Torah Unscrolled

Sarah and Jason discuss Metzora, the 28th portion of the Torah, and Acharei Mot, the 29th portion, continuing the book of Leviticus, and covering more details on the purification process for lepers and eruptive plagues, the origins of Yom Kippur, and instructions on which relations cannot be slept with. How do the instructions on dealing with discharges further inform our understanding of the purpose of keeping separate when impure? How does this portion deal with gender differently than all previous portions? And is there a way to interpret the verse forbidding men to sleep with other men more generously than simply forbidding it?

Sarah and Jason discuss Shemini, the 26th portion of the Torah, and Tazria, the 27th portion, covering details on the consecration of the tabernacle, rules on which animals can be eaten, the purification process after childbirth, and descriptions of how to diagnose various diseases and when to quarantine. Why were Aaron’s sons so harshly punished? What is our interpretation of pure and impure? Why are religion and health tied together? What’s with the purification process after childbirth? And how did these medical guidelines come to be?

Sarah and Jason discuss Vayikra, the 24th portion of the Torah, and Tzav, the 25th portion, which begins the book of Exodus, and covers details on the types of offerings, how to perform them, which sins require which offerings, and the anointing of Aaron and his sons as Priests. Is it right to have more severe punishments for leaders of the community? Why is there both a civil and religious side to the punishment for some sins? Was Sarah right about recipes way back in Episode 0? And what was most valuable about the ancient way of performing sacrifices and offerings compared to modern day observance?

Sarah and Jason discuss Vayakhel, the 22nd portion of the Torah, and Pekudei, the 23rd portion, which concludes the book of Exodus, and covers the Israelites building the tabernacle and all of its components, as well as the anointing of the tabernacle and priests. What’s the present value of the precious metals used in the construction? What is the importance of holy spaces in modern religion? How does this story act as a conclusion to Exodus? And what are our favorite characters, stories, and takeaways from the Book of Exodus?

Sarah and Jason discuss Ki Tisa, the twenty-first portion of the Torah, which covers the instructions for anointing the tabernacle and the story of the golden calf. What additional context does this portion give around the commandment to observe the Sabbath? What is our ideal way to celebrate Shabbat? Was this telling of the story of the golden calf different from our understanding? Does G-d actually have a human form and face? Why is this episode so late? And how did we get off on a tangent about the conflict in the middle east again?