“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
“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!
“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
The ninth plague in Egypt was a terrifying thick darkness described as palpable (Exodus 10:21-22). How thick was this darkness? The Midrash asserts that it was as thick as a dinar (coin). We’re told that during the three days of darkness, no man could see his brother and no one… Read More »EXODUS 10:21 – HOW THICK WAS THE DARKNESS?
“Then G-d said to Moses: GO to Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart…” (Exodus 10:1). This is almost universally the way this verse is translated. However, the actual Hebrew is “Bo el Par’oh” which literally means ‘COME to Pharaoh and not ‘go’ to Pharaoh. The translators probably felt that… Read More »EXODUS 10:1 – COME WITH ME
