In this first of this week’s double parshios, Parshas Behar, the Torah commands us regarding Shemittah - the seventh Sabbatical year - and Yovel - the fiftieth Jubilee year. These mitzvos fall under the special category of mitzvos ha’te’luyos ba’Aretz - mitzvos that are in...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Emor, we learn of the mo’adim (appointed festival times) by which the Jewish calendar is marked. And Hashem spoke to Moshe saying: דַּבֵּר אֶל-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵהֶם, מוֹעֲדֵי ה’, אֲשֶׁר-תִּקְרְאוּ אֹתָם מִקְרָאֵי קֹדֶשׁ--אֵלֶּה הֵם, מוֹעֲדָי, speak to the Children of...
In the second of this week’s double parshios, Parshas Kedoshim, we learn of a multitude of mitzvos that govern interpersonal relationships, including, but not limited to: thou shall not steal; thou shall not lie against your fellow; thou shall pay a workers wages on the...
It has been a year of the Covid pandemic. Both in the USA and in Israel, it has been a year of many losses. A year of political unrest. A year of elections, fear, uncertainty, upheaval and pain. A year of courage, triumph, and ingenuity. ...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Shemini, we are commanded regarding ma’achalos mutaros and ma’achalos asuros - permitted and forbidden foodstuffs. And Hashem spoke to Moshe and to Aharon, to say to them: דַּבְּרוּ אֶל-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, לֵאמֹר: זֹאת הַחַיָּה אֲשֶׁר תֹּאכְלוּ, מִכָּל-הַבְּהֵמָה אֲשֶׁר עַל-הָאָרֶץ, speak to...
Chag Ha’Pesach 5781 is upon us. After a difficult year for our world, our nation, our communities and our Land, as we battled the various difficulties - and terrible losses, Hashem yerachem - that came along with the COVID pandemic, we are poised to once...
With the completion of the Mishkan at the end of Sefer Shemos, where G-d’s Presence rested, symbolized by a Cloud by day and Fire by night (Shemos 40:38), in this week’s parsha, Parshas Vayikra, we move into the mitzvos regarding korbanos with full force. Now...
In the second of this week’s parshios, Parshas Pekudei, after many months of a labor of love, the Mishkan is finally erected. The promise of וְעָשׂוּ לִי, מִקְדָּשׁ; וְשָׁכַנְתִּי בְּתוֹכָם, and You shall make for Me a Sanctuary, so that I will dwell amongst them...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Ki Sisa, G-d continues to instruct Moshe regarding the construction of the Mishkan, the Tabernacle. In this week’s parsha we learn of the Kiyyor, the copper laver that stood outside of the Mishkan proper, in the courtyard. The purpose of...
וַיְהִי בִּימֵי אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ: הוּא אֲחַשְׁוֵרוֹשׁ, הַמֹּלֵךְ מֵהֹדּוּ וְעַד-כּוּשׁ--שֶׁבַע וְעֶשְׂרִים וּמֵאָה מְדִינָה, and it was in the days of Achashvairosh, he was Achashvairosh, who ruled from Hodu to Kush, one hundred and twenty seven provinces (Esther 1:1). In an age-old narrative that we are all familiar...