Torah library

Hashem creates the world in six days and rests on the seventh. Adam and Chavah are sent out of the Garden of Eden, Cain kills Hevel, and humanity’s corruption spreads until the time of Noach.

Every human being is created in the image of G-d and carries infinite dignity.

Noach, a righteous man, builds the ark and survives the Flood with his family. Later, people build the Tower of Babel and are scattered.

You can stay upright even when your whole generation goes astray.

Hashem tells Avram to leave his land for Canaan and promises him many descendants. The covenant is sealed through circumcision, and Avram becomes Avraham.

Growing sometimes means leaving your comfort zone to follow your mission.

Avraham welcomes three angels and pleads for Sodom, and Sarah gives birth to Yitzchak. The parashah culminates with the Akedah, the binding of Yitzchak.

Hospitality and total devotion to Hashem are Avraham’s legacy.

Avraham buys the Cave of Machpelah to bury Sarah. His servant Eliezer finds Rivka, Yitzchak’s future wife, through her kindness.

Spontaneous kindness toward others reveals a person’s greatness.

Rivka gives birth to Esav and Yaakov. Esav sells his birthright, and Yaakov receives Yitzchak’s blessing.

Never trade what is eternal for a passing pleasure.

Yaakov dreams of a ladder joining earth and heaven, then works for Lavan. He marries Leah and Rachel and builds his family.

Hashem is with you everywhere, even far from home.

Yaakov prepares to meet Esav, wrestles with an angel and receives the name Israel. The two brothers meet in peace.

Facing danger, you need prayer, wise action and a sincere search for peace.

Yosef, envied by his brothers, is sold as a slave into Egypt. He resists Potiphar’s wife and interprets dreams in prison.

Jealousy divides, while loyalty to your values lifts you up.

Yosef interprets Pharaoh’s dreams and becomes viceroy of Egypt. His brothers come to buy grain without recognizing him.

Hashem’s salvation can come in the blink of an eye.

Yehudah pleads for Binyamin, and Yosef reveals himself to his brothers. Yaakov and his whole family go down to Egypt.

Taking responsibility for your brother opens the way to reconciliation.

Before his death, Yaakov blesses his sons and Yosef’s sons. Yaakov, and later Yosef, pass away in Egypt.

Every child has their own blessing and a unique mission.

The Children of Israel are enslaved in Egypt. Moshe is born and drawn from the water, and Hashem appears to him in the burning bush to entrust him with redeeming the people.

A true leader is someone who can’t stay indifferent to another’s suffering.

Hashem promises redemption through four expressions. The first seven plagues strike Egypt, but Pharaoh hardens his heart.

Even when hope seems far away, Hashem’s promise comes true.

The last three plagues strike Egypt. The people receive the mitzvah of the Pesach offering and leave Egypt.

True freedom begins with sanctifying time.

The Sea of Reeds splits and the people sing the Song of the Sea (Shirat HaYam). In the wilderness, Hashem feeds Israel with manna.

Move forward with trust, and Hashem opens the way.

Yitro joins Moshe and advises him on organizing the justice system. At Mount Sinai, the people receive the Ten Commandments.

Receiving the Torah takes unity: “like one person, with one heart.”

The Torah sets out many civil and social laws. The people declare “Na’aseh venishma”: we will do and we will understand.

Holiness is also lived through honesty in our everyday dealings.

Hashem asks the people to donate materials to build the Mishkan. The Ark, the Table and the Menorah are described.

“They shall make Me a sanctuary and I will dwell among them”: everyone can make their heart a home for G-d.

The garments of the kohanim and their consecration are described. The parashah ends with the incense altar.

Humbly stepping back for others, like Moshe, whose name doesn’t appear in this parashah.

The people make the golden calf and Moshe breaks the Tablets. After his prayer, Hashem forgives and gives the second Tablets.

Even after a fall, teshuvah lets you rebuild everything.

Moshe gathers the people, reminds them of Shabbat and launches the building of the Mishkan. The people give so generously that they have to be told to stop.

A generous heart achieves great things.

Moshe gives an account of how the donations were used. The Mishkan is set up and Hashem’s Cloud of Glory comes to rest on it.

Transparency and integrity are essential for anyone managing public funds.

Hashem calls Moshe and teaches him the laws of the offerings: olah, minchah, shelamim, chatat and asham.

The korban reminds us to draw close to Hashem by offering the best we have.

More laws of the offerings, including the perpetual fire on the altar. Aharon and his sons are consecrated over seven days.

The altar fire must never go out: tend your inner flame every day.

The Mishkan is inaugurated on the eighth day, but Nadav and Avihu die bringing a foreign fire. The Torah sets out the laws of kashrut.

