by Rabbi Margie Cella We learn of the purification ritual for a leper who has been healed. Two live birds were needed. One was slaughtered, the other dipped in its blood before being set free. After another...
by Rabbi Margie Cella This week’s parashah begins with the description of the purification ritual for a woman following childbirth. If she gave birth to a boy, she was ritually impure for seven...
by Rabbi Margie Cella This week’s parashah describes the events of the eighth day (Shmini means “eighth”) of the consecration ceremony for the priests. Moses told Aaron and his sons to bring...
by Rabbi Margie Cella This second parashah of Leviticus continues to define seven different types of offerings that one could bring. For each one we learn what was offered and by whom, what motivated...
by Rabbi Margie Cella This third book of the Torah, considered by many to be a part of the “priestly” texts, contains more than half of the 613 mitzvot. The predominant theme of this parashah is...
by Rabbi Margie Cella In this last parashah of the book of Shemot we find a full inventory of the materials required to make the Mishkan, Tabernacle, its furnishings, and the priestly...
by Rabbi Margie Cella Parashat Vayakhel begins with Moses reiterating the commandment to observe Shabbat: no work is to be done nor fires kindled on the seventh day. He instructs the people to make...
by Rabbi Margie Cella This week’s parashah begins with Moses taking a census, requiring each man aged 20-60 years old to bring a half shekel to God. Following this, God gave the final instructions...
by Rabbi Margie Cella This week’s parashah begins with God addressing Moses, charging him to deliver a message to the nation, explaining in great detail how they are to construct a portable...
by Rabbi Margie Cella The outlines of the covenant have been given; the next step is to build a sanctuary; God instructs Moses to ask the people to bring a terumah, a free-will offering of all the...
