Feb. 2 - Parshat Mishpatim –
pp. 475 - 480
While Israel is at Sinai, God is described
as sending forth an angel of great
protective power to escort Israel as it
begins to depart. What is the nature of this
angel and its role? Does this surprise you?
Haftarat Mishpatim –
pp. 482 – 484
The Parshah speaks of freedom, but
Jeremiah in the Haftarah witnesses very
painful treatment by the Jews of his own
time. Jeremiah lives about 700 years after
Moses. What does Jeremiah experience?
Feb. 9 - Parshat Terumah –
pp. 495 – 498
What are cherubim? Why are they
mentioned in 3 different places in the same
Torah reading (p.488 v.18, p.491 v.1,
p.495 v.31)?
Haftarat Terumah –
pp. 500 – 502
The Haftarah describes the building of the
Temple, while the Parshah describes the
Tabernacle. How is Solomon’s work
different from Moses’s?
Feb. 16 - Parshat Tetzaveh –
pp. 513 – 518
The incense altar is described as being
MOST HOLY (verse 30:10), but the animal
altar in the prior reading is not ( p. 497,
verse 27:8). Why?
Haftarat Tetzaveh –
pp. 520 - 522
The Haftarah is a speech by Ezekiel
describing dimensions of an altar and
resembles the parshah. Ezekiel introduces
one small, but distinct, element (p. 520,
verse 43:11). How is Ezekiel’s worldview
different from that of Torah?
Feb. 23 - Parshat Ki Tissa –
pp. 538 - 546
Famously, after the Golden Calf, Moses
asks to see God’s face before continuing
to escort Israel through the wilderness.
Why didn’t Moses ask to see God’s face
before during the exceptionally demanding
Exodus from Egypt?
Haftarat Ki Tissa –
pp. 548 – 551
Did you know that we Jews once had a
King named Ahab? He was very cruel and
he threatened Elijah. A famous face-off
takes place in this Haftarah. Elijah is nearly
destroyed, but saved miraculously. The
last verse leaves the intriguing Haftarah
and enters the Yom Kippur prayer service.