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TORAH
FIVE BOOKS OF MOSES
NEVI'IM
PROPHETS
KETUVIM
WRITINGS

Chapter 8

Translation and Transliteration of 

1Hashem spoke to Moshe, saying:

va-y'-da-BAYR a-do-NAI el mo-SHEH lay-MOR

אוַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר׃

2Speak to Aharon and say to him, “When you mount the lamps, let the seven lamps give light at the front of the menorah.”

da-BAYR el a-ha-RON v'-a-mar-TA ay-LAV b'-ha-a-lo-t'-KHA et ha-nay-ROT el MUL p'-NAY ha-m'-no-RAH ya-EE-ru shiv-AT ha-nay-ROT

בדַּבֵּר֙ אֶֽל־אַהֲרֹ֔ן וְאָמַרְתָּ֖ אֵלָ֑יו בְּהַעֲלֹֽתְךָ֙ אֶת־הַנֵּרֹ֔ת אֶל־מוּל֙ פְּנֵ֣י הַמְּנוֹרָ֔ה יָאִ֖ירוּ שִׁבְעַ֥ת הַנֵּרֽוֹת׃

 8:2 When you mount the lamps

PM Netanyahu lighting a Chanukah lamp at the Western Wall

Aharon is charged with the daily task of lighting the lamps of the menorah in the Mishkan. The Ramban adds that many centuries later, a small group of priests who descended from the family of Aharon boldly led a revolt against the mighty Syrian-Greek army. After miraculously defeating the enemy, the Maccabees reclaimed the Beit Hamikdash and sought pure olive oil to kindle the menorah which had been extinguished. Due to the scarcity of pure oil to be found in the Beit Hamikdash, Hashem performed a second miracle, causing one day’s supply of oil to burn for a full eight days, until new oil was produced. In perpetual commemoration of these miracles, the Jewish people light their own menorah lamps for eight nights every year, when they celebrate Chanukah.

3Aharon did so; he mounted the lamps at the front of the menorah, as Hashem had commanded Moshe.—

vai-YA-as KEN a-ha-RON el-MUL pe-NAY ha-me-no-RAH he-e-LAH ne-RO-te-HA ka-a-SHER tzi-VA a-do-NAI et-MO-she

גוַיַּ֤עַשׂ כֵּן֙ אַהֲרֹ֔ן אֶל־מוּל֙ פְּנֵ֣י הַמְּנוֹרָ֔ה הֶעֱלָ֖ה נֵרֹתֶ֑יהָ כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֛ר צִוָּ֥ה יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶת־מֹשֶֽׁה׃

4Now this is how the menorah was made: it was hammered work of gold, hammered from base to petal. According to the pattern that Hashem had shown Moshe, so was the menorah made.

v'-ZEH ma-a-SEH ha-m'-no-RAH mik-SHAH za-HAV ad ye-RE-khah ad pi-R'-HAH mik-SHAH hee ka-ma-REH a-SHER her-AH a-do-NAI et mo-SHEH KEN a-SAH et ha-m'-no-RAH.

דוְזֶ֨ה מַעֲשֵׂ֤ה הַמְּנֹרָה֙ מִקְשָׁ֣ה זָהָ֔ב עַד־יְרֵכָ֥הּ עַד־פִּרְחָ֖הּ מִקְשָׁ֣ה הִ֑וא כַּמַּרְאֶ֗ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר הֶרְאָ֤ה יְהֹוָה֙ אֶת־מֹשֶׁ֔ה כֵּ֥ן עָשָׂ֖ה אֶת־הַמְּנֹרָֽה׃

5Hashem spoke to Moshe, saying:

va-y'-da-BAYR a-do-NAI el mo-SHEH lay-MOR

הוַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר׃

6Take the Leviim from among the Israelites and cleanse them.

KAkh et ha-LE-vee-YIM mi-TOkh b'-NAY yis-ra-AYL v'-ti-har-TA otam

וקַ֚ח אֶת־הַלְוִיִּ֔ם מִתּ֖וֹךְ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְטִהַרְתָּ֖ אֹתָֽם׃

7This is what you shall do to them to cleanse them: sprinkle on them water of purification, and let them go over their whole body with a razor, and wash their clothes; thus they shall be cleansed.

v'-ko-ta-SEH la-HEM l'-ta-ha-RAM ha-ZEH a-LE-hem may kha-ta-AT, v'-he-e-VEE-ru ta-AR al kol b'-sa-RAM, v'-ki-b'-SU vig-DAY-hem v'-hi-te-HA-ru

