“Offer one lamb in the morning and the second lamb in the afternoon” (Exodus 29:39). The Introduction to the Ein Yaakov compendium of Talmudic Aggadita (Midrash) cites a fascinating discussion about which verse best captures the essence of the entire Torah. Rabbi Akiva puts forward the famous verse in Leviticus… Read More »EXODUS 29:39 – OFFERING LAMBS
“Speak to all who are wise of heart whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, and have them make Aaron’s garments, so sanctify him to serve Me” (Exodus 28:3). It is interesting that throughout the scriptures, the heart is seen as the seat of wisdom. For example, “I… Read More »EXODUS 28:3 – THE SOURCE AND ALLOCATION OF WISDOM
“You shall command the children of Israel that they should take for you clear olive oil, crushed for illumination, to keep the lamp burning continually” (Exodus 27:20). According to the Oral Torah, only the best, first drop of oil that was pressed from each olive could be used for lighting… Read More »EXODUS 27:20 – TAKE CLEAR OLIVE OIL
“You shall command the children of Israel that they should take for you clear olive oil, crushed for illumination, to keep the lamp burning continually” (Exodus 27:20). The Midrash teaches: When someone wants to make a window, he makes it wide from within and narrow from without. Why? So that… Read More »EXODUS 27:20 – CRUSH THE OLIVE
“Hashem said to Moses: Come up to Me on the mountain and be there…” (Exodus 24:12). This verse seems redundant. Obviously, if Moses is going to go up onto the mountain, he will be there. Not so fast said R’ Menachem Mendel of Kotzk. Unfortunately, it’s entirely possible for a… Read More »EXODUS 24:12 BE REALLY THERE
אֵלֶּה הַמִּשְׁפָּטִים אֲשֶׁר תָּשִׂים לִפְנֵיהֶם “And these are the laws that you should set before them.” And these are the laws The connection between Parashat Mishpatim and the passage about the altar carries a profound lesson, as explained by Rashi. It teaches that the judges, represented by the Sanhedrin, must… Read More »EXODUS 21:1 – PRAYER AND JUSTICE: AND THESE ARE THE LAWS
“Don’t make for yourself any idol…” (Exodus 20:4) The Hebrew here is “Lo ta’aseh lecha pesel” which is ordinarily translated to teach we shouldn’t make an idol for ourselves. But it can also imply that we shouldn’t make ourselves into an idol! Idolatry is ultimately a placing one’s own will… Read More »EXODUS 20:4 – DON’T MAKE YOURSELVE INTO AN IDOL!
Rabbi Nachman teaches, You should be able to feel another person’s pain in your heart – all the more so when many people are suffering. It is possible to know another person’s pain and suffering yet still not feel them in your heart. When many people are suffering, you should… Read More »DEUTERONOMY 4:39 – FEEL THEIR PAIN IN YOUR HEART
“I am (anochi) Hashem your G-d who took you out of the land of Egypt…” (Exodus 20:2). Rabbi Mordechai Yosef Leiner of Ishbitz offers a profound observation about this text in his Chassidic masterpiece Mei HaShiloach. He points out that ordinarily, the Hebrew word for “I” is ANI. However, the… Read More »EXODUS 20:2 – ANOCHI
“Speak to the Children of Israel and let them turn back and encamp before Pi-hachiros” (Exodus 14:2). Take a deep breath and follow along as R’ Avraham Yehoshua of Apt shows us how this verse hints at a vital life lesson: “Let them turn back and encamp” in Hebrew is… Read More »EXODUS 14:2 – SIT AND PAUSE
