Naso, Numbers 4:21-7:89 A cherished part of American folklore is the story of how as a boy, George Washington, later to become first president of the United States, chopped down his father’s cherry tree and, when asked about it, bravely and honestly admitted his deed in the famous words: “Father...

Bamidbar, Numbers 1:1-4:20 The book of Numbers – fourth of the Five Books of Moses – opens with the people of Israel still encamped at the foot of Mount Sinai after receiving the Torah, but now poised to leave on their journey to their promised homeland where their mission would be to practice what...

Behar-Bechukosai Leviticus 25:1-26:2 & 26:3-27:34 The two portions of BEHAR and BECHUKOSAI (which in many years are read on the same Sabbath), put the seal on the book of Leviticus, which together with the latter part of Exodus covers all the laws given to the people of Israel in the Covenant at...

EMOR, Leviticus 21:1-24:23 Certain major sports events are reportedly watched live on TV every week by hundreds of millions of viewers across the world. A handful of performances by celebrity entertainers are said to have been watched by over a billion, while in 1997 the funeral of a British royal princess...

Acharey Mos & Kedoshim Leviticus Leviticus 16:1-18:30 & 19:1-20:27 The two consecutive Torah portions known respectively by their Hebrew names of ACHAREI MOS and KEDOSHIM are in some years read each on their own separate Shabbat, while in other years they may be read together on the same Shabbat,...