Parsha

Acharei Mot – Kedoshem

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We have a double portion this week. The 29th reading Acharei Mot אַֽחֲרֵ֣י מ֔וֹת and the 30th reading Kedoshem קְדשִׁ֣ים are combined to create our third double reading during the annual reading cycle, also it is the second in Leviticus (Vayikra). This double reading occurs in the years 2021, 2023, 2025, 2026, 2028, 2029, 2031, 2032,  and 2034.

Acharei Mot/ Kedoshim parsha summary

Acharei Mot reaches back to chapter ten and picks up the narrative “from the death” of Aaron’s sons, Nadab and Abihu. God speaks to Moses to instruct Aaron concerning the Yom Kippur service. God continues His discourse, this time His instructions are addressed to Aaron, his sons and all of Israel about eating the blood of animals. Afterwards, God provides instruction the to entire nation concerning sexual relationships. This ends parsha Acharei Mot.

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Vayakhel – Pekudei

We have a double portion this week. The 22nd reading Vayakhel וַיַּקְהֵ֣ל and the 23rd reading Pekudei פְקוּדֵ֤י are combined to create our first double reading. This is typical during a normal reading cycle. This week’s reading brings us to the conclusion of the book of Exodus (Shemot).

Vayakhel / Pekudei parsha summary

In parsha Vayakhel, we begin with Moses assembling the entire Israelite community and he provides instructions about lighting a fire on the Sabbath. From here he provides the instructions on the collection of the materials for the Mishkan (Tabernacle). Afterwords, he  selects Betzalel and Chur as the architects for the construction of the mishkan.

Read More »Vayakhel – Pekudei

More Info about the Parashot
The weekly Torah portion (Hebrew: פָּרָשַׁת הַשָּׁבוּעַ‬ Parashat ha-Shavua), popularly just parashah (or parshah /pɑːrʃə/ or parsha) and also known as a Sidra (or Sedra /sɛdrə/) is a section of the Torah (Five Books of Moses) used in Jewish liturgy during a single week. It is chanted publicly by a designated reader (ba’al koreh) in Jewish prayer services, starting with a partial reading on the afternoon of Shabbat (Saturday, the Jewish Sabbath), again during the Monday and Thursday morning services, and ending with a full reading during the following Shabbat morning services. The weekly reading is pre-empted by a special reading on major religious holidays. The Saturday morning and holiday readings are followed by a reading (Haftarah) from the Book of Prophets (Nevi’im). There are 54 weekly parashiyot (plural) or parshahs (anglicized pluralization) in Judaism, and the full cycle is read over the course of one Jewish year. 1

Download the Torah Reading Schedule:  2020  |  2021 | Create your own Calendar
Note: The listed candle lighting times are for MST in El Paso, Texas.

