Temple Sholom of Ontario

Parashat Behar-Bechukotai 5786 / פָּרָשַׁת בְּהַר־בְּחֻקֹּתַי 9 May 2026 / 22 Iyyar 5786 10-Minute Torah on YouTube Parashat Behar-Bechukotai is the 32nd and 33rd weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. Torah Portion: Leviticus 25:1-27:34 Behar (“On The Mountain”) details the laws of the sabbatical year (Shemita), when working the land is prohibited and debts are forgiven. It also sets out laws of indentured servitude and of the Jubilee year (Yovel),

Parashat Emor 5786 / פָּרָשַׁת אֱמוֹר 2 May 2026 / 15 Iyyar 5786 10-Minute Torah on YouTube Parashat Emor is the 31st weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. Torah Portion: Leviticus 21:1-24:23 Emor (“Say”) opens with laws regulating priestly behavior, working in the Mishkan (Tabernacle), and consuming sacrifices and priestly food. It describes the biblical holidays of Passover, Shavuot, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot, and ends with a story ab

Parashat Achrei Mot-Kedoshim 5786 / פָּרָשַׁת אַחֲרֵי מוֹת־קְדֹשִׁים 25 April 2026 / 8 Iyyar 5786 10-Minute Torah on YouTube Parashat Achrei Mot-Kedoshim is the 29th and 30th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. Torah Portion: Leviticus 16:1-20:27 Achrei Mot (“After The Death”) opens by describing the ritual service of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. It then details the prohibitions of offering sacrifices outside of the Mishkan (Tabernacle) and

Parashat Tazria-Metzora 5786 / פָּרָשַׁת תַזְרִיעַ־מְצֹרָע 18 April 2026 / 1 Iyyar 5786 10-Minute Torah on YouTube Parashat Tazria-Metzora is the 27th and 28th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. Torah Portion: Leviticus 12:1-15:33 ; Numbers 28:9-15 Tazria (“She Bears Seed”) opens by describing the purification process for a woman after childbirth. It then describes different forms of tzaraat, a discoloration condition on skin or clothing, and t

Parashat Shmini 5786 / פָּרָשַׁת שְּׁמִינִי 11 April 2026 / 24 Nisan 5786 10-Minute Torah on YouTube Parashat Shmini is the 26th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. Torah Portion: Leviticus 9:1-11:47 Shemini (“Eighth”) opens with the consecration of the Mishkan (Tabernacle). Two of Aaron’s sons are consumed by a fire sent from God when they attempt to offer a “strange fire.” God describes the animals, birds, and fish that are permissible and pro

Pesach 2026 / פֶּסַח 5786 Passover, the Feast of Unleavened Bread 🫓🍷 Pesach for Hebrew Year 5786 begins in the Diaspora at sundown on Wednesday, 1 April 2026 and ends at nightfall on Thursday, 9 April 2026 . 10-Minute Torah on YouTube Passover (Hebrew: פֶּסַח Pesach) commemorates the story of the Exodus, in which the ancient Israelites were freed from slavery in Egypt. Passover begins on the 15th day of the month of Nisan in the Jewish calendar, which is in spring in the N

Parashat Tzav 5786 / פָּרָשַׁת צַו 28 March 2026 / 10 Nisan 5786 10-Minute Torah on YouTube Parashat Tzav is the 25th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. Torah Portion: Leviticus 6:1-8:36 In Tzav (“Command”), God tells Moses about the sacrifices offered in the Mishkan (Tabernacle), including a meal offering brought by the high priest, guilt offerings, and offerings of thanks. Moses initiates Aaron and Aaron’s sons for priestly service in the Mis

Parashat Vayikra 5786 / פָּרָשַׁת וַיִּקְרָא 21 March 2026 / 3 Nisan 5786 10-Minute Torah on YouTube Parashat Vayikra is the 24th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. Torah Portion: Leviticus 1:1-5:26 In Vayikra (“He Called”), the first Torah portion in the Book of Leviticus, God tells Moses about the sacrifices offered in the Mishkan (Tabernacle). Among these are sacrifices entirely burnt on the altar, meal offerings made of flour and oil, peace

Parashat Vayakhel-Pekudei 5786 / פָּרָשַׁת וַיַּקְהֵל־פְקוּדֵי 14 March 2026 / 25 Adar 5786 10-Minute Torah on YouTube Parashat Vayakhel-Pekudei is the 22nd and 23rd weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. Torah Portion: Exodus 35:1-40:38 , 12:1-20 Vayakhel (“He Assembled”) opens as God commands the Israelites to observe the Sabbath. Moses asks for material donations for the building of the Mishkan (Tabernacle), and the people donate. A group of art

Parashat Ki Tisa 5786 / פָּרָשַׁת כִּי תִשָּׂא 7 March 2026 / 18 Adar 5786 10-Minute Torah on YouTube Parashat Ki Tisa is the 21st weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. Torah Portion: Exodus 30:11-34:35 ; Numbers 19:1-22 Ki-Tisa (“When You Elevate”) opens as God tells Moses to collect a half-shekel donation from all Israelites and to anoint the Mishkan (Tabernacle), its vessels, and the priests. The Israelites worship the golden calf and Moses bre

