Emor — (Vayikra/Leviticus 21:1-24:23)
The spiritual transition between slavery and freedom, emancipation and nationhood which Israel undergoes between her liberation on the 15th of Nisan and the receiving of Torah at Sinai seven weeks later, is captured in the twin commandments concerning the omer: harvesting and offering the barley to HaSHem, and counting seven perfect weeks.

by Rabbi Chaim Richman of the The Temple Institute in Jerusalem, Israel.

Kedoshim — (Vayikra/Leviticus 19:1-20:27)
You shall be holy; for I the L-rd your G-d am holy." How do we become holy like He is holy? By placing limits on our own human nature we are able to overcome our own potential pitfalls, thereby transforming ourselves into more holy beings. In short, making the effort to be better than just okay.

by Rabbi Chaim Richman of the The Temple Institute in Jerusalem, Israel.

Acharei-Mot — (Vayikra/Leviticus 16:1-18:30)
After the deaths of Nadav and Avihu: Turning from the "me" to the "we": We give and receive more by placing the needs of the community before our own needs.

by Rabbi Chaim Richman of the The Temple Institute in Jerusalem, Israel.

Metzora — (Vayikra/Leviticus 14:1-15:33)
The affliction of tzarat: receiving a direct reminder from G-d to take stock and to uproot the underlying causes of our shortcomings.

by Rabbi Chaim Richman of the The Temple Institute in Jerusalem, Israel.

Tazria — (Vayikra/Leviticus 12:1-13:59)
Purity and impurity: being in spiritual harmony with the Creator and His world. Recognizing that the physical world is imbued with the spiritual, and that even the words that pass through our lips can alter our own existence.

by Rabbi Chaim Richman of the The Temple Institute in Jerusalem, Israel.

Shemini — (Vayikra/Leviticus 9:1-11:47)
The sons of Aharon, Nadav and Avihu: What went wrong? Reaching out to the Infinite One through the parameters that He has set for us.

by Rabbi Chaim Richman of the The Temple Institute in Jerusalem, Israel.

Tzav — (Vayikra/Leviticus 6:1-8:36)
The burnt offering and the sin offering offer insight into the enigmatic statement of our sages that a ba'al teshuvah - a penitent individual - achieves a spiritual height that even a tzaddik gamur - a perfectly righteous individual - can never attain.

by Rabbi Chaim Richman of the The Temple Institute in Jerusalem, Israel.

Vayikra — (Vayikra/Leviticus 1:1-5:26)
This week's Torah portion is the opening of the Book of Leviticus. It is the guide book to the most widely mis-understood concept — Temple offerings.

by Rabbi Chaim Richman of the The Temple Institute in Jerusalem, Israel.

Pekudei — (Shemot/Exodus 38:21-40:38)
The completion of the Tabernacle: The people and Moses their leader together create a space, void of ego, from which G-d's presence can shine forth.

by Rabbi Chaim Richman of the The Temple Institute in Jerusalem, Israel.

Vayakhel — (Shemot/Exodus 35:1-38:20)
The Holy Sabbath and the Holy Tabernacle: Revisiting the challenge to sanctify time and space the day after the first Yom Kippur, (Day of Atonement), as a means for making repentance and reattaching ourselves to G-d.

by Rabbi Chaim Richman of the The Temple Institute in Jerusalem, Israel.

Ki Sisa — (Shemot/Exodus 30:11-34:35)
Why a golden calf? What were the children of Israel really searching for? Why did Moses ask to see G-d's glory, and what question concerning G-d's justice was he seeking an answer to?

by Rabbi Chaim Richman of the The Temple Institute in Jerusalem, Israel.