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
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: And… Read More »PARSHAT VAYAKHEL – BEING RIGHTOUS AT THE EXPENSE OF OTHERS
Ki Tisa (Exodus 30:11-34:35 ) Shemot, 30:23: “And you, take for yourself high spices, pure myrrh [mor dror]…”Targum Onkelot, Shemos, 30:23: “…mara dachya…”Talmud, Chullin, 139b: “Where is Mordechai [alluded to] in the Torah? As it says, ‘mor dror’ and it is translated [by the Targum] as mara dachya…” The Talmud asks where the name of Mordechai is alluded to… Read More »PARSHAT KI TISA – MORDECHAI: PURE FROM THE IMPURE
Tetzaveh (Exodus 27:20-30:10 ) “You shall make the Robe of the Ephod entirely of turquoise wool…. You shall make on its hem pomegranates of turquoise, purple, and scarlet wool, on its hem all around, and gold bells between them, all around; a gold bell and a pomegranate, a gold bell and a pomegranate on… Read More »PARSHAT TETZAVEH – THE ROBE AND THE INCENSE
Trumah (Exodus 25:1-27:19 ) This week’s Torah portion outlines the building of the Tabernacle (Mishkan), a holy Sanctuary where G-d’s presence dwelled. Rashi describes the Tabernacle as a “House of Holiness1.” It is well-known that the Tabernacle and later, the Temple, was the place where people came to offer Sacrifices, yet it… Read More »PARSHAT TRUMAH – PRAYING IN HOLY PLACES
Mishpatim (Exodus 21-24 ) It is well known that honesty is one of the most important character traits and that its antithesis, falsehood, is one of the most undesirable. The Sefer Hachinuch speaks very strongly about how disdainful it is to lie: “Falsehood is abominable and disgraceful in everyone’s eyes, there is nothing more… Read More »PARSHAT MISHPATIM – TRUTH AND FALSEHOOD
