Jewish Life

Candlelighting, Readings:
Shabbat candles: 8:13 p.m.
Torah: Numbers 16:1-18:32
Haftarah: I Samuel 11:14-12:22
Havdalah: 9:22 p.m.

This week’s parsha stands as the paradigm in the Rabbinic tradition for what differentiates arguments that are l’Shem Shamayim (for the sake of Heaven) versus those that are of a pernicious and illegitimate nature.

Candlelighting, Readings:
Candles: 8:11 p.m.
Torah: Numbers 13:1-15:41
Haftarah: Joshua 2:1-24
Havdalah: 9:20 p.m.

Between the lines of the Bible, we glimpse the difficulties — even tragedy — of Moses, the greatest prophet in history, who sees himself losing the fealty of his people. Moses feels that he is failing to direct the Israelites toward the very goal of the Exodus: the conquest and settlement of the Land of Israel. Where has he gone wrong, and why?

Candlelighting, Readings:
Candlelighting: 8:08 p.m.
Torah Reading: Numbers 8:1-12:16
Haftarah: Zecharia 2:14-3:7
Sabbath Ends: 9:17 p.m.

Candlelighting, Readings:
Shabbat/Shavuot candles: 8:04 p.m.;
8:06 p.m. (Tues.); 9:15 (Wed.)
Torah: Num. 4:21-7:89;
Ex. 19:1-20:23; Num. 28:26-31;
Deut. 14:22-16:17
Haftara: Judges 13:2-25;
Ezekiel 1:1-28, 3:12;
Habakuk 2:20-3:19
Havdalah: 9:12 p.m.; 9:16 (Thurs.)

Candlelighting, Readings:
Shabbat candles: 7:58 p.m.
Torah: Numbers 1:1-4:20
Haftarah: Hosea 2:1-22
Shabbat ends: 9:06 p.m.

Is our tradition set in stone, or is it open to whatever alteration the scholars desire to make? How legitimate is the claim that “Where there is a rabbinic will, there is a halachic way?”

Two Talmudic passages describing incidents in the life of Rabbi Eliezer ben Hyrcanus help answer our questions.

Candlelighting, Readings:
Candlelighting: 7:52 p.m.
Torah Reading: Lev. 26:3-27:34
Haftarah: Jeremiah 16:19-17:14
Sabbath Ends: 8:59 p.m.

Shabbat Shalom
Candlelighting, Readings:
Candles: 7:46 p.m.
Torah readings: Lev. 25:1-26:2
Haftarah: Jeremiah 32:6-27
Shabbat ends: 8:51 p.m.

Shabbat Shalom
Candlelighting, Readings:
Shabbat candles: 7:38 p.m.
Torah: Leviticus: 21:1-24:23
Haftara: Ezekiel 44:15-31
Shabbat ends: 8:43 p.m.

“And he [the Kohen] shall be sanctified” [Leviticus 21:8].

Shabbat Shalom
Candlelighting, Readings:
Candles: 7:31 p.m.
Torah readings: Lev. 19:1-20:27
Haftarah: Amos 9:17-15 (Ashkenaz);
Ezekiel 20:2-20 (Sephard)
Shabbat ends: 8:35 p.m.

Whereas Aaron’s two sons, Nadav and Avihu, die tragically for bringing uninvited offerings to God, in this week’s reading God goes out of his way to encourage the entire people, not only the crown princes of the priesthood, to “be holy” [Leviticus 19:2].

Shabbat Shalom
Candlelighting, Readings:
Candles: 7:24 p.m. (Fri.); 7:26 p.m. (Sun.); after 8:29 p.m. (Mon.)
Torah Reading: Ex. 33:12-34:26 (Sat.); Ex. 8:17-15:26 (Mon.); Deut. 15:19-16:7 (Tue.), Num. 25:19-25 (Mon. & Tues.) 
Haftarah: Ezekiel 38:1-14 (Sat.); II Sam. 22:1-51 (Mon.); Isaiah 20:32-12:6 (Tue.)
Shabbat ends: 8:26 p.m.
Passover ends: 8:30 p.m. (Tues.)