Torah: Literally “instruction” or “teaching.” The first five books of the Hebrew Bible (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy); the handwritten scroll that contains the first five books of the Hebrew Bible.
Ta-Na-Kh: Acronym for the Hebrew Bible, constructed from the first letters of its three sections: Torah, N’vi-im, and K’tuvim. Also spelled “Tanach.”
parashah/parashiyot (plural): Torah portion. The five books of the Torah are divided into 54 parashiyot or portions. Each week, Jewish communities read one parashah (singular of parashiyot); in this way, Jewish communities read the entire Torah over the course of a year. Depending on the calendar, some weeks will feature a “double-portion.” The name of each portion is taken from the first few significant words of the portion.
(א) וַיֵּרָ֤א אֵלָיו֙ יְהֹוָ֔ה בְּאֵלֹנֵ֖י מַמְרֵ֑א וְה֛וּא יֹשֵׁ֥ב פֶּֽתַח־הָאֹ֖הֶל כְּחֹ֥ם הַיּֽוֹם׃ (ב) וַיִּשָּׂ֤א עֵינָיו֙ וַיַּ֔רְא וְהִנֵּה֙ שְׁלֹשָׁ֣ה אֲנָשִׁ֔ים נִצָּבִ֖ים עָלָ֑יו וַיַּ֗רְא וַיָּ֤רׇץ לִקְרָאתָם֙ מִפֶּ֣תַח הָאֹ֔הֶל וַיִּשְׁתַּ֖חוּ אָֽרְצָה׃ (ג) וַיֹּאמַ֑ר אֲדֹנָ֗י אִם־נָ֨א מָצָ֤אתִי חֵן֙ בְּעֵינֶ֔יךָ אַל־נָ֥א תַעֲבֹ֖ר מֵעַ֥ל עַבְדֶּֽךָ׃ (ד) יֻקַּֽח־נָ֣א מְעַט־מַ֔יִם וְרַחֲצ֖וּ רַגְלֵיכֶ֑ם וְהִֽשָּׁעֲנ֖וּ תַּ֥חַת הָעֵֽץ׃ (ה) וְאֶקְחָ֨ה פַת־לֶ֜חֶם וְסַעֲד֤וּ לִבְּכֶם֙ אַחַ֣ר תַּעֲבֹ֔רוּ כִּֽי־עַל־כֵּ֥ן עֲבַרְתֶּ֖ם עַֽל־עַבְדְּכֶ֑ם וַיֹּ֣אמְר֔וּ כֵּ֥ן תַּעֲשֶׂ֖ה כַּאֲשֶׁ֥ר דִּבַּֽרְתָּ׃
(1) יהוה appeared to him by the terebinths of Mamre; he was sitting at the entrance of the tent as the day grew hot. (2) Looking up, he saw three figures standing near him. Perceiving this, he ran from the entrance of the tent to greet them and, bowing to the ground, (3) he said, “My lords! If it please you, do not go on past your servant. (4) Let a little water be brought; bathe your feet and recline under the tree. (5) And let me fetch a morsel of bread that you may refresh yourselves; then go on—seeing that you have come your servant’s way.” They replied, “Do as you have said.”
Prophets/N’vi-im: The second section of the Hebrew Bible, found between the Torah and the Writings; also refers to the many individuals recorded in that section of the Bible who received prophecies from God and shared them with the Jewish people.
