In this week’s parsha, Parshas Naso, we are commanded regarding Birkas Kohanim, the ancient, and timeless, blessings of the Kohanim, as they simultaneously lift their hands - נשיאת כפים - upward to Hashem and outward towards the people - and transmit the blessings and bounty...
Sefer Bamidbar, Parshas Bamidbar, Chag ha’Shavuos, Zman Matan Torasainu - Shavuos 5776… Another year, another betrothal - וְהוּא כְּחָתָן, יֹצֵא מֵחֻפָּתוֹ (Ps.19:6) - another kabalas ha’Torah is upon us. Do you want the Torah? Hashem asked the other nations. “What is in it?” they replied. “Don’t...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Bechukosai, we read of the terrible klalos, curses and punishments, that will befall our nation, may G-d save us, if we do not go in His ways, if we throw off the yoke and covenant of Torah and mitzvos. There is...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Behar, the Torah commands us regarding the Shmittah and Yovel years. For six years you may work the fields, and on the seventh year, the Shmittah year, it is a Shabbat Shabbaton - a year of rest to Hashem. The...
Towards the end of this week’s parsha, Parshas Emor, the Torah tells of the lighting of the Menorah in the Sanctuary: צַו אֶת-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְיִקְחוּ אֵלֶיךָ שֶׁמֶן זַיִת זָךְ כָּתִית--לַמָּאוֹר: לְהַעֲלֹת נֵר תָּמִיד - And Hashem spoke to Moshe saying: Command the Children of Israel...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Kedoshim, we are commanded not to stand idly by while our fellow’s blood is being shed: לֹא תַעֲמֹד עַל-דַּם רֵעֶךָ (Lev.19:16). דַּם means blood - do not stand by while your brother’s blood is being shed!, the Torah commands. And...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Achrei Mos, the Torah tells us about the service, the avodah, which the Kohen Gadol performed on Yom Kippur in Temple times. When the Kohen Gadol (the High Priest) entered into the Kodesh ha’Kodashim, the Holy of Holies, he was to...
Pesach, the festival of redemption and freedom, is upon us. While still in Egypt, the first national mitzvah given to the about-to-be-freed Israelite slaves was the mitzvah of Rosh Chodesh - sanctification of the new month. The verse says: הַחֹדֶשׁ הַזֶּה לָכֶם, רֹאשׁ חֳדָשִׁים: רִאשׁוֹן הוּא לָכֶם,...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Metzora, we meet the individual who is now officially labeled as a metzora - one afflicted with the spiritual disease of tzaraas, a spiritual disease which manifests with physical symptoms. The metzora is one who spoke lashon harah - slanderous...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Tazria, we meet the metzorah, the individual afflicted with the plague of tzaraas, which can be defined as a spiritual illness with a physical manifestation. The Torah delineates the illness, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of the metzorah over the two...