Each Shabbat we read a portion of the Torah in order. When a Jewish festival falls on Shabbat we read the portion for that festival rather than reading the weekly portion.

This year Shavuot started on a Friday. In Israel and in Reform and Liberal communities in the diaspora only one day of the festival was observed so on Shabbat the regular weekly cycle continued. However, traditional communities celebrated Shavuot for two days which means that the weekly portion wasn't read for another week. So for a few weeks this summer Israel and the diaspora and various UK communities are out of synch with one-another.

But on the Shabbat of the 12th of Tammuz (July 4th), those in Israel and in Progressive communities in the diaspora will read the Torah portion of Balak, while traditional communities in the diaspora read two portions — Chukat and Balak — joined together.

So here are some sources for Divrei Torah for both Parshat Shelach lecha and Parshat Korach

From the website of the Assembly of Masorti Synagogues, reflections on Shelach Lecha.

My Jewish Learning offers commentary on both Shelach lecha and Korach.

Leo Baeck College's weekly D'var Torah features Dr. Annette M. Boeckler on Korach.

And click here for this week's G-dcast .