(ח) וַיְהִ֥י דְבַר־יְהֹוָ֖ה אֵלָ֥יו לֵאמֹֽר׃ (ט) ק֣וּם לֵ֤ךְ צָֽרְפַ֙תָה֙ אֲשֶׁ֣ר לְצִיד֔וֹן וְיָשַׁבְתָּ֖ שָׁ֑ם הִנֵּ֨ה צִוִּ֥יתִי שָׁ֛ם אִשָּׁ֥ה אַלְמָנָ֖ה לְכַלְכְּלֶֽךָ׃ (י) וַיָּ֣קׇם ׀ וַיֵּ֣לֶךְ צָֽרְפַ֗תָה וַיָּבֹא֙ אֶל־פֶּ֣תַח הָעִ֔יר וְהִנֵּה־שָׁ֛ם אִשָּׁ֥ה אַלְמָנָ֖ה מְקֹשֶׁ֣שֶׁת עֵצִ֑ים וַיִּקְרָ֤א אֵלֶ֙יהָ֙ וַיֹּאמַ֔ר קְחִי־נָ֨א לִ֧י מְעַט־מַ֛יִם בַּכְּלִ֖י וְאֶשְׁתֶּֽה׃ (יא) וַתֵּ֖לֶךְ לָקַ֑חַת וַיִּקְרָ֤א אֵלֶ֙יהָ֙ וַיֹּאמַ֔ר לִֽקְחִי־נָ֥א לִ֛י פַּת־לֶ֖חֶם בְּיָדֵֽךְ׃ (יב) וַתֹּ֗אמֶר חַי־יְהֹוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ אִם־יֶשׁ־לִ֣י מָע֔וֹג כִּ֣י אִם־מְלֹ֤א כַף־קֶ֙מַח֙ בַּכַּ֔ד וּמְעַט־שֶׁ֖מֶן בַּצַּפָּ֑חַת וְהִנְנִ֨י מְקֹשֶׁ֜שֶׁת שְׁנַ֣יִם עֵצִ֗ים וּבָ֙אתִי֙ וַעֲשִׂיתִ֙יהוּ֙ לִ֣י וְלִבְנִ֔י וַאֲכַלְנֻ֖הוּ וָמָֽתְנוּ׃ (יג) וַיֹּ֨אמֶר אֵלֶ֤יהָ אֵלִיָּ֙הוּ֙ אַל־תִּ֣ירְאִ֔י בֹּ֖אִי עֲשִׂ֣י כִדְבָרֵ֑ךְ אַ֣ךְ עֲשִׂי־לִֽי־מִ֠שָּׁ֠ם עֻגָ֨ה קְטַנָּ֤ה בָרִֽאשֹׁנָה֙ וְהוֹצֵ֣את לִ֔י וְלָ֣ךְ וְלִבְנֵ֔ךְ תַּעֲשִׂ֖י בָּאַחֲרֹנָֽה׃ (יד) כִּ֣י כֹה֩ אָמַ֨ר יְהֹוָ֜ה אֱלֹהֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל כַּ֤ד הַקֶּ֙מַח֙ לֹ֣א תִכְלָ֔ה וְצַפַּ֥חַת הַשֶּׁ֖מֶן לֹ֣א תֶחְסָ֑ר עַ֠ד י֧וֹם (תתן) [תֵּת־]יְהֹוָ֛ה גֶּ֖שֶׁם עַל־פְּנֵ֥י הָאֲדָמָֽה׃ (טו) וַתֵּ֥לֶךְ וַֽתַּעֲשֶׂ֖ה כִּדְבַ֣ר אֵלִיָּ֑הוּ וַתֹּ֧אכַל (הוא והיא) [הִֽיא־וָה֛וּא] וּבֵיתָ֖הּ יָמִֽים׃
(8) And the word of GOD came to him: (9) “Go at once to Zarephath of Sidon, and stay there; I have designated a widow there to feed you.” (10) So he went at once to Zarephath. When he came to the entrance of the town, a widow was there gathering wood. He called out to her, “Please bring me a little water in your pitcher, and let me drink.” (11) As she went to fetch it, he called out to her, “Please bring along a piece of bread for me.” (12) “As the ETERNAL your God lives,” she replied, “I have nothing baked, nothing but a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I am just gathering a couple of sticks, so that I can go home and prepare it for me and my son; we shall eat it and then we shall die.” (13) “Don’t be afraid,” said Elijah to her. “Go and do as you have said; but first make me a small cake from what you have there, and bring it out to me; then make some for yourself and your son. (14) For thus said the ETERNAL, the God of Israel: The jar of flour shall not give out and the jug of oil shall not fail until the day that GOD sends rain upon the ground.” (15) She went and did as Elijah had spoken, and she and he and her household had food for a long time.
Writings/K’tuvim: The third section of the Tanach, found after the Torah, and Prophets. This section includes Psalms, Proverbs, Job, the Five Scrolls (Song of Songs, Ruth, Lamentations, Ecclesiastes, and Esther), Daniel, Ezra, Nehemiah, and Chronicles I and II.
(לב) בַּ֭חוּץ לֹא־יָלִ֣ין גֵּ֑ר דְּ֝לָתַ֗י לָאֹ֥רַח אֶפְתָּֽח׃
(32) No sojourner spent the night in the open;I opened my doors to the road.
