Mezora (Leper) – Leviticus 14:1 – 15:33

by Katie Eacrett | Apr 19, 2024 | Shabbat Shalom, Shmuel Shabbat Shalom

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Print This week’s Torah portion, Mezora talks about disease! But what exactly is this disease, often translated as “leprosy”? It is clearly not leprosy, or Hansen’s disease that is easily treated in the modern age. Biblical leprosy is...

Tazria (Conceived seed) – Leviticus 12:1-13:59

by Katie Eacrett | Apr 11, 2024 | Shabbat Shalom, Shmuel Shabbat Shalom

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Print This week we read portion Tazria, but Shmuel is already looking ahead to next week’s portion, Mezora which deals with the topic of leprosy. Could leprosy be a tool to help the affected person? How did watering plastic plants...

Shmini (Eighth) – Leviticus 9:1 – 11:47

by Katie Eacrett | Apr 5, 2024 | Shabbat Shalom, Shmuel Shabbat Shalom

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Print In this week’s video, Shmuel discusses the foundation for the laws of kosher food, as well as his personal adventures of keeping kosher as a world traveler. Why does kosher matter? Why is a snake forbidden but a goat acceptable?...

Ha’azinu (Listen) – Deuteronomy 32:1 – 32:52

by Kim Troup | Sep 21, 2023 | Shabbat Shalom

Our past holds the key to understanding the present This week we read the Song of Moses, one of Moses’ final speeches to the Children of Israel before his death. The only other words Moses speaks to the nation after this are the words of blessing in Deuteronomy...

Ki Tavo (When You Will Come) – Deuteronomy 26:1 – 29:8

by Kim Troup | Aug 31, 2023 | Shabbat Shalom

First Fruits of the Land of Israel This week’s portion opens with the ceremony of first fruits that is performed in the Temple, after the Children of Israel have entered the Land of Israel. When you come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you for an...