In This Week’s Parashah: מָה בַּפָּרָשָׁה
Full Parashah Reading: Shemot 18:1-20:23
Aliyah #1 (Shemot 18:1-18:12)
- Moshe’s father-in-law, Yitro, comes to meet בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל (Benei Yisrael, the Israelites) in the wilderness. Yitro brings Moshe’s wife, Tzipporah, and their two sons.
Aliyah #2 (Shemot 18:13-23)
- Yitro watches Moshe serve as the only judge for all of Benei Yisrael, and he thinks this is too much work for Moshe alone. Yitro helps Moshe set up a better system, with more judges involved.
Aliyah #3 (Shemot 18:24-27)
- Benei Yisrael set up camp at הַר סִינַי (Har Sinai, Mount Sinai). For three days, they prepare to receive the Torah.
Aliyah #4 (Shemot 19:1-6)
Aliyah #5 (Shemot 19:7-19)
- On the third day, there was thunder, lightning, heavy clouds, and a very strong sound of the shofar, and Har Sinai filled with smoke because God came down in fire. It was scary!
Aliyah #6 (Shemot 19:20-20:14)
- God speaks the עֲשֶׂרֶת הַדִּבְּרוֹת (Aseret Ha-Dibrot, Ten Commandments). These include ritual mitzvot that are about our relationship with God (like not worshipping idols and keeping Shabbat), and ethical mitzvot about our relationships to others (like not stealing and not being jealous).
Aliyah #7 (Shemot 20:15-23)
- Benei Yisrael are startled by their experience at Har Sinai. They ask Moshe to teach the Torah to them, instead of hearing from God directly.
- God gives Moshe rules for Benei Yisrael about how to construct a מִזְבֵּחַ (mizbei’ah, altar for sacrifices).
-------------------
