In Torah Tidbits, each week, a member of HCS provides a brief explication of the week’s Torah portion, aimed at both the children and the adults of our Jewish community. These tidbits are intended to be informative, not authoritative. We welcome you to peruse our contribution to Jewish learning.
As a Reconstructionist synagogue, HCS follows the Triennial Calendar. Thus, we read only one third of the Torah portion each year, completing our study every three years.
Triennial Year 1
- Bereshit – the Creation
בְּרֵאשִׁית
Genesis 1:1 to 2:3 - Noach – the Great Flood נֹחַ
Genesis 6:9 to 11:32 - Lech lecha – go out to Canaan
Genesis 12:1 to 13:18 - Vayera – Abraham bargains with God וַיֵּרָא
Genesis 18:1 to 33 - Chayei Sarah – the Death of Sarah חַיֵּי שָֹרָה
Genesis 23:1 to 24: - Toldot –Jacob and Esau are Born תּוֹלְדוֹת
Genesis 25:19 to 26: 22 - Vayetzei – Jacob Dreams וַיֵּצֵא
Genesis 28:10 to 30:13 - Vayishlach – Jacob Returns וַיִּשְׁלַח
Genesis 32:4 to 33:20 - Vayeshev – the Coat of Many Colors וַיֵּשֶׁב Genesis 37:1 to 36
- Miketz – Pharoah’s Dream מִקֵּץ
Genesis 41:1 to 52 - Vayigash – Joseph and his brothers וַיִּגַּשׁ 44:18 to 45:27
- Vayechi – Jacob blesses his grandsons וַיְחִי Genesis 47:28 to 48:22
Triennial Year 2
Genesis
- Chayei Sarah – Rebecca at the Well חַיֵּי שָֹרָה
Genesis 24:10 to 24:52 - Toldot – Jacob and Esau תּוֹלְדוֹת
Genesis 26:23 to 27:27 - Vayetsei – Jacob Fools Lavan וַיֵּצֵא
Genesis 30:14 to 31:16 - Vayishlach – the Sad Story of Dinah וַיִּשְׁלַח
Genesis 34:1 to Genesis 35:15 - Vayeshev – Joseph and his coat of Many Colors וַיֵּשֶׁב
Genesis 38:1 to 38:30 - Miketz – Joseph and his Brothers מִקֵּץ
Genesis 41:53 to 43:15 - Vayigash – Jacob Comes to Egypt וַיִּגַּשׁ
Genesis 45:28 to 46:27 - Vayechi – Jacob’s Last Words וַיְחִי
Genesis 49:1 to 49:26
Triennial Year 3
- Bereshit – Methuselah lived 969 years בְּרֵאשִׁית
Genesis 5:1 to 6:8 - Noach – the Tower of Babble נֹחַ
Genesis 11:1 to 11:32 - Lech Lecha – Hagar, Sarai and Avram לֶךְ־לְךָ
Genesis 16:1 to 17:27 - Vayera – the Binding of Isaac וַיֵּרָא
Genesis 21:1 to 22:24 - Chayei Sarah – Rebecca Meets Isaac חַיֵּי שָֹרָה
Genesis 24:53 to 25:18 - Toldot – Jacob wins the Blessing תּוֹלְדוֹת
Genesis 27:28 to 28:9 - Vayetzei – Jacob Leaves Laban וַיֵּצֵא
Genesis 31: 17 to 32:3 - Vayishlach – Benjamin is Born וַיִּשְׁלַח
Genesis 35:16 to 36:43 - Vayeshev – Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife וַיֵּשֶׁב
Genesis 39 to 40 - Miketz – Joseph Wines and Dines his Brothers מִקֵּץ
