בס”ד Rebbi (Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi) said, “which is the path that a person should select for himself? Anything that is tiferet for the one who does it, and tiferet for him from others” (Avot 2:1) All of the days that the blemish is upon him he shall be in a… Read More »Parshat Tazria-Metzora: Walking the Middle Path
בס”ד This week’s parsha begins, “and it was, on the eighth day…” (Leviticus 9:1). It was the first day of the operation of the Mishkan (Tabernacle), on the first day of Nissan, after a period of seven days during which the kohanim (priests) were trained in the Divine Service (Rashi,… Read More »Parshat Shemini – When Seven Becomes Eight
בס”ד Leviticus 6:1-2 1 And the L-RD spoke unto Moses, saying: 2 Command Aaron and his sons, saying: This is the torah of the burnt-offering: it is that which goes up on its firewood upon the altar all night unto the morning; and the fire of the altar shall be… Read More »Parshat Tzav – Holy Fire
בס”ד Exodus 30:11-34:35 15 And Moses turned, and went down from the mount, with the two tables of the testimony in his hand; tables that were written on both their sides; on the one side and on the other were they written. 16 And the tables were the work of… Read More »Parshat Ki Tisa – Moses Greatest Achievement
בס”ד Exodus 27:20-30:10 And you shall make a plate of pure gold, and engrave upon it, like the engravings of a signet: SANCTIFIED TO THE L-RD (Exodus 28:36) Of all of the priestly garments, the tzitz, or headplate, is unique, not only by virtue of its material and engraving, but… Read More »Parshat Tetsaveh – Imperfection and Pure Gold
בס”ד Exodus 25:1-27:19 And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them. (Exodus 25:8) While the English translation renders the last two words of the verse as “among them”, (which actually follows the translation of Onkelos, loc. cit.), the actual Hebrew word is בטוחם, betocham, “within… Read More »Parshat Terumah – May He Dwell within Us
בס”ד Exodus 21:1-24:18 Witchcraft and Sorcery Defined “You shall not allow a sorceress to live” (Exodus 22:17). In the Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 511) this commandment is defined as a prohibition against the practice of witchcraft or sorcery. In order to understand this commandment, we have to know how the Torah… Read More »Parshat Mishpatim – Divination and Spells Versus Divine Service
בס”ד Exodus 18:1-20:23 וַיִּשְׁמַ֞ע יִתְר֨וֹ כֹהֵ֤ן מִדְיָן֙ חֹתֵ֣ן מֹשֶׁ֔ה אֵת֩ כׇּל־אֲשֶׁ֨ר עָשָׂ֤ה אֱלֹהִים֙ לְמֹשֶׁ֔ה וּלְיִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל עַמּ֑וֹ כִּֽי־הוֹצִ֧יא יְהֹוָ֛ה אֶת־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מִמִּצְרָֽיִם׃ Now Jethro, the priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard of all that God had done for Moses, and for Israel His people, how that the L-RD had brought Israel out… Read More »Parshat Yitro – Hearing the Still, Small Voice
בס”ד Exodus 13:17-17:16 And the name of the place was called Massah, and Meribah, because of the striving of the children of Israel, and because they tried the L-rd, saying: ‘Is the L-rd among us, or not?’ Then came Amalek, and fought with Israel in Rephidim. (Exodus 17:7-8) In this… Read More »Parshat Beshalach – Knowing and Believing
בס”ד Exodus 10:1-13:16 Distinction between Darkness and Darkness? And the LORD said unto Moses: ‘Stretch out thy hand toward heaven, that there may be darkness over the land of Egypt, even darkness which may be felt (Exodus 10:21) In this verse, there is a clear distinction between darkness and darkness… Read More »Parshat Bo – The Coin of Darkness
