Torah Parasha Summary

Sefer Bereishit

Sefer Bereishit is divided into twelve parashiyot (weekly readings).  The first two parashiyot cover 1,948 years of history and twenty generations.  The third and fourth parashiyot focus only on one hundred years of Avraham's life.  The message is - what Avraham stood for is what Creation is all about - what Avraham represented is what concerns the Torah.  The Torah therefore dwells on the lives of the forefathers.

The balance of Sefer Bereishit (eight week parashiyot) is devoted to following the course of Avraham's descendants - Yitzchak, Yaakov, and the Twelve Tribes - as they further develop the philosophy and approach to live of their ancestor, Avraham.  The ideology developed by Avraham becomes the basis for a unique nation, the further evolution and progress of the nation is presented in the following sefer - Shemot.

Sefer Bereishit not only describes the origin of the Jewish people, but traces the origins of all peoples of mankind.

Sefer Shemot

Sefer Shemot is divided into eleven parashiyot.  Shemot covers only 116 years. 

Sefer Shemot beings with the account of how the Jewish people went from the status of royal visitors in Egypt to that of slaves, to a liberated people.  All of this happens within the first four parashiyot.  The rest of Shemot follows the journey of the Jewish people from Egypt to Har Sinai, via the Sinai Peninsula, where the entire people had a revelation of G-d as He spoke two of the Ten Commandments and delivered His Torah.

The theme of Shemot is about the Jewish people who struggled with freedom after over one hundred years in bondage (2332-2448/1429-1313 BCE), it is about how they struggled within a very short period of time to grow into their role as a people "unique [to G-d] above all peoples... a kingdom of priests (Kohanim) [to G-d], a holy nation." (Shemot 19:5-6) - the mission statement of the Jewish people.  It is about their initial successes and failures at fulfilling this mission; lessons to all subsequent generations concerning the need to constantly monitor and maintain spiritual growth.  It is about Jewish leadership, the struggles, setbacks, and rewards inherent in trying to forge the Jewish people into a unified nation.  The life of Moshe, "the humblest man on earth," is used as the vehicle to impart this theme until the end of Devarim.  The building of Mishkan, the construction of which draws out, both leader and people, their greatest potential to relate to G-d and to each other.

 

Sefer VaYikra

Sefer VaYikra is the shortest book of the five and it contains only ten parashiyot. 

Sefer VaYikra begins where Sefer Shemot left off, with the completion of the Mishkan, waiting to be officially put into commission.  In preparation for the inauguration of the Mishkan, the first two parashiyot discuss animal and food offerings, which become a major part of the daily service within the Mishkan.  They close with the initiation of the Kohanim who will officiate over all services.

The third parashiyot begins with the eighty day of the inauguration service of the Mishkan, Nadav and Avihu, the two eldest sons of the Kohen Gadol, Aharon, who are newly initiated Kohanim, are dramatically killed as a result of Divine wrath (10:1).  This disaster and overwhelming disappointment serves as one of the most crucial lessons of the entire Torah - service of G-d, no matter how heartfelt and inspired, is only acceptable if performed within the guidelines of the Torah.  Another lesson from this episode of Nadav and Avihu, is that one must still believe in G-d's love for the Jewish people in spite of the harshness of Divine anger.  G-d's commitment to the Jewish people and the need to carry on after a disaster, is a solemn lesson for generations of Jews who would suffer the hardships of bitter exiles.

The central theme of Sefer VaYikra is holiness, which is the essence of the mission statement of the Jewish people, first mentioned in Shemot 19:5.  This statement is reiterated again in parasha Kedoshim (19:1).

Because Sefer VaYikra is about holiness, it is the most appropriate sefer in which to record the commandments concerning kashrut (the eating of ritually certified food), ritual defilement and purification, Yom Kippur service, forbidden relationships, Kohanim, and Jewish holy days - a source of spiritual elevation.

All of Sefer VaYikra can be related to the Jewish mission of striving to be holy, and in its process, elevating the spiritual level of mankind.

Sefer VaYikra stresses the need for personal and national sacrifice.  Though society today rejects the notion of animal sacrifices, the Torah emphasizes them as a means of bringing social consciousness to a higher level of appreciation for the value and sanctity of life.

Only with the final redemption and the construction of the Third and final Jewish Temple will we adequately appreciate the depth and beauty of Sefer VaYikra.

 

Sefer BaMidbar

Sefer BaMidbar overlaps with Sefer VaYikra.  For the most part, Sefer BaMidbar covers the travels of the Jewish nation starting with their departure from their camp at the foot of Har Sinai, to their arrival at the border of the the Land of Kenaan, a period of thirty-eight years.  The journey to Kenaan should have only take one year, but in the fourth parashiyot (Shelach) the ten of the twelve men sent to investigate the Land return to the people with a discouraging message, and thereby precipitate a Divine wrath, leading to a decree of thirty-eight additional years of wandering (13:1)

In many respects, Sefer BaMidbar is about preparing for life in Eretz Yisrael.  Yisrael represents far more than a geographic homeland for a once homeless people.  It is the only land capable of supporting a holy people.  This union of the people with the land can trigger the fulfillment of the Divinely ordained mission addressed in Sefer Shemot, and contains a crucial message for every generation to learn regarding the proper attitude for living in Eretz Yisrael.

 

Sefer Devarim

Devarim Recollection of events, encounters and victories	VaEtchanan Moshe's plea Loyalty to G-d Setting up the cities of refuge The Ten Commandments The Shema' (Hear O Yisrael) Warnings The Exodus
Ekev Reward for obedience Warning against overconfidence Warnings Following G-d	Reeh The choice Non-sacrificial meat Idolatrous prophet and city Kosher and non-kosher animals Tithes Sabbatical year Firstborn animals Festivals
Shoftim Establishing judges and police Penalty for idolatry Supreme court Kings Levitical Kohanim Divination Cities of refuge Witnesses Going to war Unsolved murders	Ki Tetze Female captives Firstborn's inheritance right The rebellious son Rape Exclusions from Jewish people Divorce Remarriage Laws of of employees Widows and orphans Gifts for the poor Amalek
Ki Tavo First Fruits (Bikkurim) End of Commandments Blessings and cursings Moshe's final words	Nitzvavim The Covenant with G-d Returning to G-d Life's choice
VaYelech New leadership Final preparations for entering Yisrael	Haazinu Moshe's song Moshe told to ascend Har Nevo
V'zot Haberacha Moshe blesses the Tribes Moshe's death

 

Sefer Devarim is Moshe's final discourse to the Jewish people before climbing Har Nevo to depart from this world.  He reviews once again the blessings that result form living according to the Torah's laws and the negative consequences for abrogating our Covenant with G-d (27:11).  He also emphasizes the accessibility of the Torah (30:11).

The strongest and clearest summation of not just Sefer Devarim, but of the entire Torah, is "I call upon heaven and earth to witness today that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse.  Choose life! So you and your descendants may live..." (30:19).  Life, in the context of this verse and Moshe's entire dialogue, refers to more than mere physical survival; it alludes to a life which is spiritually inclined, one based upon the moral values of the Torah.  This, the Torah instructs, is the true definition of life.