Study

Why Study Torah?

The tradition of Torah study has built up a tradition of questioning and clarifying which is simply an incomparably rich skill to cultivate.

Passover 2023

In 2023, the first Passover seder is on Wednesday, April 5.

Sefer Yetzirah: The Book of Creation

This ancient mystical text introduced many concepts that would be more fully developed by the tradition of Kabbalah.

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Your Hub for Jewish Education

Discover the latest in Jewish events, podcasts and more at the education hub.

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A Place for the Primal

The mythic and the magical has its place in the sanctuary of the holy.

Abortion and Judaism

The Jewish position on abortion is nuanced, neither condoning it nor categorically prohibiting it.

Explore In Depth

Passover Prep Guide

All the preparation you need… Passover starts on April 5! This new Passover email series will help you prep like ...

Sign Up for My Jewish Learning’s New Shabbat Newsletter

Welcome to Recharge, a weekly collection of Shabbat readings to refresh your soul. Each Saturday morning we’ll bring you a ...

Journey Into the Book of Daniel

A deadly lion’s den, ominous writing on the wall, parades of scary beasts, a towering statue with a golden head: ...

Next Torah Portion

Summary

In the Torah portion Vayakhel, God commands the Israelites not to do any work in the sanctuary on Shabbat. The Israelites gather gifts for God. Moses says that Ohaliab and Bezalel should take the gifts of the Israelites and build God’s Sanctuary. In Pekudei, Aaron and the priests are given their clothing for work in the Sanctuary. This marks the completion of the Tabernacle construction. Moses anoints Aaron and his sons to make their priestly positions official. A cloud descends upon the Tent of Meeting, and God’s presence fills the Tabernacle.

Parashat Vayakhel-Pekudei

Exodus 35:1 - 40:38

Ezekiel 45:16 - 46:18 | Shabbat HaChodesh

Parashat Vayakhel-Pekudei: Our Bodies, Our Holiness

This Torah portion teaches that holiness is not meant to suppress our physicality, but to elevate it.

Videos

Why Do So Many Orthodox Men Have Beards?

The Jewish reasons for facial hair, including sidelocks (payot).

What Is the Meaning of Chai?

The Hebrew word for life is a popular symbol and toast — and is linked to the number 18.

Checklist: Setting the Seder Table

Before launching into your seder, make sure you have everything you'll need.

Recipes

VIDEO: How to Make Simple Hummus

Homemade hummus is easy and cheap.

Pumpkin Kugel With Pecan Streusel Recipe

The perfect Thanksgivukah dish — and great for breakfast the next day.

Garlic Knot Challah Rolls Recipe

You won't believe how good your kitchen smells while baking these up.

More From MJL

Did God Write the Torah — and Does it Matter?

For many Jews, the Torah's authority does not derive from being a divine document.

A Guide to Jewish Acronyms and Abbreviations

Common Hebrew (and Aramaic) shorthand translated and explained.

9 Things to Know About Ladino

This Sephardic language, also known as Judeo-Spanish, has a rich history and is more accessible than you think.

Hadlakat Nerot: The Spark of Transition

A little fire and a little magic makes the lighting of Shabbat candles a moment to slow down and see things differently.

Is There a Jewish Afterlife?

Judaism is famously ambiguous about what happens when we die.

Intermarriage and the American Jewish Community

Once taboo, "marrying out" is now commonplace and — outside Orthodoxy — widely accepted.