Chukat / Balak

When Miriam dies

The people have no water

Trouble for Moses

Korach

Even post  Korach

The people complain to G-d

A plague kills thousands

–

Moses and Aaron

Have to ask  G-d, once again

Not to kill them all

–

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Sh’lach L’cha

A disturbing tale:

On Shabbat, the people see

Man gathering sticks

–

G-d informs Moses

That the whole community

Should stone him to death

–

And so it was done

Just as G-d had commanded

A fair punishment?

–

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B’haalot’cha

Levite pension plan

Had better be good, ’cause they

Retire at fifty

–

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Naso

The Nazarite vow

No wine, haircuts, grapes, raisins

Just service to G-d

–

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Shavuot

Omer counting? Done!

Celebrate revelation

It’s Matan Torah*

[* Giving of Torah]

–

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Bamidbar

The census results?

Six hundred three thousand plus

Five hundred fifty

–

This included just

Men twenty years or older

All fit for service

–

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Behar / Bechukotai

In the year after

Seven Sabbatical years

The Jubilee year

–

Your slaves shall go free

And all land shall be redeemed

It belongs to G-d

–

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Emor

An eye for an eye

Tooth for tooth.  What does it mean?

Fair compensation

–

[RJ.org comments]

Acharei Mot / Kedoshim

Some people focus

On Lev. 18:22

That is a mistake

–

Lots of Torah laws

Are looked at diff’rently now

We don’t enforce them

–

Remember that gays

Created in G-d’s image

Should not be condemned

–

Our Reform Movement

Teaches that gay, straight or bi

Are treated the same

–

The lesbian Rav

Marries two gay Jewish men

And we say: “Zeh Tov”*

–

*[this is good]

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[RJ.org comments]