Each week, an author and member of our congregation provides a brief take on the week’s Torah portion, aimed at both the children and the adults of our Jewish community.
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.
We welcome you to peruse our contribution to Jewish learning.
Triennial Year 1
Triennial Year 2
Genesis
- Chayei Sarah – the Death of Sarah חַיֵּי שָֹרָה
Genesis 24:10 to 24:52 - Toldot – Jacob and Esau תּוֹלְדוֹת
Genesis 26:23 to Genesis 27:27 - Vayetsei – Jacob Fools Lavan וַיֵּצֵא
Genesis 30:14 to Genesis 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 Genesis 38:30 - Miketz – Joseph and his Brothers מִקֵּץ
Genesis 41:53 to Genesis 43:15 - Vayigash – Jacob Comes to Egypt וַיִּגַּשׁ
Genesis 45:28 to Genesis 46:27 - Vayechi – Jacob’s Last Words וַיְחִי
Genesis 49:1 to Genesis 49:26
Triennial Year 3
- Bereshit – Methuselah lived 969 years בְּרֵאשִׁית
Genesis 5:1 to Genesis 6:8 - Noach – the Tower of Babble נֹחַ
Genesis 11:1 to Genesis 11:32 - Lech Lecha – Hagar, Sarai and Avram לֶךְ־לְךָ
Genesis 16:1 to Gen. 17:27 - Vayera – the Binding of Isaac וַיֵּרָא
Genesis 21:1 to Gen. 22:24 - Chayei Sarah – Rebecca Meets Isaac חַיֵּי שָֹרָה
Genesis 24:53 to Gen. 25:18 - Toldot – Jacob wins the Blessing תּוֹלְדוֹת
Genesis 27:28 to Gen. 28:9 - Vayetzei – Jacob Leaves Laban וַיֵּצֵא
Genesis 31: 17 to Gen. 32:3 - Vayishlach – Benjamin is Born וַיִּשְׁלַח
Genesis 35:16 to Gen. 36:43 - Vayeshev – Joseph and Potiphar’s Wife וַיֵּשֶׁב
Genesis 39 to 40
Exodus
- Shemot – Baby Moses in the Nile שְׁמוֹת
Exodus 3:1 to Exodus 4:17 - Vaera – Moses Confronts Pharoah וָאֵרָא
Exodus 7:8 to Exodus 8:15 - Bo – the Tenth Plague בֹּא
Exodus 11:4 to Exodus 12:28 - Beshalach – the Parting of the Red Sea בְּשַׁלַּח
Exodus 14:15 to Exodus 16:10 - Yitro – God Gives the Ten Commandments יִתְרוֹ
Exodus 18:1 to Exodus 20:23 - Mishpatim – Kindness to the Poor מִּשְׁפָּטִים
Exodus 22:4 to Exodus 23:19 - Seventh Day of Pesach
- Terumah – the Ohel Moed תְּרוּמָה
Exodus 26:1 to Exodus 26:30 - Tetzaveh – the High Priest’s Garments תְּצַוֶּה
Exodus 28:31 to Exodus 29:18 - Ki Tisa – the Golden Calf כִּי תִשָּׂא
Exodus 31:18 to Exodus 33:11 - Vayakhel-Pekudei – Building the Aron Kodesh וַיַּקְהֵל־פְקוּדֵי
Exodus 37:17 to Exodus 39:21
Leviticus
- Vayikra- Sacrifices וַיִּקְרָא
Leviticus 3:1 to 4:26 - Tzav- Sacrifices צַו
Leviticus 7:11 to Leviticus 7:38 - Shmini – What is Kosher שְּׁמִינִי
Leviticus 10:12 to Leviticus 11:32 - Tazria-Metzora – Skin Disease in the Torah תַזְרִיעַ־מְּצֹרָע
Leviticus 13:40 to Leviticus 14:32 - Achrei Mot-Kedoshim – Some Commandments אַחֲרֵי מוֹת־קְדשִׁים
Leviticus 17:8 to Leviticus 19:14 - Emor- Harvesting and Gleaning אֱמוֹר
Leviticus 22:17 to Leviticus 23:22 - Behar-Bechukotai – Commandments Concerning Slavery and Idols בְּהַר־בְּחֻקֹּתַי
Leviticus 25:39 to Leviticus 26:46
Numbers
- Bamidbar – In the Wilderness בְּמִדְבַּר
Numbers 2:1 to Numbers 3:13 - Nasso- Jealous Husbands נָשׂא
Numbers 5:11 to Numbers 6:27 - Beha’alotcha – The Israelites March Through the Wilderness בְּהַעֲלֹתְךָ
Numbers 9:15 to Numbers 10:34 - Sh’lach L’cha – the Scouts שְׁלַח־לְךָ
Numbers 14:8 to Numbers 15:7 - Korach – Rebellion Against Moses קוֹרַח
Numbers 16:20 to Numbers 17:24 - Chukat – the Death of Miriam חֻקַּת
Numbers 19:1 to Numbers 20:21 - Balak – the Tale of the Talking Donkey בָּלָק
Numbers 22:2 to Numbers 22:38 - Pinchas – Moses Lays Hands on Joshua פִּינְחָס
Numbers 26:52 to Numbers 28:15 - Matot-Masei – the Reubenites and the Gadites מַּטּוֹת־מַסְעֵי
Numbers 32:1 to Numbers 33:49
Deuteronomy
- Devarim – Moses Recounts Their Wanderings דְּבָרִים
Deuteronomy 2:2 to Deuteronomy 2:30 - V’Etchanan – the Ten Commandments וָאֶתְחַנַּן
Deuteronomy 5:1 to Deuteronomy 6:25 - Eikev – Moses Relives Mount Sinai עֵקֶב
Deuteronomy 9:4 to Deuteronomy 10:11 - Re’eh – Feasting for God רְאֵה
Deuteronomy 12:29 to Deuteronomy 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