“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
“…I will bring you out from under the burdens (sivlote) of Egypt…” (Exodus 6:6). The Gerrer Rebbe points out that the word “sivlote” doesn’t only mean burdens – it can also imply tolerance. The Hebrew word “savlanute” means patience. He takes the verse to mean that Hashem will deliver us… Read More »EXODUS 6:6 DO NOT BE TOLERANT
“He said: Do not come any closer. Take your shoes (na’alecha) off your feet (raglecha), because the place where you are standing is holy ground” The word for ‘your shoes’ in Hebrew can also mean ‘your lock’, and the Hebrew word for ‘your feet’ can also mean ‘your habits’. How… Read More »EXODUS 3:5 – LIVE CONSCIOUSLY AND MINDFULLY
“After these events, someone said to Yosef: Behold your father is ill…(Genesis 48:1). According to the Talmud (Baba Metzia 87a) until Jacob, there was no illness. Then Jacob prayed that people get ill before passing away and illness came into being. Prior to Jacob’s prayer, people had no prior intimation… Read More »GENESIS 48:1 – JACOB WAS ILL?
“Israel extended his right hand and placed it on Ephraim’s head, though he was younger, and his left hand on Menashe’s head. He maneuvered his hands because Menashe was the firstborn” (Genesis 48:14). When Yosef brought his two sons to be blessed by Jacob, he placed his older son facing… Read More »GENESIS 48:14 – HOW TO ACT PURPOSEFULLY
