This week’s parsha, Parshas Ki Savo, opens with the mitzvah of Bikkurim: The first fruits of the Shivat Ha’Minin (see Devarim 8:8), which are brought by the farmer up to the Beis Ha’Mikdash in Yerushalayim (Devarim 26:1-11). Upon bringing up his fruits, the landowner recites...
This week’s parsha, Parshas Ki Seitzei, commands us regarding many mitzvos. According to the Sefer HaChinuch, the parsha delineates a total of seventy-four mitzvos; twenty-seven mitzvos asei and forty-seven mitzvos lo ta’aseh. Two important mitzvos - which are recorded one after another - concern neggah...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Shoftim, the Torah warns us against foreign and idolatrous worship. The pasuk says: וְלֹא-תָקִים לְךָ מַצֵּבָה, אֲשֶׁר שָׂנֵא ה’ אֱלֹקִיךָ - And you shall not erect for yourself a pillar, which Hashem, your G-d, hates (Devarim 16:22). Rashi teaches: ולא תקים לך...
In the beginning of this week’s parsha, Parshas Re’eh, Moshe says to the Bnei Yisrael: רְאֵה, אָנֹכִי נֹתֵן לִפְנֵיכֶם--הַיּוֹם בְּרָכָה וּקְלָלָה - See, I am setting before you, on this day, blessings and curses (Devarim 11:26). While there are shivim panim la’Torah and many interpretations of...
In this week’s poetically stirring and masterful parsha, as transmitted to us by Moshe Rabbeinu, we have the well-known mitzvah of birkat ha’mazon, grace after meals (“bentching” after a bread meal). The Torah tells us: וְאָכַלְתָּ, וְשָׂבָעְתָּ--וּבֵרַכְתָּ אֶת-ה’ אֱלֹקיךָ, עַל-הָאָרֶץ הַטֹּבָה אֲשֶׁר נָתַן-לָךְ - and...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas V’Eschanan, Moshe exhorts the Bnei Yisrael to go in the ways of Hashem and Torah, and the pasuk tells us: וְאַתֶּם, הַדְּבֵקִים, בַּה’ אֱלֹקִיכֶם חַיִּים כֻּלְּכֶם, הַיּוֹם, you who cleave unto your G-d, you are all alive today (Devarim 4:4)....
With this week’s parsha, Parshas Devarim, we begin the fifth and final book of Chumash, also known as Mishneh Torah. Mishneh Torah is the masterful and poetic ‘good bye letter’ (soliloquy) of Moshe Rabbeinu, to the nation which he has loved and led for forty...
This Shabbos we usher in Chodesh Av and the most mournful Nine Days on the Jewish calendar. Once again, in 5781, almost two thousand years after churban Bayis Sheni (destruction of the Second Temple) by the Romans, we are mourning the destruction of the Beis...
It is year forty of desert wanderings. As a result of the sin at Mei Merivah (Bamidbar Ch.20) Moshe’s days are numbered and he will not be leading the Jews into the Land of Israel. Hence, in this week’s parsha, Parshas Pinchas, Moshe asks Hashem...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Balak, Balak, the king of Moav, hires the prophet Bilaam to curse the Bnei Yisrael. It is year forty of desert travels and the Israelite nation covers the eye of the land. A fearful Moav hopes to bring ruination upon...