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
Yitro (Exodus 18-20 ) Shemot, 18:27: “And Moshe sent his father-in-law [Yisro] and he went to his land.”Rashi, Shemot, 18:27, Dh: And he went: “To convert his family.” In the Torah Portion named after him, Yitro, Moshe’s father-in-law, visits the Jewish people in the desert and, convinced by the miracles of the Exodus, joins the… Read More »PARSHAT YITRO – TEACHING TORAH EVERYWHERE
Beshalach (Exodus 13:17-17:16 ) Shemos, 13:18: “The children of Israel were ‘chamushim’ when they went up from Egypt.”Rashi, 13:18, Dh: Chamushim: Chamushim means that one in five left and four parts [out of five] died in the three days of darkness:Targum Yonasan, ibid: “…Each one of the Children of Israel came with five children when they left… Read More »PARSHAT BESHALACH – THE GOOD DEED OF THE JEWS LEAVING MITZRAYIM
Bo (Exodus 10:1-13:16 ) One of the most distinctive aspects of the Ten Plagues was the persistent refusal of Pharaoh to recognize the error of his ways and accept that the G-d of the Jews was indeed all-powerful. Miracle after miracle failed to persuade him of the veracity of Moses’ claims of… Read More »PARSHAT BO – THINKING
Va’eira (Exodus 6:2-9:35 ) Moshe Rabbeinu and Pharaoh This week’s Torah portion describes in great detail the first seven of the ten plagues that brought Egypt to its knees. A major feature of the plagues is the behavior of Pharaoh in reaction to the destruction of his nation. When Moses and Aaron… Read More »PARSHAT VA’ERIA- MOSHE RABBEINU AND PHARAOH
