It is also Lag b’Omer!

We’re also on the Fourth chapter of Pirkei Avot.

I’m once again catching up on Nach Yomi. More RSS feeds would help. I said I’d make a calendar a few months ago. I really hope to get to that soon. It would help. :)

שׁבּת שׁלום

Counting everywhere. As I’ve been couting sheep (and reading the insides of my eye lids) this week, I’ve not come anywhere near the learning I had hoped to accomplish. We’ll see what happens this rainy and grey Friday.

שׁבּת שׁלום

We also learn the second chapter of Pirkei Avot.

It was both יום הזכרון לחללי מערכות ישראל ונפגעי פעולות האיבה and יום העצמאות (nb: i did the Hebrew different. Please let me know if it displays improperly)

Parshah:

• Nit kain entfer is oich an entfer (from parshat kedoshim)
• Parshah Q & A
• by rabbi avrohom gordimer/a>
• tanach.org

Pirkei Avot:

• beer-kay avot
• torah.org by Rabbi Dovid Rosenfeld.
• beautiful study and occupation @ hillel.org
• people need people (2:4) @ hillel.org

שׁבּת שׁלום

This week we learn Parshat Kedoshim, found at Vayikra (Leviticus) 19:1-20:27.

There are many mitzvot (commandments) found in this parshah, including my favourite and the one that lead to Hillel’s famous golden rule, it is found at 19:34 and a translation reads “The stranger who sojourns with you shall be as a native from among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. I am the Lord, your God.”

Given the long shabbos afternoons we now read through Pirkei Avot, Ethics of the Fathers, learning one chapter a week.

שׁבּת שׁלום

This shabbat we read Vayikra (Leviticus) 16:1-18:30

Though I’m sure most (myself included) are more focused on what commences immediately following this Shabbat (aka Shabbat hagadol, the “big shabbat before passover). I’ve been very concerned about editing, cleaning, and buying of food (and honestly knitting of new shawl) that haven’t haven’t yet found much time for this week’s parshah.

Here are some links to help out with either this parshah or other things:

- parshah in a nutshell
- Death of a Salesman
- What’s Bothering Rashi?

May you have a safe and happy & healthy & kosher pesach.

I leave you with this.

שׁבּת שׁלום

Both texts this week concern those (people or things) in ritual impurity. The Torah describes how purification can be achieved while the haftorah looks into how four lepers reacted and the consequences to their actions.

For more information

.. on the Torah reading:
- full text
- nutshell
- commentaries: aishdas compilation (pdf)

.. on the haftorah:
- full text
- commentary: better than a donkey’s head
- commentary: Virtually There: Thoughts on the Haftarah for Tazria-Metzora: II Kings 7:3-20

.. Of shoes–and ships–and sealing-wax—Of cabbages–and kings–*:
- walk on the wild side
- passover and great story telling
- the wine collection
- dirt is not chometz.

* full text available here (and elsewhere)

שׁבּת שׁלום

This is one of the shorter parshiyot as it is generally combined with next week’s parshah (Metzora), but as we are in a leap year it is separated.

While the count of words is short, it does not mean that there is not a large amount of information. In this parshah we learn several vocabulary words: Tumah (ritual impurity), Taharah (ritual purity), Tzaraat (“leprosy”), Tameh (impure), and Tahor (pure).. we also learn that baby boys are to be circumcised on their eighth day [as long as they are healthy].

I’m sad I delayed writing this post as I will not have the luxury of developing or editing it as much as I wish were possible.

Here are some links for further study, both for preparation of pesach and of the parshah. The content found at these links often flies over my head, but I like having someone else think of questions I should think about. ;)

Parshah Tazria
- Pain and Accountability
- Significance of Eight in Sefer Vayikra
- Questions for further thought
- Haftarah

Pesach prep:
- OU Passover Guide
- Understanding the Maggid
- The four sons

Bleah. Maybe one day I’ll actually publish the posts that are in my head.

שׁבּת שׁלום

Among other things, in this parshah we learn about Kashrut.

Hmm.. kashrut separates and often divides us. I’m not sure I really want to go there. Please feel free to ask me if you have questions, if they’re basic I’ll try to answer them, otherwise I’ll point you to someone who is knowledgeable and able to properly answer your question.

שׁבּת שׁלום

This week we learn Parshah Tzav, Vayikra (Leviticus) 6:1-8:36. As we’re still in learning all of the things a Cohen must do, in this parshah we continue to learn about the korbanot and that the fire (aish) must always be kept burning. After spending seven days in the sanctuary, Moses annoints Aaron and his sons into the priesthood.

Don’t hurt me, but Pesach is coming. Starting 30 days before Pesach we start to review the laws regarding this holiday. A schedule from 2005 may be found here and here.

A Freilechen Purim!

שׁבּת שׁלום