leviticus

Parashat Vayikra - Leviticus 1:1-5:26

Drawing Near

As we finish the book of Shemot (Exodus) we now turn to the book of Vayikra (Leviticus). When most people begin a study of the book of Leviticus, they probably don’t get that excited. It’s almost entirely focused on animal sacrifices, various sprinklings of blood, bodily discharges, and purification rituals. The modern reader finds a study of Leviticus more repulsive than edifying. This is because these rituals are foreign to the modern reader in a time when animal sacrifice is considered more barbaric than spiritual.

Bechukotai

Leviticus 26:3-27:34

Behar

Leviticus 25:1-26:2

Parashat Behar begins, "The LORD spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai, saying..." We get the name of the parashah from this opening line. The word behar, in Hebrew, means "on the mountain." But why do we need to know this information? Didn't all of the commandments and instructions given by Moses originate at Sinai when he was given the Torah in its entirety? Why hasn't the Torah reiterated this fact prior to our current reading? Why do we need to be reminded of this obvious fact?

Parashat Emor - Leviticus 21:1-24:23

Distinct & Set Apart

Behar / Bechukotai (Leviticus 25:1-27:34)

Join with me as we study the last two parashot of the book of Leviticus, parashot Behar / Bechukotai (Leviticus 25:1-27:34). I was invited to speak at a Messianic congregation this past weekend and presented a message of love, redemption, unity and the restoration of the Kingdom I see woven into the text of these two parashot. I pull not only from the text of our Torah portions, but from the Apostolic Scriptures, the Mishnah and Midrash to weave a pattern of restoration that can only come when we take our responsibilities seriously.