בס”ד Emor (Leviticus 21-24 ) The Torah Portion ends with the terrible story of ‘the blasphemer’ – the son of an Egyptian man and Jewish woman, who blasphemed G-d’s name. It is apparent to the commentaries that this man was of a low spiritual standing. Nonetheless, they strive to explain how a person who experienced the Giving… Read More »PARSHAT EMOR 5785 THE FOOLISHNESS OF ANGER

בס”ד Metzora (Leviticus 14-15 ) Vayikra, 14:2-4: This shall be the law of the metsora on the day of his purification: He shall be brought to the Kohen. The Kohen shall go to the outside of the camp; the Kohen shall look and behold, the tzoraas affliction had been healed from the metsora. The Kohen shall command; and for the person bring… Read More »PARSHAT METZORA 5785 – INSIGHTS IN RASHI – THE TWO BIRDS

בס”ד Shemini (Leviticus 9-11 ) Shemini gives the account of the tragic deaths of Aaron’s two eldest sons, Nadav and Avihu. At the climax of the inauguration of the Mishkan (Tabernacle), the two men entered the Holy of Holies and brought their own incense without having been commanded to do so. After they entered, a fire came forth and… Read More »PARSHAT SHEMINI 5785 – THE BENEFIT OF RELATIONSHIPS

בס”ד Tzav (Leviticus 6-8 ) A well-known feature of the Haggadah is the prominence of the number four: the four questions, the four sons, the four languages of redemption, the four cups of wine. Fascinatingly, on deeper analysis, these sets of four all have hints of actually having a fifth member! The most glaring example is the… Read More »PARSHAT TZAV 5785 – THE SYMBOLISM OF FIVE IN THE HAGGADAH

בס”ד Vayikra (Leviticus 1-5 ) Vayikra, 5:21: “If a soul will sin and commit a treachery against G-d by lying to his comrade regarding a pledge or a loan or a robbery; or by defrauding his comrade…”Rashi, 5:21, Dh: Nefesh: “Rebbe Akiva says, ‘what do [the words] ‘commit a treachery against Hashem’ come to teach? Because for every lender… Read More »PARSHAT VAYIKRA 5785 – BEING TRUSTWORTHY

בס”ד Pekudei (Exodus 38:21-40:38 ) After the building of the Mishkan (Tabernacle) was completed, the workmen could not erect it because of its massive weight. Since Moses had not had a share in the actual creation of the Mishkan, G-d wanted him to have the honor of erecting it. Accordingly, G-d told him to make the attempt… Read More »PARSHAT PEKUDEI 5785 – SPIRUAL EFFORT