In this week’s parsha, Parshas Shelach, Moshe sends twelve spies to scout out the Land, as the nation prepares, imminently (or so it is believed) to enter into Eretz Yisrael, the Promised Land. Moshe sends the spies with detailed instructions to investigate the cities of the...
In the beginning of this week’s dramatic parsha, Parshas Beha’aloscha, Moshe and the Bnei Yisrael (Children of Israel) continue to prepare for entry into the Promised Land. With final preparations in place (which have been Divinely ordered and discussed in the first three parshios of...
Parshas Bamidbar, erev Shavuos, Zman Matan Tora’sainu - the time of the giving of the Torah. Our preparation for Matan Torah includes a forty-nine day count, which began on the second day of Pesach, and ends the night before Shavuos. As we journey through time, always...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Behar, the Torah commands us regarding the Shemitta year, the seventh Sabbatical year wherein the land of Israel lies fallow, its bounty permitted to man and animal alike. At the culmination of seven Shemitta cycles, with the 49th year a...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Emor, the Torah delineates our Mo’adim - appointed festivals (Vayikra, Chapter 23). Beginning with a general introduction to the Jewish calendar year, the pasuk (verse) says: דַּבֵּר אֶל-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְאָמַרְתָּ אֲלֵהֶם, מוֹעֲדֵי ה’ אֲשֶׁר-תִּקְרְאוּ אֹתָם מִקְרָאֵי קֹדֶשׁ--אֵלֶּה הֵם, מוֹעֲדָי - And...
In Parshas Kedoshim, the second of this week’s double parshios (Achrei Mos-Kedoshim), we are commanded to be a holy people, for G-d is Holy (Vayikra 19:2). As is well known, many of the commands and directives in the parsha focus on mitzvos bein adam l’chavairo (laws...
Parshas Tazria, the first of this week’s double-parshios (Tazria-Metzora in Chutz la’Aretz) focuses mainly on the identification and diagnosis of the spiritual malady of tzara’as: a spiritual illness with a physical manifestation. Chazal (the Sages, Arachin 16a) lists seven causes of tzara’as, the most well-known...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Shemini, Aharon and his sons are officially and formally inducted into the Kehunah, as their priestly roles are assigned to them. The parsha opens on the celebratory Eighth Day of the inauguration of the Mishkan (Tabernacle), when the Mishkan was...
Chag Ha’Pesach is here once again. Zman Cheiroseinu - the time of our freedom; Chag Ha’Matzos - the festival when we eat matzah; Chag Ha’Aviv - the holiday that must always be celebrated in the spring season. This layl Shabbos (Friday night), we will sit down...
In lieu of a Parsha Post, this week’s post is a Pesach Dvar Torah. As we prepare to sit down to our Seder table, and relate the story of our enslavement and miraculous redemption, the Sages teach that: כל המרבה לספר, הרי זה משבח -...