In the first of this week’s two Parshios, Parshas Behar, the Torah commands us regarding the Shemittah year (the 7th Sabbatical year), when the Holy Land lies fallow, and all produce is considered ownerless – available to man and animal alike. The Torah says: “And...
In this week’s Parsha, Parshas Emor, the Torah commands us regarding the mitzvah of Kiddush Hashem - the sanctification of the Divine Name (Lev.22:32). While this mitzvah requires one to be moser nefesh, to give up his life, for the sanctification of the Divine Name...
Sunday, July 20, 2014 - Major Tzafrir Baror, 32, a commanding officer in the Golani Brigade was killed in a firefight in Gaza. He is survived by his wife, who is eight months pregnant, and a 1-year-old daughter. Baror lived in Rehovot with his family. July 31,...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Shmini, the pasuk says: “And the entire congregation came close, and they stood - וַיַּעַמְדוּ - before Hashem” (Lev.9:5). On the word וַיַּעַמְדוּ, R’ Yitzchok Ziberstein tells over the following vignette: There was a custom in a certain Jewish owned, kosher...
Erev Shabos Kodesh, Sefer Vayikra, Parshas Tzav, Shabos ha’Gadol. Sefer Vayikra, also known as Toras Kohanim, reads mostly like an instruction book to the kohanim regarding their service in the Sanctuary. In the words of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, “The laws of sacrifices that dominate the...
In the first of this week’s parshios, Parshas Vayakhel, Moshe instructs the Israelites regarding Shabos, “For six days you shall work, and on the seventh day it shall be for you holy, a complete rest…” (Ex.35:2). Immediately after the command to keep Shabos, with which...
Purim 5775 אִישׁ יְהוּדִי, הָיָה בְּשׁוּשַׁן הַבִּירָה; וּשְׁמוֹ מָרְדֳּכַי, בֶּן יָאִיר בֶּן-שִׁמְעִי בֶּן-קִישׁ--אִישׁ יְמִינִי - There was a Yehudi man in the capital city of Shushan, whose name was Mordechai, the son of Yair, the son of Shim’i, the son of Kish, a man from the...
This week’s parsha, Parshas Tetzaveh, is replete with details and commands related to the fashioning of the priestly garments, which were worn by the kohanim when they served in the Sanctuary, as a symbol of honor and glory (Ex.28:2). One of the garments worn by the...
In this week’s Parsha, Parshas Terumah, we are commanded regarding the building of the Mishkan, the portable Sanctuary where G-d’s Presence was to dwell, as the Israelites sojourned through the desert. In the command to collect the materials for the construction of the Mishkan, the...
Yesterday was Tu B’Shvat. The New Year for Trees falls during the winter. All things considered, winter is an interesting season in which to celebrate this new year! Of all seasons, this seems the one least likely to be “tree-centered.” Spring - the blossoms, buds...