March 10 Ki Tissa Exodus 33:12-34:35

This portion of the Torah, Ki Tissa, begins with God's instruction to Moses to collect a half-shekel from every one over 20 years of age when he takes a census of the people. The skilled artisan, Betzalel, is appointed as the chief supervisor over the making of all the sanctuary furnishings and even the priestly garments. God reminds Moses of the importance of Shabbat, which celebrates the covenant between God and Israel. Our attention then focuses on what has been transpiring at the foot of the mountain while Moses is learning the Torah. Moses comes down the mount carrying the two tablets with the commandments. When he sees the people dancing around a golden calf they have made, he smashes the tablets in anger. Moses, worried that God will abandon the people, asks for and receives a sign from God that God will not depart. God directs Moses to return to Mt. Sinai and carve two new tablets. The portion ends with commandments regarding Passover, Shavuot and Shabbat. When Moses returns to the people after the second 40 days on Mt. Sinai, his face is glowing and radiant.

March 3 - T etzaveh - Exodus 29:19-30:10

We learn in this week's parasha about the Ner Tamid, the eternal light, and the priests' special clothing. Then we are told of the consecration ceremony for the priesthood.
Tikvah Frymer-Kensky teaches that Tetzaveh "presents us Aaron and the priests as part of the sanctuary, as the bearers of its purpose." She goes on to explain that God’s sanctuary cannot stand empty for the purpose of the Tabernacle is to bring humans into contact with God. Aaron and the priests are the people’s representatives. But coming into contact with the most holy is fraught with danger. Aaron, the High Priest, must be properly prepared and protected from uncontained holiness. Contact with pure holiness results in instantaneous death. Like a spacesuit, Aaron must wear a “holy-suit” that allows him to endure what humans normally could not. This parasha teaches that we come into the realm of holiness only in the “holy-suit” God gives us.

February 24 Terumah Exodus 26:31-33

Make a cloth partition out of sky-blue, dark red and crimsom wool, woven together with twined linen. Cherubs shall be woven into it, such that they can be seen on both sides. Place it on four gold-covered acacia pillars, with gold hooks, set in four silver sockets. Put it directly under the fastenings, holding the tapestries together. Into the space behind this curtain, bring the Ark of Testimony. The curtain will provide division between the Sanctuary and the Holy of Holies.

November 11 Vayera Genesis 21:1-22:24

Three men/angels visit Sarah and Abraham to inform them
that they will indeed still bear a son. Then Abraham learns
of God’s plan to wipe out the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah.
Abraham argues with God not to kill the innocent with
the wicked. Abraham’s nephew, Lot, and his family are the
only ones to be saved. Lot’s wife cannot help but look back
and thus remains a pillar of the community for all time.
Abraham has an encounter with the King of Gerar very similar
to his experience with the Pharaoh of last week. It is
then Sarah’s turn for some excitement and she gives birth at
the ripe old age of ninety. Their son is called Isaac, which
means “laughter,” a reference to what Sarah did when she
heard that she would become a mother so late in life. Sarah
again is jealous of Hagar and her son, Ishmael, and has
Abraham send them away. Several years later, Abraham
almost sacrifices his son, Isaac, on Mt. Moriah in the famous
“Akedah.” Isaac is saved at the very last moment by an angel
who calls out from the heavens.

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Interactive torah study sponsored by Congregation Bet Haverim in Davis, California.