Parasha for the Week:  Shoftim Deuteronomy 16:18 - 21:9
Haftara for the Week:  Isaiah 51:12 - 52:12
Besorat Yeshua:   Mark 7:9 - 23

Overview
Moshe tells Bnei Yisrael to appoint judges and officers in their cities.
A bribe of even an insignificant sum is forbidden. Trees are not to be planted near
Hashem's altar, as was the way of idolaters.
Blemishes in animals designated for offerings and other points of disqualification are listed.
The Great Sanhedrin is to make binding decisions on new situations according to Torah criteria to prevent the fragmentation of the Torah.
A very learned scholar who refuses to accept the Halachic incurs the death penalty.
A Jewish king may only have possessions and symbols of power commensurate with the honor of his office, but not for self-aggrandizement. He is to write for himself two sifrei Torah, one to be kept with him wherever he goes, so that he doesn't become haughty.
Neither the kohanim nor the levi'im are to inherit land in the Land of Israel, rather they are to be supported by the community by a system of tithes.

Parasha for the Week:  Naso: Numbers 4:21 – 7:89
Haftarah:  Judges 13:2 - 25
Besorat Yeshua:   Mark 4:10 - 20

Overview
The Torah assigns the exact Mishkan-related tasks to be performed by the families of Gershon, Kehat, and Merari, the sons of Levi.
A census reveals that over 8,000 men are ready for such service.
All those ritually impure are to be sent out of the encampments.
If after swearing in court to the contrary,  a person wrongfully retains his neighbor's property, he has to pay an additional fifth of the price and bring a guilt offering as atonement.
If the claimant has already passed away without heirs, the payments are made to a kohen.
In certain circumstances, a husband who suspects that his wife had been unfaithful brings her to the Temple.  A kohen prepares a drink of water mixed with dust from the Temple floor and a special ink that was used for inscribing Hashem's Name on a piece of parchment.

Parasha for the Week:  Behar: Leviticus 25:1 – 26:2
Haftarah:  Jeremiah 32:6 - 27
Besorat Yeshua:   Mark 3:1 – 12

Overview
The Torah prohibits farming of the Land of Israel every seven years. This "Shabbat" for the Land is called "shemita". After every seventh shemita, the fiftieth year, yovel (jubilee) is announced with the sound of the shofar on Yom Kippur.  This year the Land was to lie fallow.
G-d promises to provide a bumper crop prior to the shemita and yovel years.
During yovel, all land is returned to its original division from the time of Joshua, and all Jewish indentured servants are freed, even if they have not completed their six years of work.

Parasha for the Week:  Tzav: Leviticus 6:1 – 8:36
Aftarah for the Week:  Jeremiah 7:21 – 9:23
Besorat Yeshua:  Romans 12: 9 - 15

Overview
The Torah addresses Aharon and his sons to teach them additional laws relating to their service.
The ashes of the burnt sacrifices are to be removed from the area by the kohen (priest) after he changes his special linen clothing.
The olah (burnt offering) is brought by someone who forgot to perform a positive commandment of the Torah.
The fire on the altar must be kept constantly ablaze.
Blood and fat are never to be eaten.
Aharon and his sons are granted the breast and shank of every sacrifice.
The inauguration ceremony for Aharon, his sons, the Mishkan and all of its vessels is detailed.

Parasha for the Week:  Terumah: Exodus 25:1 – 27:19
Haftarah for the Week:  1 Kings 5:26 – 6:13
Besorat Yeshua:   Mark 15:1 - 15

Overview
G-d commands Moshe to build a Mishkan (Sanctuary) and gave him with detailed instructions. The Children of Israel are asked to contribute precious metals and stones, fabrics, skins, oil and spices for the building of the sanctuary.

Parasha for the week:  Michpatim - Exodus  21:1 - 24:18
Aftarah for the week: Jeremiah 33: 25 - 34:22
Brit HaChadasha:  Acts 23:5

Parasha Overview
• One of the longest Torah portions, containing:
23 positive commandments
30 negative commandments.