Genesis 43:16 to 44:17 - Vayigash – Joseph Saves Egypt וַיִּגַּשׁ
Genesis 46:28 to 47:27 - Vayechi – Jacob is Buried וַיְחִי
Genesis 49:27 to 50:26
Exodus
- Shemot – Moses in the Bulrushes שְׁמוֹת Exodus 1:1 to 2:25
- Vaera – Moses talks to God וָאֵרָא Exodus 6:2 to 7:7
- Bo – Locusts בֹּא Exodus 10:1 to 13:16
- Beshalach בְּשַׁלַּח Exodus 13:17 to 15:26
- Yitro (see years 2 and 3)
- Mishpatim מִּשְׁפָּטִים Exodus 21:1 to 22:3
- Terumah – the Ark תְּרוּמָה Exodus 25:1 to 40
- Tetzaveh תְּצַוֶּה Exodus 27:20 to 28:30
- Ki Tisa – Bezalel כִּי תִשָּׂא Exodus 30:11 to 31:17
- Vayakhel-Pekudei – the Ohel Moed 35:1 to 37:16
- Vayikra – how to sacrifice וַיִּקְרָא Leviticus 1:1 to 2:16
- Tzav — more about sacrifices צַו Leviticus 6:1 to 7:10
- Parshat Pesach – the first part of the third year of the Triennial, Ki Tisa
- Tazria-Metzorah תַזְרִיעַ־מְּצֹרָע Leviticus 12:1 to 15:33
- Achrei Mot-Kedoshim
אַחֲרֵי מוֹת־קְדשִׁים
Leviticus 16:1 to 17:7 - Emor אֱמוֹר Leviticus 21:1 to 22:16
- Behar-Bechukotai
see year two - Beha’alotcha – the Levites בְּהַעֲלֹתְךָ Leviticus 8:1 to 9:14
- Yom Kippur – Shabbat יוֹם כִּפּוּר Leviticus Chapter 16
Bamidbar בְּמִדְבַּר the Census Numbers 30:2 to 31:54
Nasso– the Levites נָשׂא Numbers 4:21 to 5:10
Beha’alotcha – the Levites בְּהַעֲלֹתְךָ Numbers 8:1 to 9:14
Sh’lach – the spies שְׁלַח־לְךָ Numbers 13:1 to 14:7
Korach – the Rebellion קוֹרַח
Numbers 16:1 to 17:15
Chukat Balak חֻקַּת־בָּלָק Numbers 19:1 to 21:20
Pinchas – the Census פִּינְחָס
Numbers 25:10 to 26:51
Matot-Masei – oaths and war מַּטּוֹת־מַסְעֵי Numbers 30:2 to 31″54
Devarim — Moses reviews דְּבָרִים
Deuteronomy 1:1 to 2:1
Vaetchanan – Moses Reminisces וָאֶתְחַנַּן Numbers 3:23 to 6:25
Eikev – God’s promises עֵקֶב
Deuteronomy 7:12 to 11:25
Re’eh — Rejoice in the Lord רְאֵה
Deuteronomy 11:26 to 16:17
Shoftim – Justice שׁוֹפְטִים Deuteronomy 16:18 to 18:5
Ki teitzei כִּי־תֵצֵא
Deuteronomy 21:10 to 23:7
Ki Tavo כִּי־תָבוֹא
Deuteronomy 26:1 to 27:10
Nitzavim-Vayeilech נִצָּבִים־וַיֵּלֶךְ
Deuteronomy 29:9 to 30:14
Ha’Azinu – God’s Poem הַאֲזִינוּ
Deuteronomy 32:1 to 32:52
Sukkot סוּכּוֹת
Leviticus 22:26 to 23:44
- Shemot – Baby Moses in the Nile שְׁמוֹת
Exodus 3:1 to 4:17 - Vaera – Moses Confronts Pharoah וָאֵרָא
Exodus 7:8 to 8:15 - Bo – the Tenth Plague בֹּא
Exodus 11:4 to 12:28 - Beshalach – the Parting of the Red Sea בְּשַׁלַּח
Exodus 14:15 to 16:10 - Yitro – God Gives the Ten Commandments יִתְרוֹ
Exodus 18:1 to 20:23 - Mishpatim – Kindness to the Poor מִּשְׁפָּטִים
Exodus 22:4 to 23:19 - Seventh Day of Pesach
