Each week we read a section of the Torah and a complementary section from the Prophets. Click on the button to get the details about this week’s parsha.
Here are the main categories of articles on Thinking Torah
chumash – 5 books of moses
Parsha Summaries Index
The Written Torah is divided into 54 parshiot. One parsha is read every week on Shabbat. On Thinking Torah you will find a brief summary of each parsha with links to related articles.
Bereshit / Genesis
The Torah begins with God creating the universe and mankind. Though God is concerned with all of mankind, He eventually chooses Avraham and his family to be His messengers to the world.
Shemot / Exodus
This book begins with the Jewish people enslaved in Egypt. God chooses Moshe / Moses to bring His people out of Egypt. After the redemption He gives His people the Torah and commands them to build the Tabernacle.
Vayikra / Leviticus
The focus of this book is the divine service in the Tabernacle. The book describes which offerings to bring and who is qualified to bring them. There is also an emphasis on the holiness required for divine service.
Bamidbar / Numbers
After receiving the Torah and the instruction in Vayikra, the Jewish people are poised to enter the land of Israel. However, they reject the opportunity. This rejection leads to the famous 40 years of “wandering” in the wilderness.
Devarim / Deuteronomy
At the end of 40 years, the Jewish people are camped on the border of the land of Israel. Moses spends the last weeks of his life reviewing the Torah with the people. The Torah ends with the death and burial of Moshe.
nach – prophets and writings
Neviim / Prophets
The 2nd section of the Jewish Bible (Tanach). These are the main historical books and the prophets who taught from the time of Joshua until the destruction of the First Temple.
Ketuvim / Writings
The 3rd section of the Jewish Bible (Tanach). Included are Psalms, Proverbs, Job, 5 Megillot, Daniel, Ezra-Nehemiah, and Chronicles.
the jewish year
Rosh Chodesh / New Month
Rosh Chodesh (literally “head of the month”) is the celebration of the beginning of a new month on the Jewish calendar. Each year has 12 or 13 months that are either 29 or 30 days long.
Yom Tov / Holidays
The pilgrimage festivals in the Torah are Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot. There are two other holy days called Rosh Hashanah (New Year) and Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement). Yom Tov also includes the rabbinic holidays of Purim and Chanukah.
jewish life
Book Reviews
The Jewish people are known as “the people of the Book.” Of course, that book is the Torah. There are many other books that come across my desk every year. Some of the most interesting ones are reviewed here.
Hashkafa / Jewish Outlook
This is a very broad category where I will include topics from the most mundane to the sublime. The point is, Judaism is not merely concerned with Jewish law. There is also deep concern with every aspect of life.
Puzzles and Games
Here are various puzzles and games for you to enjoy and hopefully learn from. I plan to add more of these in the future.
