Torah Study
Join us on Saturdays at 9:15am ( Attend once, once in awhile or every week)
The cornerstone of our learning is our Saturday morning Torah Study. We discuss the weekly Torah portion and have a lively and spirited conversation as we relate this ancient text to our daily lives.
No special training or prerequisite courses are necessary for you to attend. Neither is there an entrance requirement for the understanding of Torah. When we come to it in study, there are no barriers to keep us distant from our heritage.
Upcoming Torah portions:
May 19
Behar
Moses speaks to the Israelites about laws that are to take effect in the land that God will give them. For six years, the people will be permitted to plant and harvest from their fields with the 7th year as complete rest for the land. Furthermore, there will be a Jubilee year after forty-nine years to mark the arrival of the 50th year. In that year the land is to lay fallow, property is to revert to its original owner and all Hebrew slaves are to be freed. The portion concludes with a reminder to the people not to set up or worship idols and to keep God's Sabbaths.
Bechukotai begins with a promise and a curse. If the Israelites follow God's laws and commandments, God will bless them. Their land will be fertile and peaceful and their enemies will flee before them. But if the people do not obey, God will spurn and punish them. And those who survive the punishment will repent and god will remember the covenant with Jacob, Isaac and Abraham. The Book of Leviticus concludes with a section detailing three types of gifts which might be promised to a sanctuary.
May 26
BemidbarGod commands Moses to take a census of all the Israelite males over 20 years of age who are able to bear arms. The total count is 603,550. The Levites are counted separately since they are not to bear arms. Moses assigns them specific duties for the care of the Tabernacle. Originally, first born Israelites were consecrated to God, since they escaped the plague of death of all firstborn in Egypt. Now, God tells Moses to appoint the Levites as priest in place of the firstborn.
Moses also counts all firstborn males over one month old among the Israelite population. A redemption price of five shekels per head is collected and paid to Aaron and his sons. A separate census it taken of the Kohanthite clan of the Levites which is given the task of carrying the sacred objects on the journeys of the people.