בס”ד Vayikra (Leviticus 1-5 ) Vayikra, 5:21: “If a soul will sin and commit a treachery against G-d by lying to his comrade regarding a pledge or a loan or a robbery; or by defrauding his comrade…”Rashi, 5:21, Dh: Nefesh: “Rebbe Akiva says, ‘what do [the words] ‘commit a treachery against Hashem’ come to… Read More »PARSHAT VAYIKRA 5785 – BEING TRUSTWORTHY
בס”ד Pekudei (Exodus 38:21-40:38 ) After the building of the Mishkan (Tabernacle) was completed, the workmen could not erect it because of its massive weight. Since Moses had not had a share in the actual creation of the Mishkan, G-d wanted him to have the honor of erecting it. Accordingly, G-d told… Read More »PARSHAT PEKUDEI 5785 – SPIRUAL EFFORT
בס”ד Vayakhel (Exodus 35:1-38:20 ) Shemot, 37:1: “And Betzalel made the Ark of shittim wood, two and a half amot in length, one and a half amos in width, and one and a half amot in height. And they coated it with pure gold on the inside and the outside…”Daat Zekeinim, Shemos, 25:11: Dh:… Read More »PARSHAT VAYAKHEL 5785 – BEING RIGHTEOUS AT THE EXPENCE OF OTHERS
בס”ד Ki Tisa (Exodus 30:11-34:35 ) In this week’s Torah portion, we find a striking exchange between Moshe and Yehoshua when Moshe returns from his forty days on mountain to the Jewish people. As he descends from the mountain, Yehoshua, who had waited below, hears the sounds emanating from the camp and… Read More »PARSHAT KI TISA 5785 – LOOK DEEPER
בס”ד Tetzaveh (Exodus 27:20-30:10 ) Every year, on the Shabbat before Purim, we read Parshat Zachor, the Portion of Remembrance, reminding us of the obligation to wipe out the evil nation of Amalek. The Torah tells us that the reason for this is that the Amalekites attacked us whilst they were in the… Read More »PARSHAT TETZAVEH 5785 – THE ROOTS OF AMALEK
בס”ד Terumah (Exodus 25:1-27:19 ) The Torah portion begins with G-d instructing Moses to tell the people to bring the raw materials necessary in order to build the Mishkan (Tabernacle). “This is the portion that you shall take from them: gold, silver, and copper; and turquoise, purple and scarlet wool; linen and… Read More »PARSHAT TERUMAH 5785 – OVERCOMING LAZINESS
בס”ד Mishpatim (Exodus 21-24 ) One of the most well-known mitzvot in this week’s Torah portion is “M’dvar Sheker Tirchak” – the command to distance oneself from falsehood. Although this mitzvah comes in the context of laws of the Jewish court, it also applies to daily life. However, according to Jewish law… Read More »PARSHAT MISPATIM 5785 – RUTH AND FALSEHOOD
בס”ד Yitro (Exodus 18-20 ) This week’s Torah portion features the momentous event of G-d giving the Torah to the Jewish people at Mount Sinai. However, the sages teach that before giving the Torah to the Jewish people, G-d offered the Torah to the other nations of the world: The Sifri1 relates: “When… Read More »PARSHAT YITRO 5785 – WHEN G-D OFFERED THE NON-JEWS THE TORAH
בס”ד Beshalach (Exodus 13:17-17:16 ) Psalms, 114, 1-3: “In Yisrael’s leaving of Egypt, the house of Yaakov from a people of foreign tongue; Yehuda sanctified Him, Yisrael His ruler. The sea saw and escaped…”Rashi, Psalms, 114:2, Dh: Hayta Yehuda: “…This verse is homiletically explained in Agadda, ‘Yehuda sanctified Him’, in that Nachshon jumped into… Read More »PARSHAT BESHALACH 5785 – WHY THE SEA SPLIT
בס”ד Bo (Exodus 10:1-13:16 ) “And Moshe said, ‘so said G-d at about midnight I shall go out in the midst of Egypt. Every firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die… (Shemot, 11:4) Moshe warns Pharaoh about the oncoming Plague of the firstborn, telling him it will take place at approximately midnight. The Gemara[1]… Read More »PARSHAT BO 5785 – AROUND MIDNIGHT; AVOIDING DESECRATING G-DS NAME
