Rabbi | Adath Israel

Matot-Masei: Holiness, Hatred and us

This week’s reading is the longest in Torah – it is the combination of Matot and Masei. The two readings together, which happens almost every year, have 253 verses and it is the longest reading of the Torah. The longest portion is Naso, with 176 verses, followed by...

Naso – the power of one

Summary: “Naso,” means “Count” // it is the longest portion in verses // Completing the headcount in the desert. We read the laws of sotah, who is the woman suspected of adultery by her husband; the laws of Nazir, the person who decides to...

Kedoshim – to be holy we need other people

“Acharei Mot,” means “after the death of” “Kedoshim,” means “holy” Following the deaths of Nadav and Avihu, God warns against unauthorized entry “into the holy” – this is a place, inside the tabernacle in our story and later, inside the Temple, where incense is...

Pekudei and our contributions

Pekudei – Summary: “Pekudei,” means “Accountings of”. This is what the Parsha deals with: an accounting is made of the gold, silver and copper donated by the people for the making of the Mishkan. Betzalel, Oholiav and their assistants make the...