Nissan is here, Pesach is upon us, and in one week’s time we will sit down on layl Ha’Seder and celebrate the yomtov of Pesach, zman cheiroseinu - the time of our freedom. Mah nishtanah - though this year, admittedly, is very different than every other...
This coming Shabbos we open Sefer Vayikra, the third of the Five Books of Torah. Vayikra is also known by its appellation, Toras Kohanim - the Law Book for Priests, because of the myriad laws related to priestly rituals. While on the surface, Sefer Vayikra seems...
Dear Friends, As we are are all mostly inside, and looking to fill our days and time...
This coming week’s parshios are Vayakhel-Pekudei, as we close the book of Shemos once again, with the completion of the Mishkan and the resting of the Shechina within. Sefer Ha’Geula, the Book of Redemption (the appellation for Sefer Shemos) that began with the Egyptian enslavement...
This week’s parsha, Parshas Ki Sisa, opens with the following words: And Hashem spoke to Moshe saying: כִּי תִשָּׂא אֶת-רֹאשׁ בְּנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל, לִפְקֻדֵיהֶם, וְנָתְנוּ אִישׁ כֹּפֶר נַפְשׁוֹ לַה’, בִּפְקֹד אֹתָם - When you take a census of the Children of Israel according to their counts, every...
This coming Shabbos, the Shabbos before Purim, we will read from two Sifrei Torah. From the first, we will read the weekly Parsha, Parshas Tetzaveh, which continues the instruction regarding the building of the Mishkan and all that was required within it, for the service...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Terumah, Moshe and the Bnei Yisrael are commanded regarding the donations for, and construction of, the Mishkan (the Tabernacle), from wherein G-d’s Presence would dwell amongst the people. The Mishkan was a place of spirituality, which rested in the center of...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Mishpatim, the narrative of Matan Torah continues. In contrast to the Revelation at Sinai - the thunder, lightning, smoke, and shofar blast which accompanied the Aseres Ha’Dibros - as related to us in last week’s parsha, Mishpatim is a parsha...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Yisro, the Bnei Yisrael achieve spiritual freedom with the giving, and receiving, of the Torah at Har Sinai. The fulfillment of Hashem’s promise to Moshe at the sneh (burning bush), has come to fruition: בְּהוֹצִיאֲךָ אֶת-הָעָם, מִמִּצְרַיִם, תַּעַבְדוּן אֶת-האלקים, עַל...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Beshalach, the Bnei Yisrael find themselves trapped between the Sea of Reeds on one side and the Egyptians on the other side. וַיִּשְׂאוּ בְנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת-עֵינֵיהֶם וְהִנֵּה מִצְרַיִם נֹסֵעַ אַחֲרֵיהֶם, וַיִּירְאוּ מְאֹד - And the Children of Israel lifted their eyes,...