Midrash: Rabbinic interpretation of a passage from the Bible. Midrash falls into two categories: midrash halachah is concerned with religious practice and law, and midrash aggadah is concerned with interpreting biblical narratives and stories.
(יג) אָמַר רַבִּי אַבָּהוּ נָטַל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא כּוֹס שֶׁל בְּרָכָה וּבֵרְכָן. אָמַר רַבִּי יְהוּדָה בֶּן רַבִּי סִימוֹן, מִיכָאֵל וְגַבְרִיאֵל הֵם הָיוּ שׁוֹשְׁבִינִין שֶׁל אָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן. אָמַר רַבִּי שִׂמְלָאי מָצִינוּ שֶׁהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מְבָרֵךְ חֲתָנִים, וּמְקַשֵּׁט כַּלּוֹת, וּמְבַקֵּר חוֹלִים, וְקוֹבֵר מֵתִים. מְבָרֵךְ חֲתָנִים מִנַּיִן, וַיְבָרֶךְ אֹתָם אֱלֹהִים, וּמְקַשֵּׁט כַּלּוֹת מִנַּיִן (בראשית ב, כב): וַיִּבֶן יהוה אֱלֹהִים אֶת הַצֵּלָע. מְבַקֵּר חוֹלִים מִנַּיִן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (בראשית יח, א): וַיֵּרָא אֵלָיו יהוה בְּאֵלֹנֵי מַמְרֵא. קוֹבֵר מֵתִים מִנַּיִן, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר (דברים לד, ו): וַיִּקְבֹּר אֹתוֹ בַגַּי. אָמַר רַבִּי שְׁמוּאֵל בַּר נַחְמָן בְּשֵׁם רַבִּי יוֹנָתָן, אַף מַרְאֶה פָּנִים לְאָבֵל, הֲדָא הוּא דִכְתִיב (בראשית לה, ט): וַיֵּרָא אֱלֹהִים אֶל יַעֲקֹב עוֹד וגו'. מַה בְּרָכָה בֵּרֲכוֹ, רַבִּי יוֹנָתָן אָמַר בִּרְכַּת אֲבֵלִים.
(13) Rabbi Abahu said: The Holy Blessed One took the cup of blessing, (The cup of wine over which the wedding benedictions are recited.) [as it were,] and gave a blessing to them. Rabbi Yehuda ben Rabbi Simon said: Mikhael and Gavriel were the groomsmen of Adam the first man.Rabbi Samlai said: We have found that the Holy Blessed One blesses grooms, adorns brides, visits the ill, and buries the dead. God blesses grooms – from where is it derived? “God blessed them.” God adorns brides – from where is it derived? “The Lord God built the side” (Genesis 2:22). He visits the ill – from where is it derived? It is as it is stated: “The Lord appeared to him in the plains of Mamre” (Genesis 18:1). He buries the dead – from where is it derived? “He buried [Moses] in the valley” (Deuteronomy 34:6)...
Mishnah: Literally “repetition.” Mishnah is a Jewish legal code edited by Rabbi Judah HaNasi in Palestine in 220 C.E. It is the first Jewish legal literature after the codification of the Hebrew scriptures around 90 C.E. Also called “Torah Shebal Peh,” “Oral Torah” or “Oral Law.”
Gemara: The rabbinic commentary on the Mishnah; together, the Mishnah and Gemara make up the Talmud, the body of Jewish “oral law.”
Talmud: The Jewish legal work that comprises the Mishnah and the Gemara. There are two works of Talmud: The Palestinian Talmud was compiled between 200–450 C.E. in the land of Israel and is also called the Jerusalem Talmud or Talmud Yerushalmi. The Babylonian Talmud or Talmud Bavli was compiled in Babylonia between 200–550 C.E.