זוְכֹֽה־תַעֲשֶׂ֤ה לָהֶם֙ לְטַֽהֲרָ֔ם הַזֵּ֥ה עֲלֵיהֶ֖ם מֵ֣י חַטָּ֑את וְהֶעֱבִ֤ירוּ תַ֙עַר֙ עַל־כׇּל־בְּשָׂרָ֔ם וְכִבְּס֥וּ בִגְדֵיהֶ֖ם וְהִטֶּהָֽרוּ׃

8Let them take a bull of the herd, and with it a meal offering of choice flour with oil mixed in, and you take a second bull of the herd for a sin offering.

v'-la-K'-khu par ben-ba-KAR u-m'-kha-TO so-LET b'-lu-LAH ba-SHA-men u-par-she-NI ben-ba-KAR ti-KAkh l'-kha-TA-at

חוְלָֽקְחוּ֙ פַּ֣ר בֶּן־בָּקָ֔ר וּמִ֨נְחָת֔וֹ סֹ֖לֶת בְּלוּלָ֣ה בַשָּׁ֑מֶן וּפַר־שֵׁנִ֥י בֶן־בָּקָ֖ר תִּקַּ֥ח לְחַטָּֽאת׃

9You shall bring the Leviim forward before the Tent of Meeting. Assemble the whole Israelite community,

v'-hi-k'-RAV-ta et ha-l'-vi-YIM lif-NEI o-HAYL mo-ED v'-hi-k'-HAL-ta et kol a-da-at b'-NAY yis-ra-AYL

טוְהִקְרַבְתָּ֙ אֶת־הַלְוִיִּ֔ם לִפְנֵ֖י אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֑ד וְהִ֨קְהַלְתָּ֔ אֶֽת־כׇּל־עֲדַ֖ת בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

10and bring the Leviim forward before Hashem. Let the Israelites lay their hands upon the Leviim,

v'-hi-k'-RAV-ta et ha-l'-vi-YIM lif-NEY a-do-NAI v'-sa-m'-KHU v'-nay yis-ra-AYL et y'-de-HAYM al ha-l'-vi-YIM

יוְהִקְרַבְתָּ֥ אֶת־הַלְוִיִּ֖ם לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה וְסָמְכ֧וּ בְנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל אֶת־יְדֵיהֶ֖ם עַל־הַלְוִיִּֽם׃

11and let Aharon designate the Leviim before Hashem as an elevation offering from the Israelites, that they may perform the service of Hashem.

v'-he-NIF a-ha-RON et ha-l'-vi-YIM te-NU-fa li-F'-nay a-do-NAI me-ET b'-NAY yis-ra-AYL v'-ha-YU la-a-VOD et-a-vo-DAT a-do-NAI

יאוְהֵנִיף֩ אַהֲרֹ֨ן אֶת־הַלְוִיִּ֤ם תְּנוּפָה֙ לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֔ה מֵאֵ֖ת בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְהָי֕וּ לַעֲבֹ֖ד אֶת־עֲבֹדַ֥ת יְהֹוָֽה׃

12The Leviim shall now lay their hands upon the heads of the bulls; one shall be offered to Hashem as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering, to make expiation for the Leviim.

v'-hal-vi-YIM yis-M'-khu et-y'-DE-hem al rosh ha-pa-REEM va-a-SEH et-ha-E-khad kha-TAT v'-et-ha-E-khad o-LAH la-a-do-NAI l'-ka-PER al ha-l'-vi-YIM

יבוְהַלְוִיִּם֙ יִסְמְכ֣וּ אֶת־יְדֵיהֶ֔ם עַ֖ל רֹ֣אשׁ הַפָּרִ֑ים וַ֠עֲשֵׂ֠ה אֶת־הָאֶחָ֨ד חַטָּ֜את וְאֶת־הָאֶחָ֤ד עֹלָה֙ לַֽיהֹוָ֔ה לְכַפֵּ֖ר עַל־הַלְוִיִּֽם׃

13You shall place the Leviim in attendance upon Aharon and his sons, and designate them as an elevation offering to Hashem.

v'-ha-a-mad-TAH et ha-LE-vee-YIM lif-NEI a-ha-RON v'-lif-NEI ba-NAV v'-he-NAF-tah o-TAM te-NU-fa la-do-NAI

יגוְהַֽעֲמַדְתָּ֙ אֶת־הַלְוִיִּ֔ם לִפְנֵ֥י אַהֲרֹ֖ן וְלִפְנֵ֣י בָנָ֑יו וְהֵנַפְתָּ֥ אֹתָ֛ם תְּנוּפָ֖ה לַֽיהֹוָֽה׃

14Thus you shall set the Leviim apart from the Israelites, and the Leviim shall be Mine.

v'-hi-v'-DAL-ta et ha-l'-vi-YIM mi-TOCH b'-NAY yis-ra-AYL v'-ha-YU li ha-l'-vi-YIM

