Behar (Leviticus 25:1-26:2 ) On two occasions in Behar the Torah instructs us not to afflict our fellow Jew. In the first instance, the Torah states: “When you sell an item to one of your people or buy from one of your people, a man should not afflict his brother.” (1) A… Read More »PARSHAT BEHAR: HURTFUL WORDS
Emor (Leviticus 21-24 ) The Parsha ends with the tragic story of the blasphemer – the man who cursed G-d when he was not accepted into any Tribe by the Jewish Court of Law (Beit Din), because his father was non-Jewish and the membership of a Tribe was dependent on the father’s… Read More »PARSHAT EMOR: THE PERILS OF JUDGEMENT
Kedoshim (Leviticus 19-20 ) In the latter part of the Parsha the Torah enumerates the various forbidden relationships and their punishments. Towards the end of this list the Torah states: “A man who takes his sister, the daughter of his father, or the daughter of his mother, and sees her nakedness, it is… Read More »PARSHAT KEDOSHIM: UNDERSTANDING THE TRUE MEANING OF ‘CHESED’
Acharei Mot (Leviticus 16-18 ) Before detailing the list of forbidden relationships the Torah instructs us: “Do not perform the practices of the land of Egypt in which you dwelled; and do not perform the practices of the land of Canaan to which I bring you…” (1) Rashi writes that Egypt and… Read More »PARSHAT ACHAREI MOT: NEGATIVE SURROUNDINGS
Metzora (Leviticus 14-15 ) Vayikra, 14:2: “This is the law of the metzorah on the day of his purification, and he shall be brought (v’huvah) to the Kohen.”Bamidbar, 6:13: “This is the law of the Nazir on the day his abstinence is completed, he shall bring himself (yavi oso) to the entrance of the Tent of Meeting. In… Read More »PARSHAT METZORAH: THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE NAZIR AND THE METZORAH
Tazria (Leviticus 12-13 ) On Passover we celebrate the Exodus from Egypt, yet even after leaving Egypt, the dangers of being affected by that corrupt nation remained very real. Accordingly, the Torah commands us: “Do not perform the practices of the land of Egypt in which you dwelled…1” Rashi writes that Egypt… Read More »PARSHAT TAZRIA – LEAVING THE IMPURITY OF EGYPT
Shmini (Leviticus 9-11 ) Vayikra, 9:2-3: “He said, ‘Aaron, Take for yourself a young bull for a sin offering and a ram for an elevation offering – unblemished; and offer them before Hashem. And to the Children of Israel speak as follows: Take a he-goat for a sin-offering, and a calf and a… Read More »PARSHAT SHMINI – THE SALE OF JOSEPH, THE GOLDEN CALF AND THE TABERNACLE
Tzav (Leviticus 6-8 ) Megillat Esther, 1:1: “And it was in the days of Achashverosh: he is Achashverosh who ruled from Hodu to Cush over a hundred and twenty-seven provinces.”Rashi, 1:1: sv. He is Achashverosh: He [remained] in his evil from the beginning until the end. In the first verse in the Scroll… Read More »PARSHAT TZAV – IGNORING THE MESSAGES: A PURIM LESSON
Vayikra (Leviticus 1-5 ) One of the recurring themes in the story of Purim is the conflicting ideologies of the Jewish people and Amalek. The Jewish people believe that Divine Providence guides history, nothing is mere ‘coincidence’. In stark contrast, Amalek believe that everything happens by mere chance (mikreh). Rabbi Yaakov Kamenetsky… Read More »PARSHAT VAYIKRA – THE BOOK OF ESTHER: PROVIDENCE VERSUS CHANCE
Pekudei (Exodus 38:21-40:38 ) The Sages instituted the two Festivals of Purim and Hanukkah, both commemorating seminal events that happened to the Jewish nation. Yet there are a number of differences between the two Festivals. Analyzing these differences can enable us to develop a deeper understanding of these Festivals. In this instance,… Read More »PARSHAT PEKUDEI – COUNTERING HAMAN’S PLAN
