I had been speaking to Christians about Israel for many years when one of my Christian colleagues suggested that I share Bible teachings on a weekly basis with our Christian audience. I was rather surprised at the notion that Christians might be interested in regular teachings on the Portion of the Week from an Orthodox Jew. Today, I can safely say that my weekly Bible teachings, both in print and in video, have met a demand that we are only just beginning to appreciate. I have found an honest quest for understanding and knowledge among my many Christian friends.
For centuries, Jews have read the Torah portion each week and have focused family discussions and Bible classes around those particular Scriptures in Jewish communities all over the world. As a Jew I have taken this type of study for granted. Through my encounters with Christians who share the same Biblical text but who have not been privy to the same traditions, I have come to realize how rich our tradition really is. I would like to share this tradition with you. Below are links to my comments on each Torah portion. Every Friday we send out a short bible teaching by email, if you are interested in learning more, I encourage you to browse through the links below and sign up for our Friday email.
Shabbat Shalom,
Sondra Oster Baras
CFOIC Heartland
Karnei Shomron, Samaria, Israel
Genesis
- Bereisheet (In the Beginning) Genesis 1:1 – 6:8
- Noach (Noah) Genesis 6:9 – 11:32
- Lech Lecha (Go Forth) – Genesis 12:1 – 17:27
- Vayerah (And He Appeared) Genesis 18:1 – 22:24
- Chayei Sara (The Life of Sarah) Genesis 23:1 – 25:18
- Toldot (Descendants) – Genesis 25:19 – 28:9
- Vayetzei (And He (Jacob) Left) – Genesis 28:10 – 32:3
- Vayishlach (And He (Jacob) Sent) – Genesis 32:4 – 36:43
- Vayeshev (And He (Joseph) Settled) – Genesis 37:1 – 40:23
- Miketz (The End) – Genesis 41:1 – 44:17
- VaYigash (And He (Judah) Approached) – Genesis 44:18 – 47:27
- Vayechi (And He (Jacob) Lived) – Genesis 47:28 – 50:26
Exodus
- Shemot (Names) – Exodus 1:1 – 6:1
- Vaera (And I Appeared) – Exodus 6:2 – 9:35
- Bo (Go) – Exodus 10:1 – 13:16
- Beshalach (As He Sent) – Exodus 13:17 – 17:16
- Yitro (Jethro) – Exodus 18:1 – 20:23
- Mishpatim (Laws) – Exodus 21:1 – 24:18
- Trumah (Offering) – Exodus 25:1 – 27:19
- Tezave (You Shall Command) – Exodus 27:20 – 30:10
- Ki Tisa (When You Raise Up/Count) – Exodus 30:11 – 34:35
- Vayakhel (Gathered) Exodus 35:1-38:20
- Vayakhel/Pikudei (Gathered/Accounts) Exodus 35:1 – 40:38
- Pikudei (Accounts) Exodus 38:21 – 40:38
- Passover – The Exodus From Egypt
- Sukkot – Exodus 33:12 – 34:16
Leviticus
- Vayikra (And He (G-d) Called) – Leviticus 1:1 – 5:26
- Tzav (And He (G-d) Commanded Moses) – Leviticus 6:1 – 8:36
- Shmini (Eighth) – Leviticus 9:1 – 11:47
- Tazria (Conceived seed) – Leviticus 12:1-13:59
- Tazria/Mezora (Conceived Seed/Leper) – Leviticus 12:1 – 15:33
- Mezora (Leper) – Leviticus 14:1 – 15:33
- Achrei Mot (After the Death) Leviticus 16:1-18-30
- Achrei Mot/Kedoshim (After the Death/Holy) – Leviticus 16:1 – 20:27
- Kedoshim (Holy) – Leviticus 16:1 – 20:27
- Emor (Say) – Leviticus 21:1 – 24:23
- Behar (At the Mountian) -Leviticus 25:1 – 26:2
- Behar/Behukotai (At the Mountain/My Statutes) – Leviticus 25:1-27:34
- Behukotai (My Statutes) – Leviticus 26:3 – 27:34
Numbers
- Bamidbar (In The Desert) – Numbers 1:1 – 4:20
- Naso (To Carry/Appoint) – Numbers 4:21-7:89
- Beha’alotcha (As You Raise Up) – Numbers 8:1 – 12:15
- Shelach (Send Forth) – Numbers 13:1 – 15:41
- Korach (Korah) – Numbers 16:1 – 18:32
- Hukat (Statute) – Numbers 19:1 – 22:1
- Balak (Balak) – Numbers 22:2 – 25:9
- Pinchas (Phinehas) – Numbers 25:10 – 30:1
- Matot (Tribes) – Numbers 30:2 – 32:42
- Matot/Masei (Tribes/Travel) Numbers 30:2 – 36:13
- Masei (Travel) – Numbers 33:1 – 36:13
Deuteronomy
- Devarim (Words) – Deuteronomy 1:1 – 3:22
- Vaetchanan (And I Beseeched) – Deuteronomy 3:23 – 7:11
- Ekev (Because) Deuteronomy 7:12 – 11:25
- Re’eh (Behold) Deuteronomy 11:26 – 16:17
- Shoftim (Judges) Deuteronomy 16:18 – 21:9
- Ki Tezeh (If You Should Go Out) Deuteronomy 21:10 – 25:19
- Ki Tavo (When You Will Come) Deuteronomy 26:1 – 29:8
- Nitzavim (Standing) – Deuteronomy 29:9 – 30:20
- VaYelech (And He (Moses) Went) – Deuteronomy 30:21 – 31:30
- Nitzavim/VaYelech (Standing/And He (Moses) Went)-Deuteronomy 29:9-31:30
- Ha’azinu (Listen) Deuteronomy 32:1 – 32:52
- Simchat Torah — Zot HaBracha (This is the Blessing) – Deuteronomy 33-34