Category Archives: Uncategorized

23 December 2023 / 11 Tevet 5784 Parashat Vayigash is the 11th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. Torah Portion: Genesis 44:18-47:27 Vayigash (“He Approached”) opens as Judah pleads with Joseph not to keep Benjamin as a prisoner. Joseph reveals his true identity to his brothers, crying and kissing them. The brothers bringContinue reading “Parashat Vayigash 5784 / פָּרָשַׁת וַיִּגַּשׁ”

9 December 2023 / 26 Kislev 5784 Parashat Vayeshev is the 9th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. Torah Portion: Genesis 37:1-40:23; Numbers 7:18-23 Vayeshev (“He Settled”) begins the story of Joseph, describing his rivalry with his brothers, slavery in Egypt, and imprisonment after his master’s wife frames him in response to Joseph’s refusalContinue reading “Parashat Vayeshev 5784 / פָּרָשַׁת וַיֵּשֶׁב”

2 December 2023 / 19 Kislev 5784 Parashat Vayishlach is the 8th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. Torah Portion: Genesis 32:4-36:43 Vayishlach (“He Sent”) follows Jacob and his family as Jacob wrestles with a man (commonly understood as an angel), is renamed Israel, and reconciles with his brother, Esau. Jacob’s daughter, Dina,Continue reading “Parashat Vayishlach 5784 / פָּרָשַׁת וַיִּשְׁלַח”

25 November 2023 / 12 Kislev 5784 Parashat Vayetzei is the 7th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. Torah Portion: Genesis 28:10-32:3 Vayetzei (“He Went Out”) opens as Jacob dreams about angels going up and down a ladder, and then continues on his journey toward the home of his uncle Laban. During yearsContinue reading “Parashat Vayetzei 5784 / פָּרָשַׁת וַיֵּצֵא”

This week’s Torah portion is Parashat Chayei Sara (read on 11 November 2023). Chayei Sarah (“The Life of Sarah”) opens as Sarah dies and Abraham buys the Cave of Machpelah to bury her. Abraham sends his servant to find a wife for Isaac. The servant meets Rebecca at a well, and Rebecca returns with the servant to marryContinue reading “Parashat Chayei Sara”

4 November 2023 / 20 Cheshvan 5784 Parashat Vayera is the 4th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. Torah Portion: Genesis 18:1-22:24 Vayera (“He Appeared”) opens as guests inform Abraham that Sarah will give birth. Despite Abraham’s attempts to convince God otherwise, God destroys the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. Sarah gives birthContinue reading “Parashat Vayera 5784 / פָּרָשַׁת וַיֵּרָא”

28 October 2023 / 13 Cheshvan 5784 Parashat Lech-Lecha is the 3rd weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. Torah Portion: Genesis 12:1-17:27 Lech Lecha (“Go Forth”) recounts Abraham’s (here known as Abram) first encounter with God, his journey to Canaan, the birth of his son Ishmael, the covenant between him, his descendants, andContinue reading “Parashat Lech-Lecha 5784 / פָּרָשַׁת לֶךְ־לְךָ”

This week’s Torah portion is Parashat Bereshit (read on 14 October 2023). Bereishit (“In the Beginning”), the first parashah in the annual Torah reading cycle, begins with God’s creation of the world. The first people, Adam and Eve, eat from the Tree of Knowledge and are banished from the Garden of Eden. Their elder son, Cain, kills theirContinue reading “Parashat Bereshit”

Eighth Day of Assembly ✡️ Shmini Atzeret for Hebrew Year 5784 begins at sundown on Friday, 6 October 2023 and ends at nightfall on Saturday, 7 October 2023. Shemini Atzeret (שמיני עצרת – “the Eighth [day] of Assembly”) is a Jewish holiday. It is celebrated on the 22nd day of the Hebrew month of Tishrei (first month of calendar). InContinue reading “Shmini Atzeret / שְׁמִינִי עֲצֶרֶת”