Parashiyyot Summary

from Kollel, Prosserman JCC

Sat Apr 20 05:28:54 2024

* Lech Lecha Parasha Page Haftarah Text Haftarah Sound

* Bereishit / "Summary: After explaining the origins of the universe and of humanity, in Lech Lecha the Torah now turns to the origins of what became known as the Jewish people. We are introduced to the powerful characters of Abraham and Sarah (originally known as Avram and Sarai before God changes their names) who are asked by God to leave their home in Haran and ""go"" to the land that would be shown to them. In an act of great faith, they do go, with Lot their nephew and a large entourage, and arrive in Canaan, the land that God promises to Abraham and his descendants. But, due to famine, they are soon forced to leave Canaan. They go down to Egypt and then back again to Canaan, encountering adventure and adversity all along the way. God enters into a formal covenantal relationship with Abraham, promising to give him land and to make of his descendants a great people. Sarah and Abraham seem unable to conceive a child, and so, keeping with the custom of time, Sarah offers Hagar, her maidservant, to bear Abraham a son. Hagar does conceive, and gives birth to Ishmael, but this causes great jealousy in Sarah. As the portion closes, God instructs Abraham to circumcise himself and his son and all future male descendants as a sign of the eternal covenant."

* Shelach Lecha Parasha Page Haftarah Text Haftarah Sound

* Bamidbar / Summary: The cycle of complaining continues, as this week's parashah presents us with some of the most complex stories in the Torah. Approaching the Land of Israel, Moses sends 12 scouts ahead to reconnoiter the Land. The scouts return with outrageous stories and samples of the extraordinary fruit that grows in this good land. However, ten of the twelve scouts also give a discouraging report, indicating their lack of faith that they can conquer the Land. Only Joshua and Caleb are encouraging. Always fickle, the people accept that it will be too difficult to possess the Promised Land. They express their desire to return to slavery in Egypt. Angered by their lack of faith, God wants to destroy the people, but Moses successfully persuades God to relent. Instead, God decides to lengthen the Israelites' wandering in the wilderness to 40 years, one year for each day the scouts were in the Land. Now, none of the faithless generation of the Exodus will enter the Land. The parasha continues with laws about various kinds of sacrifices which will take effect when they are settled in the Land. We then read about another strange little event: a man transgresses the Sabbath by gathering sticks. The final paragraph of the parasha contains the commandment to attach tzitzit (fringes) to the corners of one's clothing.


*	Lech Lecha	Parasha Page	Haftarah Text	Haftarah Sound
*	Bereishit / "Summary: After explaining the origins of the universe and of humanity, in Lech Lecha the Torah now turns to the origins of what became known as the Jewish people. We are introduced to the powerful characters of Abraham and Sarah (originally known as Avram and Sarai before God changes their names) who are asked by God to leave their home in Haran and ""go"" to the land that would be shown to them. In an act of great faith, they do go, with Lot their nephew and a large entourage, and arrive in Canaan, the land that God promises to Abraham and his descendants. But, due to famine, they are soon forced to leave Canaan. They go down to Egypt and then back again to Canaan, encountering adventure and adversity all along the way. God enters into a formal covenantal relationship with Abraham, promising to give him land and to make of his descendants a great people. Sarah and Abraham seem unable to conceive a child, and so, keeping with the custom of time, Sarah offers Hagar, her maidservant, to bear Abraham a son. Hagar does conceive, and gives birth to Ishmael, but this causes great jealousy in Sarah. As the portion closes, God instructs Abraham to circumcise himself and his son and all future male descendants as a sign of the eternal covenant."
*	Shelach Lecha	Parasha Page	Haftarah Text	Haftarah Sound
*	Bamidbar / Summary: The cycle of complaining continues, as this week's parashah presents us with some of the most complex stories in the Torah. Approaching the Land of Israel, Moses sends 12 scouts ahead to reconnoiter the Land. The scouts return with outrageous stories and samples of the extraordinary fruit that grows in this good land. However, ten of the twelve scouts also give a discouraging report, indicating their lack of faith that they can conquer the Land. Only Joshua and Caleb are encouraging. Always fickle, the people accept that it will be too difficult to possess the Promised Land. They express their desire to return to slavery in Egypt. Angered by their lack of faith, God wants to destroy the people, but Moses successfully persuades God to relent. Instead, God decides to lengthen the Israelites' wandering in the wilderness to 40 years, one year for each day the scouts were in the Land. Now, none of the faithless generation of the Exodus will enter the Land. The parasha continues with laws about various kinds of sacrifices which will take effect when they are settled in the Land. We then read about another strange little event: a man transgresses the Sabbath by gathering sticks. The final paragraph of the parasha contains the commandment to attach tzitzit (fringes) to the corners of one's clothing.