Jessica Dell’Era is a senior rabbinical student at the Jewish Theological Seminary, where she is completing her Masters in Sacred Music through the Cantorial School alongside her rabbinic ordination. She aspires to use music, curiosity, and compassion to help others find meaning in their Jewish life. She grew up in the San Francisco Bay Area and holds a BA in Dramaturgy from Pomona College and an MA in Education from the University of California Berkeley. In her previous career, she taught Spanish bilingual 3rd-6th grades in public school, working with immigrant and first-generation Latinx families.
This week’s Torah portion – Parashat Behar/Bechokotai (Leviticus 25:1-27:34) – talks about Sabbatical and Jubilee years, regulations concerning commerce and the redemption of slaves. It also contains a description of the rewards for observing God’s commandments and the series of punishments that will face Israel if they choose to disregard them. The Torah then discusses different types of gifts given to the Temple, and the animal tithe.
Previous Torah Talks on the Parsha
