Translation by Yehoshua Siskin
Mazal tov. This Shabbat we return to reading the same Torah portion throughout the world. Jewish pulses, wherever they may be, beat in unison once again.
A short explanation: Because of the Diaspora's second day of Yom Tov, a one-week gap is created between the Torah portions read inside and outside of Israel. In Israel, we read one parasha ahead (and can lead to spoilers for those in the Diaspora).
This gap is a reminder that even in a shrinking, globalized world, there is still significance and specialness to the Holy Land. There is the world as a whole, and then there is the Land of Israel.
This Shabbat in the Diaspora, the double portion of Chukat-Balak will be read while in Israel Balak alone will be read. And next week, all of us will read parashat Pinchas. Reading the same Torah portion each week throughout the world is the way it is usually, it demonstrates that the "home page" of the Jewish people, wherever they may be, is the same from Alaska to Yemen to Japan.
Shabbat shalom.