- Terumah – the Ohel Moed תְּרוּמָה
Exodus 26:1 to 26:30 - Tetzaveh – the High Priest’s Garments תְּצַוֶּה
Exodus 28:31 to 29:18 - Ki Tisa – the Golden Calf כִּי תִשָּׂא
Exodus 31:18 to 33:11 - Vayakhel-Pekudei – Building the Aron Kodesh וַיַּקְהֵל־פְקוּדֵי
Exodus 37:17 to 39:21
Leviticus
- Vayikra- Sacrifices וַיִּקְרָא
Leviticus 3:1 to 4:26 - Tzav- Sacrifices צַו
Leviticus 7:11 to 7:38 - Shmini – What is Kosher שְּׁמִינִי
Leviticus 10:12 to 11:32 - Tazria-Metzora – Skin Disease in the Torah תַזְרִיעַ־מְּצֹרָע
Leviticus 13:40 to 14:32 - Achrei Mot-Kedoshim – Some Commandments אַחֲרֵי מוֹת־קְדשִׁים
Leviticus 17:8 to 19:14 - Emor- Harvesting and Gleaning אֱמוֹר
Leviticus 22:17 to 23:22 - Behar-Bechukotai – Commandments Concerning Slavery and Idols בְּהַר־בְּחֻקֹּתַי
Leviticus 25:39 to 26:46
Numbers
- Bamidbar – In the Wilderness בְּמִדְבַּר
Numbers 2:1 to 3:13 - Nasso- Jealous Husbands נָשׂא
Numbers 5:11 to 6:27 - Beha’alotcha – The Israelites March Through the Wilderness בְּהַעֲלֹתְךָ
Numbers 9:15 to 10:34 - Sh’lach L’cha – the Scouts שְׁלַח־לְךָ
Numbers 14:8 to 15:7 - Korach – Rebellion Against Moses קוֹרַח
Numbers 16:20 to 17:24 - Chukat – the Death of Miriam חֻקַּת
Numbers 19:1 to 20:21 - Balak – the Tale of the Talking Donkey בָּלָק
Numbers 22:2 to 22:38 - Pinchas – Moses Lays Hands on Joshua פִּינְחָס
Numbers 26:52 to 28:15 - Matot-Masei – the Reubenites and the Gadites מַּטּוֹת־מַסְעֵי
Numbers 32:1 to 33:49
Deuteronomy
- Devarim – Moses Recounts Their Wanderings דְּבָרִים
Deuteronomy 2:2 to 2:30 - V’Etchanan – the Ten Commandments וָאֶתְחַנַּן
Deuteronomy 5:1 to 6:25 - Eikev – Moses Relives Mount Sinai עֵקֶב
Deuteronomy 9:4 to 10:11 - Re’eh – Feasting for God רְאֵה
Deuteronomy 12:29 to 14:29 - Shoftim – Sanctuary Cities שׁוֹפְטִים
Deuteronomy 18:6 to Deuteronomy 19:13 - Ki Teitzei – Shelter an Escaped Slave כִּי־תֵצֵא
Deuteronomy 23:8 to Deuteronomy 24:13 - Ki Tavo – Feeding Widows and Orphans כִּי־תָבוֹא
Deuteronomy 26:12 to Deuteronomy 28:6 - Nitzavim – Follow the Commandments נִצָּבִים
Deuteronomy 29:9 to Deuteronomy 30:20 - Vayeilech – Moses Speaks to the People וַיֵּלֶךְ
Deuteronomy 31:1 to Deuteronomy 31:30 - Ha’Azinu – God’s Poem הַאֲזִינוּ
Deuteronomy 32:1 to Deuteronomy 32:52 - Haberakhah – Moses Blesses the People
Deuteronomy 33:1 to Genesis 2:3
- Shemot – Moses Goes to Egypt שְׁמוֹת
Exodus 4:18 to 6:1 - Vaera – Pharaoh is Plagued with Plagues וָאֵרָא
Exodus 8:16 to 9:35 - Bo the Death of the Firstborn בֹּא
