayim (“Light to the Eyes”), he found the ultimate destination […]

Pekudei Ex. 38:21 – 40:38  Rabbi Baht Weiss  This week’s Torah portion, P’kedui means “records.”   P’kedui gives us the blueprint for each material used in the construction of the miskan, the Tabernacle.  Here we learn that each detail is important.  There is a thoughtful and meticulous way that is essential to get things done properly.  […]

VaYakhel (Shabbat Sh’kalim) Ex. 35:1 – 38:20  Rabbi Gary Pokras  In VaYakhel, we encounter the third and final repetition of the details for building the mishkan (sanctuary) in the wilderness. The threefold repetition highlights the vital importance of this project, and indeed, accounts for a significant amount of real estate in the second half of […]