מִפְּנֵי הָאוֹרְחִין וְכוּ׳. אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: גְּדוֹלָה הַכְנָסַת אוֹרְחִין כְּהַשְׁכָּמַת בֵּית הַמִּדְרָשׁ, דְּקָתָנֵי: ״מִפְּנֵי הָאוֹרְחִין וּמִפְּנֵי בִּטּוּל בֵּית הַמִּדְרָשׁ״. וְרַב דִּימִי מִנְּהַרְדְּעָא אָמַר: יוֹתֵר מֵהַשְׁכָּמַת בֵּית הַמִּדְרָשׁ, דְּקָתָנֵי ״מִפְּנֵי הָאוֹרְחִין״, וַהֲדַר ״וּמִפְּנֵי בִּטּוּל בֵּית הַמִּדְרָשׁ״. אָמַר רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר רַב: גְּדוֹלָה הַכְנָסַת אוֹרְחִין מֵהַקְבָּלַת פְּנֵי שְׁכִינָה, דִּכְתִיב: ״וַיֹּאמַר ה׳ אִם נָא מָצָאתִי חֵן בְּעֵינֶיךָ אַל נָא תַעֲבֹר וְגוֹ׳״. אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר: בֹּא וּרְאֵה שֶׁלֹּא כְּמִדַּת הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא מִדַּת בָּשָׂר וָדָם. מִדַּת בָּשָׂר וְדָם, אֵין קָטָן יָכוֹל לוֹמַר לַגָּדוֹל ״הַמְתֵּן עַד שֶׁאָבֹא אֶצְלְךָ״, וְאִילּוּ בְּהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא כְּתִיב ״וַיֹּאמַר ה׳ אִם נָא מָצָאתִי וְגוֹ׳״.
We learned in the mishna: One may move baskets of produce due to the guests and in order to prevent the suspension of Torah study in the study hall. Rabbi Yoḥanan said: Hospitality toward guests is as great as rising early to go to the study hall, as the mishna equates them and teaches: Due to the guests and due to suspension of Torah study in the study hall. And Rav Dimi from Neharde’a says: Hospitality toward guests is greater than rising early to the study hall, as it teaches: Due to the guests, and only afterward: And due to suspension of Torah study in the study hall. Rav Yehuda said that Rav said on a related note: Hospitality toward guests is greater than receiving the Divine Presence, as when Abraham invited his guests it is written: “And he said: Lord, if now I have found favor in Your sight, please pass not from Your servant” (Genesis 18:3). Abraham requested that God, the Divine Presence, wait for him while he tended to his guests appropriately. Rabbi Elazar said: Come and see that the attribute of the Holy One, Blessed be He, is not like that of flesh and blood. The attribute of flesh and blood people is such that a less significant person is unable to say to a more significant person: Wait until I come to you, while with regard to the Holy One, Blessed be He, it is written: “And he said: Lord, if now I have found favor in Your sight, please pass not from Your servant.” Abraham requested that God wait for him due to his guests.
Commentary: scholarly explanations and interpretations of biblical or Talmudic texts. These works provide insights into the language, context, and meaning of the scriptures. Famous commentaries include those by Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki), the Ramban (Nachmanides), and the Ibn Ezra. These texts help readers understand complex passages and the historical and cultural backdrop of the writings.
(א) וירא אליו. לְבַקֵּר אֶת הַחוֹלֶה. אָמַר רַבִּי חָמָא בַּר חֲנִינָא, יוֹם שְׁלִישִׁי לְמִילָתוֹ הָיָה, וּבָא הַקָּבָּ"ה וְשָׁאַל בִּשְׁלוֹמוֹ (בבא מציעא פ"ו):
(1) וירא אליו AND THE LORD APPEARED UNTO HIM to visit the sick man. R. Hama the son of Hanina said: it was the third day after his circumcision and the Holy One, blessed be He, came and enquired after the state of his health (Bava Metzia 86b)
(ד) פתח האהל. לִרְאוֹת אִם יֵשׁ עוֹבֵר וָשָׁב וְיַכְנִיסֵם בְּבֵיתוֹ:
(4) פתח האהל AT THE TENT-DOOR — that he might see whether anyone passed by, and invite him into the house
Codes: compilations of Jewish law that organize and present halacha (Jewish law) in a clear and accessible manner. The most renowned code is the Shulchan Aruch, written by Rabbi Joseph Caro in the 16th century, which serves as a primary legal reference for many Jewish communities. Codes cover a wide range of topics, including ritual observance, ethical behavior, and civil law.