Aharon’s silence in the face of tragedy teaches acceptance and faith.

Laws of purity after childbirth, and laws of tzara’at, a spiritual affliction that shows on the skin.

Our words have a real spiritual impact.

The purification of the metzora and the laws of tzara’at on houses, followed by laws of bodily impurity.

Lashon hara, evil speech, isolates the one who speaks it.

The service of the Kohen Gadol on Yom Kippur. Prohibitions regarding blood and the laws of family purity.

Every year Hashem gives us a day to purify ourselves and start again.

“You shall be holy, for I am holy.” The parashah contains many ethical mitzvot, including “Love your neighbor as yourself.”

Loving your neighbor as yourself is a great principle of the Torah.

Laws of holiness for the kohanim and an overview of the year’s festivals, including the counting of the Omer.

The festivals are sacred meetings between Hashem and His people.

Laws of Shemittah, the land’s year of rest, and of Yovel. The ban on wronging others and the duty to help the poor.

The land belongs to Hashem: we are only its guardians.

Blessings promised to those who follow the Torah’s laws, warnings for those who turn away, then the laws of vows.

Diligent Torah study is a source of blessing.

A census of the tribes of Israel and the arrangement of the camp around the Mishkan. The Levites are appointed to its service.

Every single person counts in Hashem’s eyes.

Laws of the sotah and the nazir, and the Priestly Blessing. The tribal princes bring their offerings for the dedication of the altar.

Peace is the vessel that holds every blessing.

Aharon lights the Menorah. The people complain in the wilderness, and Miriam is struck for speaking against Moshe.

Moshe was the humblest of men: humility is true greatness.

Twelve spies scout Canaan; ten of them discourage the people. The generation of the wilderness is condemned to wander for forty years. The parashah ends with the mitzvah of tzitzit.

Look at the world with a positive eye and trust in Hashem.

Korach challenges the authority of Moshe and Aharon and is swallowed by the earth. Aharon’s staff blossoms, confirming his selection.

A dispute driven by pride leads to ruin.

The law of the red heifer. Miriam and Aharon pass away, and Moshe strikes the rock instead of speaking to it.

Some mitzvot are beyond our understanding and teach us trust.

Balak, king of Moav, hires Bilam to curse Israel, but Hashem turns his curses into blessings: “How goodly are your tents, O Yaakov!”

No one can curse those whom G-d blesses.

Pinchas receives the covenant of peace. The daughters of Tzelofchad receive their inheritance, Yehoshua is named Moshe’s successor, and the festival offerings are detailed.

Sincere zeal for Hashem is rewarded with peace.

Laws of vows and the war against Midian. The tribes of Reuven and Gad settle on the other side of the Jordan.

Our word is sacred: keep your commitments.

The list of the forty-two stages in the wilderness, the borders of the Land of Israel and the cities of refuge.

Every stage of life has meaning in our journey.

Moshe begins his farewell speech and recalls the events of the forty years in the wilderness.

Rebuke given with love and tact can be heard.

Moshe pleads to enter the Land of Israel. He repeats the Ten Commandments and teaches the Shema Yisrael.

Love Hashem with all your heart, all your soul and all your might.

Moshe promises the blessings that come with observance, recalls the manna and the golden calf, and teaches the mitzvah of Birkat Hamazon.

Never forget that everything we have comes from Hashem.

Moshe sets blessing and curse before the people. Laws of tzedakah, kashrut and the three pilgrimage festivals.

Free will is a gift: choose blessing.

The appointment of judges, and the laws of the king, the kohanim, prophets and war.

“Justice, justice you shall pursue”: integrity is a constant duty.

The parashah contains seventy-four mitzvot about family, society and respect for every creature. It ends with remembering Amalek.

Even the smallest act of kindness, like sending away the mother bird, counts immensely.

The mitzvah of the first fruits (bikkurim) and the declaration of gratitude. Blessings and warnings are proclaimed.

Serve Hashem with joy and gratitude.

The whole people stands before Hashem to renew the covenant. Moshe teaches teshuvah and the call to choose life.

The Torah is not in heaven: it is very close to us, in our mouth and in our heart.

Moshe, at one hundred and twenty, hands leadership over to Yehoshua. He gives the mitzvah of Hakhel and of writing a Sefer Torah.

Everyone should write their own Torah: make the tradition your own.

Moshe calls heaven and earth as witnesses in a poetic song tracing Israel’s history and Hashem’s faithfulness.

“Remember the days of old”: our history bears witness to Divine Providence.

Moshe blesses each tribe before his death. He gazes at the Land of Israel from Mount Nevo and leaves this world. Read on Simchat Torah.

The Torah is the eternal heritage of the whole congregation of Yaakov.