Exodus 12:32 to :16 - Beshalach – Manna in the Wilderness בְּשַׁלַּח
Exodus 14:26 to 17:16 - Yitro – the Ten Commandments יִתְרוֹ
Exodus 18:1 to Exodus 20:23 - Mishpatim – Moses Sees God מִּשְׁפָּטִים
Exodus 23:20 – 24:18 - Terumah – The Ark of the Covenant תְּרוּמָה
Exodus 26:31 to 27:19 - Tetzaveh – sacrifice תְּצַוֶּה
Exodus 29:19 to 30:10 - Ki Tisa – Moses shines כִּי תִשָּׂא
Exodus 33:12 to 34:35 - Vayakhel – the Ohel Moed וַיַּקְהֵל
Exodus 36:20 – 38:20 - Pekudei – Moses Builds the Dwelling פְקוּדֵי
Exodus 39:22 – 40:38 - Vayikra – erasing guilt וַיִּקְרָא
Leviticus 4:27 to 5:25 - Tzav – Making Sacrifices צַו
Leviticus 8:1 to Leviticus 8:36 - Shmini – What is Kosher? שְּׁמִינִי
Leviticus, Chapter 11 - Tazria – what about skin disease? תַזְרִיעַ
Leviticus, Chapter 13, 29 to 59 - Metzorah – Being tamei מְּצֹרָע
Leviticus,14:33 to 15:33 - Achrei Mot – you can’t marry your mother אַחֲרֵי מוֹת
Leviticus 17:1 to 18:30 - Pesach VIII – A Special Parsha
Leviticus 22:26 to 23:24 - Kedoshim – Be Holy to Me קְדשִׁים
Leviticus 19: 15 to 20:27 - Behar – Be kind to the poor
בְּהַר - Bechukotai – Vows בְּחֻקֹּתַי
- Bamidbar– the Census בְּמִדְבַּר
Numbers 3:14 to 4:20 - Nasso – offerings of the 12 Tribes נָשׂא
Numbers 7:1 to 89 - Behaalotcha – quails and prophets בְּהַעֲלֹתְךָ
Numbers 10:35 to 12:16 - Sh’lach – sacrifices and sins |שְׁלַח־לְךָ
Numbers 15:8 to 41 - Korach קוֹרַח
Numbers 17:25 to 18:32 - Chukat— the People of Israel lose Aaron חֻקַּת
Numbers 20:22 to 22:1 - Balak – Balaam Blesses Israel בָּלָק Numbers 29:39 to 25:9
- Pinchas— sacrifices for Holidays
פִּינְחָס
Numbers 28:16 to 30:1 - Matot-Masei — sanctuary cities
מַּטּוֹת־מַסְעֵי
Numbers 33:50 to 36:15 - Devarim – Israel Goes to War דְּבָרִים
Deuteronomy 2:31 to 3:22 - Vaetchanan – the Ten Commandments וָאֶתְחַנַּן
Deuteronomy 5:1 to 9:11 - Eikev – Feast and Famine עֵקֶב Deuteronomy 10:12 to 11:25
- Re-eh רְאֵה
Deuteronomy 15:1 to 16:17 - Shoftim – witnesses and boundaries שׁוֹפְטִים Deuteronomy 19:14 to 21:9
- Ki Teitzei – mercy and justice כִּי־תֵצֵא
Deuteronomy 24:14 to 25:19 - Ki Tavo – blessings and curses כִּי־תָבוֹא Deuteronomy 27:12 to 29:8
- Nitzavim – the one who is not here
נִצָּבִים Deuteronomy 29:9 to 30:20
- Vayeilech – Moses Speaks to the People וַיֵּלֶךְ same selection as last year
Deuteronomy 31:1 to 31:30 - Ha’Azinu – God’s Poem הַאֲזִינוּ
Deuteronomy 32:1 to 32:52
V’Zot Haberakhah וְזֹאת הַבְּרָכָה
Leviticus 33:1 to 34:12
Simchat Torah: The end of the Torah and the Beginning שִׂמְחַת תּוֹרָה
Deuteronomy 33:1 to 34:12