ידוְהִבְדַּלְתָּ֙ אֶת־הַלְוִיִּ֔ם מִתּ֖וֹךְ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְהָ֥יוּ לִ֖י הַלְוִיִּֽם׃

15Thereafter the Leviim shall be qualified for the service of the Tent of Meeting, once you have cleansed them and designated them as an elevation offering.

v'-a-kha-RAY-khen ya-VO-u hal-vi-YIM la-a-VOD et-O-hel mo-ED, v'-ti-har-TA o-TAM, v'-he-NAF-ta o-TAM te-NU-fa

טווְאַֽחֲרֵי־כֵן֙ יָבֹ֣אוּ הַלְוִיִּ֔ם לַעֲבֹ֖ד אֶת־אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֑ד וְטִֽהַרְתָּ֣ אֹתָ֔ם וְהֵנַפְתָּ֥ אֹתָ֖ם תְּנוּפָֽה׃

16For they are formally assigned to Me from among the Israelites: I have taken them for Myself in place of all the first issue of the womb, of all the first-born of the Israelites.

KI n'-tu-NIM n'-tu-NIM heM-AH li mi-tOKH b'-NAY yis-ra-AYL ta-KHAT pit-RAT kol-re-KHEM b'-KHO-khor kol mi-b'-NAY yis-ra-AYL la-ka-KH'-ti o-TAM li

טזכִּי֩ נְתֻנִ֨ים נְתֻנִ֥ים הֵ֙מָּה֙ לִ֔י מִתּ֖וֹךְ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל תַּ֩חַת֩ פִּטְרַ֨ת כׇּל־רֶ֜חֶם בְּכ֥וֹר כֹּל֙ מִבְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לָקַ֥חְתִּי אֹתָ֖ם לִֽי׃

17For every first-born among the Israelites, man as well as beast, is Mine; I consecrated them to Myself at the time that I smote every first-born in the land of Egypt.

ki li kol b'-khor b'-nay yis-ra-AYL ba-a-DAM u-va-b'-HE-ma b'-YOM ha-ko-TEE kol b'-khor b'-E-retz mitz-RA-yim hi-k'-DA-sh'-tee o-TAM li

יזכִּ֣י לִ֤י כׇל־בְּכוֹר֙ בִּבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל בָּאָדָ֖ם וּבַבְּהֵמָ֑ה בְּי֗וֹם הַכֹּתִ֤י כׇל־בְּכוֹר֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם הִקְדַּ֥שְׁתִּי אֹתָ֖ם לִֽי׃

18Now I take the Leviim instead of every first-born of the Israelites;

va-e-KAKH et ha-le-vi-YIM, TA-khat kol b'-KHOHR bi-ve-NAY yis-ra-AYL

יחוָאֶקַּ֖ח אֶת־הַלְוִיִּ֑ם תַּ֥חַת כׇּל־בְּכ֖וֹר בִּבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

19and from among the Israelites I formally assign the Leviim to Aharon and his sons, to perform the service for the Israelites in the Tent of Meeting and to make expiation for the Israelites, so that no plague may afflict the Israelites for coming too near the sanctuary.

va-e-t'-NAH et ha-l'-vi-YIM ne-tu-NEEM l'-a-ha-RON u-l'-va-NAV mi-tokh b'-NAY yis-ra-AYL la-a-VOD et-a-vo-DAT b'-NAY yis-ra-AYL b'-o-HAYL mo-ED u-l'-ka-PER al b'-NAY yis-ra-AYL v'-LO yi-HE-yeh bi-v'-NAY yis-ra-AYL NE-gef b'-GE-shet b'-NAY yis-ra-AYL el ha-ko-DESH

יטוָאֶתְּנָ֨ה אֶת־הַלְוִיִּ֜ם נְתֻנִ֣ים ׀ לְאַהֲרֹ֣ן וּלְבָנָ֗יו מִתּוֹךְ֮ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ לַעֲבֹ֞ד אֶת־עֲבֹדַ֤ת בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ בְּאֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֔ד וּלְכַפֵּ֖ר עַל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְלֹ֨א יִהְיֶ֜ה בִּבְנֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ נֶ֔גֶף בְּגֶ֥שֶׁת בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אֶל־הַקֹּֽדֶשׁ׃

20Moshe, Aharon, and the whole Israelite community did with the Leviim accordingly; just as Hashem had commanded Moshe in regard to the Leviim, so the Israelites did with them.

vai-YA-as mo-SHEH v'-a-ha-RON v'-kol a-DAT b'-nay yis-ra-AYL la-l'-vee-YIM, k'-KOL a-SHER tzi-VA a-do-NAI et mo-SHEH la-l'-vee-YIM, khen-a-SU la-HEM b'-nay yis-ra-AYL.

