Every week, parshaoftheweek.com brings you a rich selection of material on parshat hashavua, the weekly portion traditionally read in synagogues all over the world. Using both classic and contemporary material, we take a look at these portions in a fresh way, relating them to both ancient Jewish concerns as well as cutting-edge modern issues and topics. We also bring you material on the Jewish holidays, as well as insights into life cycle rituals and events...
At the end of the Book of Exodus, Moshe and the Israelites have successfully constructed the Mishkan - the Tabernacle used in the desert - from which God will continue to speak to Moshe, as He did on Mount Sinai. This week, we begin the Book of Leviticus, Vayikra, and, as expected, God speaks to Moshe: ויקרא אל משה וידבר ה' אליו מאהל מועד לאמר - "And He called to Moshe, and God spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting, saying..." The strange thing, of course, is the use of two phrases at the opening, God first calls Moshe, and then He speaks to him.
