With the opening of Sefer Vayikra and Parshas Vayikra, we enter into the ancient world of korbanos, sacrificial offerings, in full force. Chazal point out that the same phrase רֵיחַ נִיחֹחַ - a pleasing fragrance, is used with regard to korbanos of different value - cattle,...
Erev Shabos Kodesh, Rosh Chodesh Adar II, Parshas Pekudei, Shabos Chazak. The Sages teach (Taanis 29a) משנכנס אדר מרבין בשמחה, When Adar begins we increase joy. Rashi (ibid) explains that the joy is due to the great miracles that were done for Israel on the days...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Vayakhel, the Torah tells us that Betzalel, the son of Uri, the son of Chur, from the tribe of Yehudah, was appointed as the master craftsman to oversee the construction of the Mishkan. Along with him was appointed Ohaliav the...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Ki Sisa, we are commanded regarding the keeping, and sanctity, of Shabos kodesh. וְאַתָּה דַּבֵּר אֶל-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, לֵאמֹר, אַךְ אֶת-שַׁבְּתֹתַי, תִּשְׁמֹרוּ: כִּי אוֹת הִוא בֵּינִי וּבֵינֵיכֶם, לְדֹרֹתֵיכֶם--לָדַעַת, כִּי אֲנִי ה’ מְקַדִּשְׁכֶם - And you shall speak to the Children of...
In the first two verses of this week’s parsha, Parshas Tetzaveh, the Torah commands us regarding the lighting of the Menorah in the Mishkan. The opening pasuk instructs Moshe as follows: וְאַתָּה תְּצַוֶּה אֶת-בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל, וְיִקְחוּ אֵלֶיךָ שֶׁמֶן זַיִת זָךְ כָּתִית--לַמָּאוֹר: לְהַעֲלֹת נֵר, תָּמִיד -...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Terumah, we enter the world of the Mishkan: וְעָשׂוּ לִי, מִקְדָּשׁ וְשָׁכַנְתִּי, בְּתוֹכָם - Make for Me a Sanctuary of holiness, that I may dwell amongst them (Ex.25:8). Our journey to freedom, which began with the physical redemption from Egyptian...
At the end of this week’s parsha, Parshas Mishpatim, the Torah tells us of the final stages of the giving of the Torah, which began in Parshas Yisro and culminated with the famous declaration of “we will do and we will listen,” (Ex.24:7) along with...
It is Wednesday evening, January 27, 11:30pm in Jerusalem. This week’s post is not a dvar Torah that is based on the parsha and it is not a recipe of foods that I like to eat. This week’s post is simply Reflections… What words shall I pen...
In the beginning of this week’s parsha, Parshas Beshalach, we find a newly freed Israelite nation at the beginning of what would soon become a forty year journey through the wilderness. The people had left Egypt and were about to come face to face with...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Bo el Pharaoh, Pharaoh the king of Egypt, his servants, the citizens of the land and the country of Mitzrayim itself all meet their end with the final three plagues: locusts, darkness and death-of-the-firstborn. Finally, after hundreds of years in...