As we move forward in our 50 day journey of Counting the Omer, we begin to focus on Shavuot. However, our Torah portion is about Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement!

This week our Torah portion (Leviticus 12:1–15:33) describes situations in which people are “clean” or “unclean.” In Hebrew, the words are “tamay” (unclean) or “tahor” (clean).

This week our Torah portion is about the installation of the priesthood and the seriousness of walking in holiness before God. It is appropriate for this time of year because we are at the beginning of the important season that we refer to as "Counting the Omer." This is the period between the offering of the early firstfruits and the offering of the latter firstfruits.

One of the names that describes Passover in the Haggadah is z’man cheruteinu, the “season of our freedom.” We gather around the Seder table remembering how God brought our ancestors out of Egyptian slavery to freedom in the wilderness.

This week there is a special Shabbat. In addition to its being the weekly day of rest, it is the Shabbat before Passover. It is called Shabbat HaGadol, the Great Sabbath.

This week our Torah portion is the beginning of the Book of Leviticus. The Tabernacle is completed, and the Glory of the Lord has filled the Tabernacle.

This week our Torah portion is the narrative about the building of the Tabernacle, which brings us to the conclusion of Exodus.

This week our Torah portion focuses on the story of the Golden Calf. To get the most out of this narrative, we must go back to Exodus 24 and read about the great covenantal ceremony when the whole nation spoke with one voice and promised to obey God.

The sense of smell is powerful. It can serve as a warning when you smell dangerous odors. On the other hand, our sense of smell brings back memories like grandma’s kitchen.

This week our Torah portion describes the way of life that God gave to Israel. The laws reflect the character of God.

This week, our Torah portion describes the escape from Egypt to the Red Sea and the beginning of the wilderness wanderings on the way to Sinai. The people do not understand the big picture.

I once saw a television advertisement for a smartphone company in which a child is given a large lollipop. Then another child standing nearby receives a much smaller lollipop.

It goes without saying that everything that happens in the world is somehow connected to God. Some things happen because humankind is disobedient and rebellious. Sometimes things happen because we live in a fallen world and there is no one to blame.

This week’s Torah portion brings us to the story of Joseph and his brothers. This is the longest story in the book of Genesis. It is the climax of the narrative of the formation of the family of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.

Life is hard. How is that for an obvious statement! We all face difficulties of some kind.

Jacob “went out” (Gen. 28:10) not in confidence but in fear—running from Esau, from rejection, from his past, and from the belief that he wasn’t worthy of God’s blessing.

Everyone knows that the Patriarchs of Israel are Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. We read about them in the Scriptures and especially in the prayers of the Jewish people.

This week’s Torah portion brings us to a transition. Abraham and Sarah die, and we read about the descendants of Isaac and Ishmael. We also read the beginning of the story of Jacob. In the Jewish world we like to say dor l’dor (i.e., from generation to generation).

Everyone likes to be “in the know.” Has anyone ever shared information with you that makes you feel special because you have been entrusted with knowledge of a situation that only a few people have been made aware of?

The first words of the Torah portion and the first words that God speaks to Abraham is “Go!” Literally the text says” “Go, you go!” It reminds me of the first words of Yeshua to some of his disciples.