כוַיַּ֨עַשׂ מֹשֶׁ֧ה וְאַהֲרֹ֛ן וְכׇל־עֲדַ֥ת בְּנֵי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל לַלְוִיִּ֑ם כְּ֠כֹ֠ל אֲשֶׁר־צִוָּ֨ה יְהֹוָ֤ה אֶת־מֹשֶׁה֙ לַלְוִיִּ֔ם כֵּן־עָשׂ֥וּ לָהֶ֖ם בְּנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃

21The Leviim purified themselves and washed their clothes; and Aharon designated them as an elevation offering before Hashem, and Aharon made expiation for them to cleanse them.

vai-yit-cha-t'-U hal-vi-YIM va-y'-kha-B'-su bi-ge-DAY-hem va-ya-NEF a-ha-RON o-TAM t'-NU-fa li-f'-NAY a-do-NAI va-y'-ka-PAYR a-lay-HEM a-ha-RON l'-ta-ha-RAM

כאוַיִּֽתְחַטְּא֣וּ הַלְוִיִּ֗ם וַֽיְכַבְּסוּ֙ בִּגְדֵיהֶ֔ם וַיָּ֨נֶף אַהֲרֹ֥ן אֹתָ֛ם תְּנוּפָ֖ה לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה וַיְכַפֵּ֧ר עֲלֵיהֶ֛ם אַהֲרֹ֖ן לְטַהֲרָֽם׃

22Thereafter the Leviim were qualified to perform their service in the Tent of Meeting, under Aharon and his sons. As Hashem had commanded Moshe in regard to the Leviim, so they did to them.

v'-a-kha-RAY-khen ba-U hal-vi-YIM la-a-VOD et-a-vo-DA-tam b'-o-HAYL mo-ED lif-NEI a-ha-RON v'-lif-NEI ba-NAV ka-a-SHER tzi-VA a-do-NAI et-mo-SHEH al hal-vi-YIM KEN a-SU la-HEM. (s)

כבוְאַחֲרֵי־כֵ֞ן בָּ֣אוּ הַלְוִיִּ֗ם לַעֲבֹ֤ד אֶת־עֲבֹֽדָתָם֙ בְּאֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֔ד לִפְנֵ֥י אַהֲרֹ֖ן וְלִפְנֵ֣י בָנָ֑יו כַּאֲשֶׁר֩ צִוָּ֨ה יְהֹוָ֤ה אֶת־מֹשֶׁה֙ עַל־הַלְוִיִּ֔ם כֵּ֖ן עָשׂ֥וּ לָהֶֽם׃

23Hashem spoke to Moshe, saying:

va-y'-da-BAYR a-do-NAI el mo-SHEH lay-MOR

כגוַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יְהֹוָ֖ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר׃

24This is the rule for the Leviim. From twenty-five years of age up they shall participate in the work force in the service of the Tent of Meeting;

zo-at a-SHER l'-vi-YIM mi-BEN cha-MESH v'-es-REEM sha-NAH va-ma-LAH ya-VO litz-VO tza-VA ba-a-vo-DAT ohel mo-ED

כדזֹ֖את אֲשֶׁ֣ר לַלְוִיִּ֑ם מִבֶּן֩ חָמֵ֨שׁ וְעֶשְׂרִ֤ים שָׁנָה֙ וָמַ֔עְלָה יָבוֹא֙ לִצְבֹ֣א צָבָ֔א בַּעֲבֹדַ֖ת אֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵֽד׃

25but at the age of fifty they shall retire from the work force and shall serve no more.

u-mi-ben cha-MEEM sha-NAH ya-SHUv mi-tze-VA ha-a-vo-DAH v'-lo ya-a-VOD OD

כהוּמִבֶּן֙ חֲמִשִּׁ֣ים שָׁנָ֔ה יָשׁ֖וּב מִצְּבָ֣א הָעֲבֹדָ֑ה וְלֹ֥א יַעֲבֹ֖ד עֽוֹד׃

26They may assist their brother Leviim at the Tent of Meeting by standing guard, but they shall perform no labor. Thus you shall deal with the Leviim in regard to their duties.

v'-she-RAYT et-e-KHA-yav b'-o-HEL mo-ED lish-MOR mish-ME-ret va-a-vo-DAH lo ya-a-VOHD ka-KA ta-a-SEH lal-vi-YIM b'-mish-m'-ro-TAM. (P)

כווְשֵׁרֵ֨ת אֶת־אֶחָ֜יו בְּאֹ֤הֶל מוֹעֵד֙ לִשְׁמֹ֣ר מִשְׁמֶ֔רֶת וַעֲבֹדָ֖ה לֹ֣א יַעֲבֹ֑ד כָּ֛כָה תַּעֲשֶׂ֥ה לַלְוִיִּ֖ם בְּמִשְׁמְרֹתָֽם׃