February 6/7
Torah: Yitro Exodus (Shemot) 18:1-20:23
Haftarah: Isaiah (Yeshayahu) 6:1-7:6; 9:5-6
Yitro is Moses’ father-in-law and a well seasoned and sensitive leader in his own right. And he is willing to give Moses good advice as Moses begins to establish legal and spiritual order to the newly free Israelites. He is willing to help Moses discover that others can lead as well and that by delegating authority and sharing leadership he enhances his position and he broadens and strengthens the Israelite leadership community. More importantly Moses is a leader willing to be humble enough to know when to take that good advice and change the way things have been done.

February13/14
Torah: Mishpatim. Exodus (Shemot) 21:1-24:18
Haftarah: 2 Kings (Melachim Bet) 12:1-17
Our parashah contains a long list of rules and regulations (mishpatim mean rules).
How should we as Reform Jews approach all these layers of laws, commandments, rules, ordinances and instructions? As freely choosing Jews we are met with the challenge of deciding which ones to follow and which ones to perhaps reject or adjust. Some don’t seem to make any sense to us today. Maimonides suggests that some of these aren’t understandable by us…yet. We just don’t have the learning and insight to yet understand what the Eternal wished us to do. What do you think? And then there is this in Exodus 24:7: “All the Adonai has spoken we will do and we will hear (na’aseh v’nishma)” Do and then hear? Now that is commitment to covenant! How willing are you to step forward before you are sure of everything?

February 20/21
Torah: Terumah Exodus (Shemot) 25:1-27:19
Haftarah: 1 Kings (Melachim Alef) 5:26-6:13
God asks the people to donate for the building of the Mishkan- the Tabernacle. And who is asked? “Whose heart so moves him or her” (25:2).And do they give! But, the essential point is that it is a voluntary effort. And because they are so committed to sacred community and covenant (brit), they step forward in every wonderful way to build a symbolic dwelling place within their community for the Presence. We are not so different in our capabilities to voluntarily step forward today! And we are just a capable of accomplishing these wonderful levels of connection and creation.

February 27/28
Torah: Tetzaveh Exodus (Shemot) 27:20-30:10; Deuteronomy 25:17-19
Haftarah: 1 Samuel (Shmuel Alef) 15:2-34
This is Shabbat Zachor as well as Tetzaveh. Zachor means Remember. The special reading from Deuteronomy is about the Amalekites – a desert tribe that attacked the weak and defenseless at the end of the Israelite columns as they traveled. We are asked to literally eraser their name from memory. Those who prey on the weak are to be considered as if they are hardly human. Why read this? Haman is an Amalekite and Purim in tomorrow night!
Of course we read this every year so do we really forget to remember?