Personalities of the Bible

Balaam the Prophet

The infamous story of the prophet with the talking donkey demonstrates the Bible's awareness that powers of divination were not limited to Israelite seers.

Being a Guest at a Jewish Wedding: A Guide

From chuppah to glass-breaking, here's what to expect at Jewish nuptials.

Kosher Slaughter: An Introduction

A survey of some of the laws governing the slaughter of kosher animals for meat.

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Creating a gender-inclusive coming-of-age ceremony for Jewish teens.

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Summary

In this Torah portion, God instructs Moses and Aaron regarding the red heifer. Miriam, who is the sister of Moses and Aaron, dies. Moses hits a rock to bring forth water rather than speaking to it. At the end Chukat, Aaron dies.

In Balak, the king of Moab, asks Balaam to curse the Israelites after he sees them defeat various nations in battle. Balaam’s donkey sees an angel of God and refuses to move any further. Balaam hits the donkey. God speaks through the mouth of the donkey to tell him not to curse the Israelites. Instead of cursing the Israelites, Balaam blesses them.

Parashat Chukat-Balak

Numbers 19:1 - 25:9

Micah 5:6 - 6:8

The Lost Years

The meaning, relationships and transformations that individuals and a nation make in-between milestones.

Videos

What Do Jews Believe About Jesus?

How Judaism regards the man Christians revere as the messiah.

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What to do if you or a loved one wants a final resting place in an Israeli cemetery.

What is a Mezuzah?

On the doorposts of houses and rooms.

Recipes

Caramelized Banana Bread Babka

The ultimate comfort food mash-up.

Roman Jewish Fried Zucchini Recipe

Fried zucchini is a staple recipe on every Roman Jewish family’s Shabbat menu.

How to Make Challah

Make perfect, fluffy challah every time with this classic recipe.

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The most widely read Jewish Bible commentator, he also wrote a running commentary to the Babylonian Talmud.

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