(א) מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה שֶׁל דִּבְרֵיהֶם לְבַקֵּר חוֹלִים. וּלְנַחֵם אֲבֵלִים. וּלְהוֹצִיא הַמֵּת. וּלְהַכְנִיס הַכַּלָּה. וּלְלַוּוֹת הָאוֹרְחִים. וּלְהִתְעַסֵּק בְּכָל צָרְכֵי הַקְּבוּרָה. לָשֵׂאת עַל הַכָּתֵף. וְלֵילֵךְ לְפָנָיו וְלִסְפֹּד וְלַחְפֹּר וְלִקְבֹּר. וְכֵן לְשַׂמֵּחַ הַכַּלָּה וְהֶחָתָן. וּלְסַעֲדָם בְּכָל צָרְכֵיהֶם. וְאֵלּוּ הֵן גְּמִילוּת חֲסָדִים שֶׁבְּגוּפוֹ שֶׁאֵין לָהֶם שִׁעוּר. אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁכָּל מִצְוֹת אֵלּוּ מִדִּבְרֵיהֶם הֲרֵי הֵן בִּכְלַל (ויקרא יט יח) "וְאָהַבְתָּ לְרֵעֲךָ כָּמוֹךָ". כָּל הַדְּבָרִים שֶׁאַתָּה רוֹצֶה שֶׁיַּעֲשׂוּ אוֹתָם לְךָ אֲחֵרִים. עֲשֵׂה אַתָּה אוֹתָן לְאָחִיךְ בְּתוֹרָה וּבְמִצְוֹת:
(1) It is a positive commandment of Rabbinic origin to visit the sick, comfort mourners, to prepare for a funeral, prepare a bride, accompany guests, attend to all the needs of a burial, carry a corpse on one's shoulders, walk before the bier, mourn, dig a grave, and bury the dead, and also to bring joy to a bride and groom and help them in all their needs. These are deeds of kindness that one carries out with his person that have no limit.
Responsa: (or "She'elot u-Teshuvot," meaning "questions and answers") are written answers by rabbinic authorities in response to questions about Jewish law and practice. This body of literature has developed over centuries and continues to grow as new questions arise. Responsa provide practical guidance on how to apply Jewish law to specific situations, reflecting the dynamic and evolving nature of halacha.
She'elah: Is it Permissible to Invite Non-Observant Jews to Your Home on Shabbat When You Know They Will Come by Car?
Teshuvah (Excerpt): ...Driving a motor vehicle on Shabbat is forbidden, and what we have stated above can in no way be construed to permit a Jew to drive on Shabbat. It is also forbidden for one Jew to encourage another Jew to violate Shabbat when he otherwise would not have violated it However, when one extends an invitation for a Shabbat meal to a Jew who would otherwise be violating Shabbat anyway, Halakhah does not consider the host to be encouraging that Jew’s violation of the law, nor is the host considered an accomplice in violating the law, nor is he considered to be misleading the guest to believe that his driving is permissible...
Rabbi Wayne Allen and Rabbi Gershon Bacon for the Panel of Halakhic Inquiry of the Union for Traditional Judaism.
Drash: a homiletical or interpretive commentary on a biblical text. It derives from the Hebrew root "darash," meaning "to seek" or "to inquire." In Jewish tradition, a drash often involves exploring the deeper meanings, moral lessons, or contemporary relevance of a particular passage.
Rabbi Leah Berkowitz
Abraham's radical hospitality doesn't always come naturally to us. Some of us like to keep our tents closed. We learned as children to lock the door and not to talk to strangers. We are cautious, guarded, appearing unfriendly to others. Perhaps we still feel like strangers in our own synagogues, hoping someone will welcome us first.
What was it that made Abraham, Lot, Laban, and Manoah so welcoming? In three of their stories, the welcomed stranger turns out to be an angel of God, delivering news of good fortune, or salvation, to their hosts. Even a human messenger brings about a happy consequence for Laban's family: the marriage of his sister Rebecca. In sum, our ancestors believed that even the most humble guest could be a messenger of the Most High.
Today, we have lost the sense that a guest might be a prophet or a visiting angel or a herald of the messianic age, but we can still create a culture of welcoming out of our Jewish values.
We can continue to show compassion for the stranger, because we were strangers in the land of Egypt (and countless other places). We can recognize that even the stranger is a human being created in the divine image. We can see each stranger not as a threat, but as a person brought into our lives to teach us Torah. And we can be open to the possibility that each new person we greet has the potential to bring holiness into our lives.