Ask the Expert: Is Sex Permitted on Shabbat?
Sex isn’t only permitted on Shabbat — it’s encouraged.
Abraham Isaac Kook
A radical Orthodox rabbi, poet and mystic who devoted his life to synthesizing some of the most complex and contradictory trends in Jewish tradition.
Ask the Expert: Should I Light a Yahrtzeit Candle For an In-law?
Lighting memorial candles is well-established Jewish custom, but not obligatory under Jewish law.
Cantillation: Chanting, or Leyning, the Bible
Today the Bible is chanted in synagogues with an intricate musical system, but the practice began with one man projecting in a marketplace.
The Three Weeks
The destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem is commemorated with a period of mourning.
Next Torah Portion
Summary
In this week’s Torah portion, God gives Phinehas a covenant of peace. God explains the apportionment of the Land of Israel. The daughters of Zelophehad petition to inherit their father’s portion. Moses appoints Joshua as his successor.
Parashat Pinchas
Torah Reading
Numbers 25:10-30:1
Haftarah
Jeremiah 1:1-2:3 | Pinchas occurring after 17 Tammuz
Featured Commentary
What Makes a Family?
The Torah offers several models of familial connection that depart from the standard model.
Introduction to Kabbalah: Concepts and History to Enhance Your Understanding
Meets: Wednesdays
Hosted by: My Jewish Learning
Borscht Belt and Beyond: The Lasting Legacy of the Jewish Catskills
Meets: Tuesdays
Hosted by: The New York Jewish Week
Daf Yomi
Bava Batra 34
Fight for it.
Bava Batra 33
Family tree.
Bava Batra 32
Possession is nine-tenths of the law.
STUDY RESOURCES
recharge now
Our weekly Shabbat newsletter, Recharge, features a thoughtful, timely essay to enrich your Shabbat. Here are a few of our recent pieces:
A Matter of Trust
How does a society recover from a complete breakdown of trust?
Motivated By Love
Sometimes right and wrong look so similar it’s nearly impossible to distinguish between them.
The Well of Grief
When a community comes together to dig the well of grief, streams of life-giving water can flow from the depths
MORE from MY JEWISH LEARNING
The World to Come
The rabbis of the Talmud had a lot to say on the World to Come, but little about what it actually is.
What Are Jewish Genetic Diseases?
As many as 1 in 3 Ashkenazi Jews are estimated to be carriers for one of about 19 genetic diseases.
Ask the Expert: What’s the Difference Between Jewish Prayers and Jewish Blessings?
Distinguishing between different types of Jewish prayers.
Being a Guest at a Jewish Wedding: A Guide
From chuppah to glass-breaking, here’s what to expect at Jewish nuptials.
The Jews of Scandinavia
The tiny Jewish communities of the Nordic countries have been sustained by regular arrivals of Jews fleeing persecution elsewhere.