Parashat Mishpatim 5786 / פָּרָשַׁת מִשְׁפָּטִים 14 February 2026 / 27 Sh’vat 5786 10-Minute Torah on YouTube Parashat Mishpatim is the 18th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. Torah Portion: Exodus 21:1-24:18 , 30:11-16 Mishpatim (“Laws”) recounts a series of God’s laws that Moses gives to the Israelites. These include laws about treatment of slaves, damages, loans, returning lost property, the Sabbath, the sabbatical year, holidays, and destro

Parashat Yitro 5786 / פָּרָשַׁת יִתְרוֹ 7 February 2026 / 20 Sh’vat 5786 10-Minute Torah on YouTube Parashat Yitro is the 17th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. Torah Portion: Exodus 18:1-20:23 Yitro (“Jethro”) begins as Moses reunites with his father-in-law Yitro and accepts his advice to appoint judges who will help govern the Israelites. The Israelites prepare to encounter God at Mount Sinai. God descends amidst fire, smoke, thunder, and th

Parashat Beshalach 5786 / פָּרָשַׁת בְּשַׁלַּח 31 January 2026 / 13 Sh’vat 5786 10-Minute Torah on YouTube Parashat Beshalach is the 16th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. Torah Portion: Exodus 13:17-17:16 Beshalach (“When He Let Go”) describes the splitting of the Red Sea and the song the Israelites sing upon crossing through. In the desert, God sweetens bitter water and provides manna and quail. The portion ends recounting the victory of the

Parashat Bo 5786 / פָּרָשַׁת בֹּא 24 January 2026 / 6 Sh’vat 5786 10-Minute Torah on YouTube Parashat Bo is the 15th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. Torah Portion: Exodus 10:1-13:16 Bo (“Come”) recounts the last three plagues that God inflicts on the Egyptians: locusts, darkness, and death of firstborns. God commands the Israelites to offer a Passover lamb sacrifice. After the last plague, Pharaoh and the Egyptians demand that the Israelites

Parashat Vaera 5786 / פָּרָשַׁת וָאֵרָא 17 January 2026 / 28 Tevet 5786 10-Minute Torah on YouTube Parashat Vaera is the 14th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. Torah Portion: Exodus 6:2-9:35 Vaera (“I Appeared”) opens as God promises to redeem the enslaved Israelites and bring them to the Promised Land. When Pharaoh repeatedly refuses to let the Israelites go, God sends a series of plagues: water turning to blood, frogs, lice, wild animals, de

Parashat Shemot 5786 / פָּרָשַׁת שְׁמוֹת 10 January 2026 / 21 Tevet 5786 10-Minute Torah on YouTube Parashat Shemot is the 13th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. Torah Portion: Exodus 1:1-6:1 Shemot (“Names”) is the first Torah reading in the Book of Exodus. It opens describing the enslavement of the Israelites in Egypt. Moses is born, placed in a basket on the Nile, and adopted into Pharaoh’s household. He later encounters God at a burning bu

How Do You Clean a Menorah? 1 Hot water: Put your menorah in a heat-proof container such as a large pan and pour hot water over the menorah until the wax melts off and floats to the top. Wipe off extra wax with a towel. Be careful that the wax doesn't drip into the sink drain as this can clog your drain! You can also spot clean by warming with a hair dryer (high heat, low fan). If your menorah is glass or ceramic, start with warm water to slowly warm the menorah so it does n

Parashat Vayigash 5786 / פָּרָשַׁת וַיִּגַּשׁ 27 December 2025 / 7 Tevet 5786 10-Minute Torah on YouTube Parashat Vayigash is the 11th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. Torah Portion: Genesis 44:18-47:27 Vayigash (“He Approached”) opens as Judah pleads with Joseph not to keep Benjamin as a prisoner. Joseph reveals his true identity to his brothers, crying and kissing them. The brothers bring Jacob from Canaan to Egypt, and Jacob and his childr

Parashat Miketz 5786 / פָּרָשַׁת מִקֵּץ 20 December 2025 / 30 Kislev 5786 10-Minute Torah on YouTube Parashat Miketz is the 10th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. Torah Portion: Genesis 41:1-41: 52; Numbers 28:9-15 , 7:42-47 Miketz (“After”) follows Joseph as he interprets Pharaoh's dreams and rises to become second-in-command to Pharaoh. When Joseph’s brothers come to Egypt seeking food during a famine, Joseph accuses them of spying. He insis

Parashat Vayeshev 5786 / פָּרָשַׁת וַיֵּשֶׁב 13 December 2025 / 23 Kislev 5786 10-Minute Torah on YouTube Parashat Vayeshev is the 9th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. Torah Portion: Genesis 37:1-40:23 Vayeshev (“He Settled”) begins the story of Joseph, describing his rivalry with his brothers, slavery in Egypt, and imprisonment after his master’s wife frames him in response to Joseph’s refusal of her advances. It also contains the story of T