בְּרֵאשִׁית — Parashot Bereshit
Genesis Weekly Torah Readings
# Date English | Hebrew Translation Verses
1 10/17/20
(5781)		 Bereshit | בְּרֵאשִׁית In the beginning Gen. 1:1-6:8
2 10/24/20
(5781)		 Noach | נֹחַ rest 6:9-11:32
3 10/31/20
(5781)		 Lech-Lecha | לֶךְ-לְךָ Go forth, yourself! 12:1-17:27
4 11/07/20
(5781)		 Vayeira | וַיֵּרָא And He appeared 18:1-22:24
5 11/14/20
(5781)		 Chayei Sarah | חַיֵּי שָׂרָה Life of Sarah 23:1-25:18
6 11/21/20
(5781)		 Toledot | תּוֹלְדֹת Generations 25:19-28:9
7 11/28/20
(5781)		 Vayetze | וַיֵּצֵא And he went out 28:10-32:3
8 12/05/20
(5781)		 Vayishlach | וַיִּשְׁלַח And he sent 32:4-36:43
9 12/12/20
(5781)		 Vayeshev | וַיֵּשֶׁב And he settled 37:1-40:23
10 12/19/20
(5781)		 Miketz | מִקֵּץ At the end of 41:1-44:17
11 12/26/20
(5781)		 Vayigash | וַיִּגַּשׁ And he drew near 44:18-47:27
12 01/02/21
(5781)		 Vayechi | וַיְחִי And he lived 47:28-50:26
שְׁמוֹת — Parashot Shemot
Exodus Weekly Torah Readings
# Date English | Hebrew Translation Verses
13 01/09/21
(5781)		 Shemot | שְׁמוֹת Names Ex. 1:1-6:1
14 01/16/21
(5781)		 Va’eira | וָאֵרָא Appeared 6:2-9:35
15 01/23/21
(5781)		 Bo | בֹּא Go! 10:1-13:16
16 01/30/21
(5781)		 Beshalach | בְּשַׁלַּח When he sent out 13:17-17:16
17 02/06/21
(5781)		 Yitro | יִתְרוֹ Jethro 18:1-20:23
18 02/13/21
(5781)		 Mishpatim | מִּשְׁפָּטִים Laws 21:1-24:18
19 02/20/21
(5781)		 Terumah | תְּרוּמָה Offering 25:1-27:19
20 02/27/21
(5781)		 Tetzaveh | תְּצַוֶּה You shall command 27:20-30:10
21 03/06/21
(5781)		 Ki Tisa | כִּי תִשָּׂא When you elevate 30:11-34:35
22 03/13/21
(5781)
 * Vayakhel | וַיַּקְהֵל And he assembled 35:1-38:20
23 03/13/21
(5781)		 Pekudei | פְקוּדֵי Accountings 38:21-40:38
מְּצֹרָע — Parashot Vayikra
Leviticus Weekly Torah Readings
# Date English | Hebrew Translation Verses
24 03/20/21
(5781)		 Vayikra | וַיִּקְרָא And he called 1:1-5:26
25 03/27/21
(5781)		 Tzav | צַו Command! 6:1-8:36
26 04/10/21
(5781)		 Shemini | שְּׁמִינִי Eighth 9:1-11:47
27 04/17/21
(5781)
 * Tazria | תַזְרִיעַ She bears seed 12:1-13:59
28 04/17/21
(5781)		 Metzora | מְּצֹרָע Infected one 14:1-15:33
29 04/24/21
(5781)
 * Acharei Mot |
אַחֲרֵי מוֹת 		After the death 16:1-18:30
30 04/24/21
(5781)		 Kedoshim | קְדֹשִׁים Holy ones 19:1-20:27
31 05/01/21
(5781)		 Emor | אֱמֹר Say gently 21:1-24:23
32 05/08/21
(5781)
 * Behar | בְּהַר On the Mount 25:1-26:2
33 05/08/21
(5781)		 Bechukotai | בְּחֻקֹּתַי In My laws 26:3-27:34
בְּמִדְבַּר — Parashot Bamidbar
Numbers Weekly Torah Readings
# Date English | Hebrew Translation Verses
34 05/15/21
(5781)		 Bamidbar | בְּמִדְבַּר In the wilderness 1:1-4:20
35 05/22/21
(5781)		 Naso | נָשֹׂא Elevate! 4:21-7:89
36 05/29/21
(5781)		 Beha’alotcha | בְּהַעֲלֹתְךָ In your uplifting 8:1-12:16
37 06/05/21
(5781)		 Shelach | שְׁלַח-לְךָ Send for yourself 13:1-15:41
38 06/12/21
(5781)
(5781)		 Korach | קֹרַח Korach 16:1-18:32
39 06/19/21
(5781)		  Chukat | חֻקַּת Law 19:1-22:1
40 06/26/21
(5781)		 Balak | בָּלָק Balak 22:2-25:9
41 07/03/21
(5781)		 Pinchas | פִּינְחָס Pinchas 25:10-30:1
42 07/10/21
(5781)
 * Matot | מַּטּוֹת Tribes 30:2-32:42
43 07/10/21
(5781)		 Masei | מַסְעֵי Journeys 33:1-36:13
דְּבָרִים — Parashot Devarim
Deuteronomy Weekly Torah Readings
# Date English | Hebrew Translation Verses
44 07/17/21
(5781)		 Devarim | דְּבָרִים Words 1:1-3:22
45 07/24/21
(5781)		 Va’etchanan | וָאֶתְחַנַּן Pleaded 3:23-7:11
46 07/31/21
(5781)		 Eikev | עֵקֶב As a result 7:12-11:25
47 08/07/21
(5781)		 Re’eh | רְאֵה See! 11:26-16:17
48 08/14/21
(5781)		 Shoftim | שֹׁפְטִים Judges 16:18-21:9
49 08/21/21
(5781)		 Ki Teitzei | כִּי-תֵצֵא When you go out 21:10-25:19
50 08/28/21
(5781)		 Ki Tavo | כִּי-תָבוֹא When you enter 26:1-29:8
51 09/04/21
(5781)		 Nitzavim | נִצָּבִים Standing (Witnessing) 29:9-30:20
52 09/11/21
(5782)		 Vayelech | וַיֵּלֶךְ And he went 31:1-31:30
53 09/18/21
(5782)		 Haazinu | הַאֲזִינוּ Listen! 32:1-32:52
54  – V’Zot HaBerachah |
וְזֹאת הַבְּרָכָה 		And this is the blessing 33:1-34:12

Double Readings

Sometimes, in the weekly Torah readings we have to read two parashot to keep the cycle on course. This occurs every year. This happens due to the Lunar cycle. Below I have listed the five reading doubles.
  1. 03/13/21 – Vayakhel-Pekudei – Exodus 35:1-40:38
  2. 04/17/21 – Tazria-Metzora – Leviticus 12:1-15:33
  3. 04/24/21 – Acharei-Kedoshim –  Leviticus 16:1-20:27
  4. 05/08/21 – Behar-Bechukotai – Leviticus 25:1-27:34
  5. 07/10/21 – Matot-Massei – Numbers 30:2–36:13

Festivals

This is a list of festival dates.
  1. 02/25/21 – 02/26/21- Purim – Esther
  2. 03/27/21 – 04/04/21 – Pesach
  3. 05/16/21 – 05/18/21 – Shavout
  4. 09/06/21 – 09/08/21 – Rosh Hashana
  5. 09/15/21 – 09/15/21 – Yom Kippur
  6. 09/20/21 – 09/22/21 – Sukkot
  7. 09/27/21 – Shmini Atzeret
  8. 09/29/21 -Simchat Torah
  9. 11/28/20 – 12/06/21 – Chanukah

Notes:

  1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Weekly_Torah_portion ↩