If one consecrated leased or ancestral land by donating it to the Temple’s treasury and then wishes to redeem it, the Torah in this week’s parsha, sets the conditions of how the field is to be evaluated for redemption. The Torah also requires him to add a fifth to the monetary evaluation. In the previous …
Category: Vayikra
May 19
I Believe!
- By Dovid Saks in 5782, Vayikra
Today is the festive day of Lag B’Omer – the 33rd day of the Omer count. Lag B’Omer is a break in the reflective and more subdued time between the Holidays of Pesach and Shavuos. Our Sages teach us that during this period, 24,000 students of the famous Rebbe Akiva all passed away from the …
May 12
Pursued!
- By Dovid Saks in 5782, Uncategorized, Vayikra
King Solomon writes in the book of Koheles, “G-d seeks out the pursued.” The Medrash explains this verse; whether a righteous person pursues a righteous or wicked one, or a wicked person pursues a righteous or wicked one – G-d seeks out the pursued. The Medrash continues by stating examples: Kain continually pursued Able, and …
May 05
Way to Say!
- By Dovid Saks in 5782, Vayikra
One of the many laws stated in this week’s Parsha is the law to direct a fellow Jew on the correct path to appreciate and observe the Torah. Understandably, one needs to use his Seichel – intellect – to understand where the person is coming from in order to reprove him without embarrassing him and …
Apr 28
It’s Mine!
- By Dovid Saks in 5782, Vayikra
Today has been designated as Yom Hashoah – Holocaust Remembrance Day – which marks the 77th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. I would like to focus on how Jews in Auschwitz and in other concentration camps displayed their devotion to G-d, to their religion, and their fellow Jews. Zalman Kleinman, an Auschwitz survivor, testified …
Apr 07
Cat, Dog & Stick!
- By Dovid Saks in 5782, Vayikra
This week’s portion is a continuation of last week’s and speaks of the purification process of someone who had been afflicted with Tzoraas ― a spiritual malaise that is manifest through a physical blemish or discoloration which indicates that the person was lax in the area of speaking Lashon Hara, ill of another. To remain …
Mar 31
Won’t Start!
- By Dovid Saks in 5782, Vayikra
The Mitzvah of Bris Mila – circumcision – is mentioned in this week’s Parsha. Bris Mila is similar to a sacrifice in certain ways. A bris creates a wound which is forbidden to make on Shabbos, however, when the eighth day falls on Shabbos it is permitted, just as sacrifices were offered in the Temple …
Mar 24
Holy!
- By Dovid Saks in 5782, Vayikra
Holiness; being holy and making things holy is an integral part of Judaism. A mere journey through our daily prayers bring us quite often to the word Kodosh – holy – in various forms. Kodosh takes a central role when we exclaim Kodosh, Kodosh, Kodosh to G-d, as we describe how the angels praise G-d …
Mar 16
Ask!
- By Dovid Saks in 5782, Vayikra
Purim is a most festive holiday. It particularly resonates with us since it occurred at a time when the Jews had been exiled from Israel and the Temple had been destroyed. As the story of the Megilla unfolds, we see G-d closely watching over us and bringing us an unbelievable salvation. The events of Purim …
Mar 10
Who Is It!
- By Dovid Saks in 5782, Vayikra
The festive spirit of the holiday of Purim is in the air! On the Shabbos preceding Purim, an additional Torah scroll is removed from the ark. For the Maftir Aliyah, we read the portion where G-d instructs us to blot out the remembrance of the hateful and disgraceful nation of Amalek. This important reading is …
Jewish Heritage Connection
Rabbi Dovid Saks, Director
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Scranton, PA 18510
(570) 346-1321
Shabbat Candle Lighting Time
Shabbat Times for Sep 06, 2024
Scranton, PA US
Parshas Shoftim
Candle Lighting Time: 7:08 PM
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Scranton, PA US
Parshas Shoftim
Candle Lighting Time: 7:08 PM
Developed by AdatoSystems.com.
Key features by Hebcal.com.