Book of the Torah · Vayikra (וַיִּקְרָא)
Leviticus (Vayikra): The Third Book of the Torah
Leviticus, called Vayikra (וַיִּקְרָא, "And He called") in Hebrew after its opening word, is the third and central book of the Torah, devoted largely to the laws of sacrifice, priesthood, purity, and holiness. Its early rabbinic name, Torat Kohanim ("the Teaching of the Priests"), reflects how much of it concerns the priestly service in the Sanctuary.
The weekly portions of Leviticus
What Is the Book of Leviticus (Vayikra)?
Leviticus is the third of the Torah's five books, sitting at its physical and thematic center. Its Hebrew name, Vayikra ("And He called"), comes from the first word of the book, following the ancient custom of naming each book of the Torah after one of its opening words. The early rabbinic name, Torat Kohanim ("the Teaching" or "Law of the Priests"), captures its content: much of the book concerns the priests (kohanim), the sacrificial service, and ritual conduct in the Sanctuary. The English name "Leviticus" reaches us through the Greek and Latin and means "matters pertaining to the Levites." Unlike Genesis and Exodus, Leviticus is largely legal rather than narrative. It lays out the laws of the offerings (korbanot), the ordination of the priests, the dietary laws (kashrut), the rules of ritual purity and impurity, the Holiness Code, the festival calendar, and the sabbatical and jubilee years. A famous scribal tradition writes the word "Vayikra" with a miniature (small) aleph in the Torah scroll, a detail often connected to Moses's humility. By long-standing custom, Jewish children traditionally began their Torah study with Leviticus — "let the pure ones engage with the pure laws."
Themes, Structure, and Key Passages
The overarching theme of Leviticus is kedushah — holiness, and the question of how Israel, and especially the priesthood, can draw near to God and live in His presence. The book sanctifies time, space, food, and relationships so that the divine presence can dwell among the people. It opens with five categories of offering: the Olah (burnt or elevation offering), the Minchah (grain offering), the Shelamim (peace offering), the Chatat (sin offering), and the Asham (guilt offering). Leviticus is organized into 10 weekly Torah portions (parshiyot): Vayikra (laws of the sacrifices), Tzav (further offering laws and the priestly ordination), Shemini (the eighth day, the death of Nadav and Avihu, and the kosher animals), Tazria and Metzora (childbirth purity, tzaraat, and purification), Acharei Mot (the Yom Kippur service and forbidden relations), Kedoshim (the Holiness Code), Emor (priestly laws and the festival calendar), Behar (the sabbatical and jubilee years), and Bechukotai (the blessings, curses, and vows). Among its most cited passages are the Yom Kippur Temple service and scapegoat ritual (Acharei Mot), the ethical command "Love your neighbor as yourself" (Lev 19:18, Kedoshim), the festival calendar of Passover, Shavuot, Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot (Emor), and the laws of Shmita and Yovel embodying economic justice (Behar). Its most prominent narrative is the sudden death of Aaron's sons Nadav and Avihu, consumed by divine fire for offering "strange" or unauthorized fire.
Practice Leviticus (Vayikra) With Trope on TropeTrainer
TropeTrainer lets you hear and practice every weekly Torah portion in the book of Leviticus chanted with trope (cantillation). From Vayikra and Tzav through Acharei Mot, Kedoshim, Emor, Behar, and Bechukotai, you can listen to the melody, follow along with the Hebrew text and trope marks, and rehearse your reading at your own pace. Whether you are preparing a bar or bat mitzvah portion, learning to lead a service, or simply deepening your study of Torat Kohanim, TropeTrainer makes it easy to practice each aliyah of Leviticus aloud until the chant becomes your own. Note that in some years several of Leviticus's portions are read as combined pairs — Tazria–Metzora, Acharei Mot–Kedoshim, and Behar–Bechukotai are often joined in a single week, depending on the calendar. TropeTrainer supports practicing these portions whether they fall separately or together.
Frequently asked questions
What is Leviticus (Vayikra)?
Leviticus is the third and central book of the Torah, called Vayikra ("And He called") in Hebrew after its opening word. It is primarily a book of law rather than narrative, covering the sacrificial offerings, the priesthood, the dietary laws (kashrut), ritual purity, the Holiness Code, the festival calendar, and the sabbatical and jubilee years. Its early rabbinic name, Torat Kohanim ("the Teaching of the Priests"), reflects its focus on the priestly service.
What does the name Leviticus (Vayikra) mean?
The Hebrew name Vayikra (וַיִּקְרָא) means "And He called," taken from the first word of the book, where God calls to Moses. Rashi reads this calling as a term of endearment and invitation, distinct from the more impersonal language of command. The English name "Leviticus" comes through the Greek and Latin and means "matters pertaining to the Levites," reflecting the book's heavy emphasis on priestly and ritual law.
How do you pronounce Leviticus (Vayikra)?
Leviticus is pronounced "luh-VIT-ih-kus." The Hebrew name Vayikra is pronounced "vai-yik-RAH" (וַיִּקְרָא), with the stress on the final syllable, as is typical in Hebrew. The early rabbinic name Torat Kohanim is pronounced "toh-RAHT koh-hah-NEEM."
How many Torah portions are in Leviticus, and what are they?
Leviticus contains 10 weekly Torah portions (parshiyot): Vayikra, Tzav, Shemini, Tazria, Metzora, Acharei Mot, Kedoshim, Emor, Behar, and Bechukotai. In many years, three pairs — Tazria–Metzora, Acharei Mot–Kedoshim, and Behar–Bechukotai — are read together as combined portions, depending on the Hebrew calendar.
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