Our tradition sets aside a special Torah portion for years when Shabbat during Passover falls on the "in between days." This portion is full of examples where the Israelites lose faith and demand proof of G-d's power and even G-d's existence. In a world where proof is everything, how do we prove to ourselves that G-d exists. Do we even need to?

This week's Torah portion, Parshat Shmini, calls for us to "separate the sacred and the profane, the clean and the unclean." Humans bring order to our chaotic world by defining the sacred, the special, the extraordinary, and we use it to anchor our lives.

The beginning of this week's Torah portion focuses on the ordination of Aaron and his sons and priests, who are commanded to isolate themselves in the Tabernacle for seven days. In a socially distanced world, what can we learn from their experience?

Why does G-d call Moses, and then speak to Moses, in the opening line of Leviticus? I couldn't make it past the first line of this week's parsha without knowing why. What is the Torah trying to teach us with this repetition?

In honor of HIAS's Refugee Solidarity Shabbat.

This Shabbat we read two Torah portions, to keep us on track for the year, so we have two separate podcasts for March 19th.