Parashat Tzav is the second Torah portion in the Book of Leviticus. God commands Moses to instruct Aaron and his sons on the precise procedures for the burnt offering, meal offering, sin offering, guilt offering, and peace offering, including how the priests must handle the portions and keep the altar fire burning continually. By this point the Tabernacle has already been built, and this Portion recounts how these detailed priestly instructions were carried out, stating that Moses and Aaron did everything exactly as the Lord commanded. The portion concludes with the seven-day ordination of Aaron and his sons as priests. Support my work to make these videos and more: www.ashsoular.com/donate Thank you!💗

Parashat Vayikra is the first portion of the Book of Leviticus also called Vayikra in Hebrew. This portion begins the detailed laws of worship in the Tabernacle. God calls to Moses from the Tent of Meeting and instructs him on the various offerings that form the sacrificial system. These offerings serve as a means to draw closer to God, express devotion, give thanks, and achieve atonement for sins, even unintentional ones. These are the five main types of offerings: Olah (Burnt Offering) — A voluntary offering where the entire animal (except the hide) is completely burned on the altar as an offering by fire, a pleasing aroma to the Lord, to make atonement for the offerer. Minchah (Meal/Grain Offering) — A voluntary gift made from fine flour, oil, and frankincense. Part is burned on the altar as an offering by fire, a pleasing aroma to the Lord, and the rest goes to the priests. Shelamim (Peace/Well-Being Offering) — A voluntary offering where the fat portions are burned on the altar as an offering by fire, a pleasing aroma to the Lord. Chatat (Sin Offering) — An obligatory offering for unintentional sins or violations of commandments, varying by who sinned (High Priest, community, leader, or individual); it is made to make atonement. Asham (Guilt/Trespass Offering) — An obligatory offering for specific wrongs, such as unintentional misuse of sacred property or false oaths; it includes restitution and makes atonement. Enjoy these portions and want to support these videos? https://www.ashsoular.com/donate

Listen to this week's Torah Portion as I read it to you! Parashat Vayak’hel-Pekudei is the grand finale of the Book of Exodus. After the dramatic scene with the golden calf, this double portion shows the children of Israel coming together to donate supplies and volunteer to help build the Tabernacle (Mishkan), God’s portable sanctuary in the wilderness. We are told again that God has called Bezalel and Oholiab and filled them with His spirit of to work in all manner of craftmanship for the tabernacle. They receive the contributions from the people, and they begin making all of the pieces for the Mishkan with God's detailed instructions: the curtains, frames, basin, ark with gold cherubim, the table, menorah, altars, garments and more. After all of their work, the tabernacle is finally finished, and Moses anoints and consecrates it. God descends upon it as a cloud and His glory fills the tabernacle. His cloud remained by day, and became a fire by night, and whenever the cloud would lift off, the children of Israel would pack up and set out again. 💗These videos are a labor of love to bring the Word of God to others, but unfortunately, they aren't cheap to make. If you'd like to support these videos and want to see more, you can make a donation here: https://www.ashsoular.com/donate Thank you!

Parashat Ki Tisa is packed with events. First, God commands a census of the children of Israel, with each person giving a half-shekel. Then come more instructions for the priests' sanctification, the washing basin, anointing oil, and incense. God calls Bezalel and fills him with His Spirit for all kinds of workmanship, along with Oholiab. God reiterates His set-apart days. While Moses is up on the mountain getting these instructions, the people think Moses has died after 40 days. They tell Aaron to make them a new god, leading to the infamous golden calf. Moses comes down in fiery anger, breaks the tablets written by God's own hand, confronts the people, and deals with the consequences that follow. Moses goes back to God to plead for atonement, asking Him to forgive the people or blot him out too. God then tells Moses to hew two more tablets of stone for Him to write upon like the last, makes a covenant, and promises to bring children of Israel into the Promised Land. Support my work: www.ashsoular.com/donate

In this week's Torah Portion, God gives commands for the service of his priests in the tabernacle from detailed descriptions of their garments to the sacrifices for their consecration. God establishes an everlasting priesthood through Aaron and his sons. We see in this portion that God intends the tending to his tabernacle to be a daily program. He wants his menorah to be lit continually, incense to be continually burning and for there to be daily sacrifices for atonement. God then says He will meet there with the children of Israel. Finally, God establishes the once-a-year Day of Atonement. Support my work! https://www.ashsoular.com/donate

In Parashat Terumah, God tells Moses collect a contribution from the people of Israel for the construction of the sanctuary and tabernacle where God will dwell among them. The contribution must not be forced but each is to give what their heart moves them. God then gives detailed instructions for the construction of each piece including the ark of the covenant, the menorah, the altar and the court. It's a portion that can seem tedious but within every instruction we get a glimpse into the mind and heart of God. Support my work! https://www.ashsoular.com/donate

We have reached Parashat Mishpatim, where we pick up from the giving of the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai into the detailed, practical commandments (mishpatim, or "ordinances"/"judgments") that God gives to the people of Israel. After saving the children of Israel from their slavery in Egypt, God now gives them instructions on how to live righteously before Him, in their relationships with one another, and as they prepare to enter the Promised Land. The portion begins with a set of civil, ethical, and ritual laws addressing topics such as the treatment of Hebrew servants, personal injuries, property damage, justice in courts, care for the vulnerable (widows, orphans, and strangers), the Sabbath and Sabbatical year, the three pilgrimage festivals, and more. Moses writes down all that God has spoken to him and then reads it to the people. The people respond with, "All that the LORD has spoken we will do, and we will obey." Moses takes half the blood from the offerings and sprinkles it on the people establishing a blood covenant with the LORD. It concludes with Moses, Aaron, Nadab, Abihu, and the seventy elders going halfway up the mountain, where they see God and eat and drink in His presence. God then summons Moses alone to Mount Sinai to receive the stone tablets and further instructions. Moses leaves Aaron and Hur in charge of the people as he leaves for forty days and forty nights. Support my work! https://www.ashsoular.com/donate

In Parashat Yitro (Jethro), Moses is sitting before all of the people of Israel day and night judging between them and answering their questions. Jethro, Moses' father-in-law tells him that this will wear him and the people out eventually, and that he needs to delegate to other righteous men who can judge the people and bring only the big matters to him. Also, God tells the people to sanctify themselves for He will appear to them on the third day. God appears on Mount Sinai and gives the Ten Commandments, but the people cannot stand the lightening, trumpets and thunder when God speaks, and they beg Moses not to let God speak to them anymore but to just tell them what he says. Finally, God gives a command to the people to make Him an altar of unhewn stones. Support my work! https://www.ashsoular.com/donate