בס”ד Shemini (Leviticus 9-11 ) Shemini gives the account of the tragic deaths of Aaron’s two eldest sons, Nadav and Avihu. At the climax of the inauguration of the Mishkan (Tabernacle), the two men entered the Holy of Holies and brought their own incense without having been commanded to do so. After they entered,… Read More »PARSHAT SHEMINI 5785 – THE BENEFIT OF RELATIONSHIPS
בס”ד Tzav (Leviticus 6-8 ) A well-known feature of the Haggadah is the prominence of the number four: the four questions, the four sons, the four languages of redemption, the four cups of wine. Fascinatingly, on deeper analysis, these sets of four all have hints of actually having a fifth member! The… Read More »PARSHAT TZAV 5785 – THE SYMBOLISM OF FIVE IN THE HAGGADAH
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
