Four thousand pounds of gold, fifteen thousand pounds of silver, ten thousand pounds of bronze — the opening passage of Parashat Pekudei, dazzles us with the tremendous material resources that were invested in the construction of the tabernacle. Clearly the grandeur of this edifice is intended to make a deep impression upon us. A careful […]
We all know that one can look at the glass of life as half empty or half full. It all depends on your perspective. One of the keys to living a fulfilled life is to be able to count our blessings, to live with gratitude and appreciation for what we have. We want to see […]
The incident of the Golden Calf represents the most significant potential rupture in the new relationship between God and Benei Yisrael. God threatens to destroy the nation, n toto, and begin again with Moshe. The threat is a credible one – on a universal level, that is essentially what God did when Mankind failed Him, […]
The Secret of the Mishkan – Revelation, Law and Holiness Parshat Tetzaveh continues the previous Parsha of Teruma in its didactic description of the Mishkan. While Teruma discusses the building and its vessels, Tetzaveh discusses the clothing of the kohanim and the consecration ceremony. However, a number of topics seem out of place. Tetzaveh begins […]
In the beginning of Parshat Trumah, Shmot Chapter 25, God tells Moshe: “Speak to B’nei Yisrael and have them take for me a trumah (donation) offering: gold, silver and copper, techelet, argaman (purple), tolaat (crimson), fine linen and goats hair, red-dyed ram’s skins, tachish skins and acacia wood, oil for the lamp, spices for anointing […]
Yaakov Avinu, was certainly Zionistic. He didn’t go to the Galut because of his own will rather because of the fateful circumstances. Nevertheless, apparently Ya’akov didn’t seem to make real efforts to make Aliyah. He dwelled in Haran at least 20 years, and the only thing that invoked him was a revelation of Hashem, that […]
There is much to learn from the poetic imagery in Parshat Ha’azinu. The image that particularly stands out is that of the nesher, eagle. The eagle which is one of the toughest of birds shows its more gentle side while parenting its young. In Dvarim 32:11 it says: “Like an eagle who rouses his nest, […]
The Book of Jonah is a book that hovers between fantasy and reality. Even if the string of events described within it are possible, it is still unrealistic to believe that the main message of the book is the actual storyline and the incidents it describes. A story about a fish that swallows a man […]
This week’s Parsha marks the culmination of the covenant between Hashem and Bnei Yisrael, before they enter the land of Israel. The covenant focuses on the communal responsibility to prevent idol worship, and ends with the following pasuk: הנסתרת לה’ א-להינו והנגלת לנו ולבנינו עד עולם לעשות את כל דברי התורה הזאת Secrets are for […]
Parshat “Ki Tavo”, describes our obligations concerning the mitzvah of Bikkurim – the presentation of the first fruits of the harvest, which only comes into effect after we conquer and settle the promised land (Deuteronomy: 26): 1And it shall be, when thou art come in unto the land which HaShem giveth thee for an inheritance, […]
A fascinating, yet little-known explanation ties the famous Mishpat Shlomo – King Shlomo’s most famous judgement – to this week’s Torah portion. The explanation the Meiri[i] offers to the story of Mishpat Shlomo [ii] reveals the “behind-the-scenes” manipulations and strategy of the two litigants and King Shlomo’s brilliant method of uncovering the truth. The story […]
Reish Lakish said: “Great is תשובה (repentance) because it transforms זדונות (premeditated sins) into שגגות (inadvertent transgressions)”. Oh Really? Didn’t he also say? “Great is תשובה (repentance) because it transforms premeditated sins into זכויות (merits)”? There is no contradiction. The first one refers to “Teshuva Meyir’ah” (out of fear of G-d), the other refers to “Teshuva Me’ahava” […]
Deuteronomy, Sefer Devarim, presents Moses’ speech that reviews the historical memory of God’s contact with Israel in Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers. In the Torah’s three middle books, God is the speaker; Deuteronomy opens with the Johnny Carson-like introduction: “here’s Moses!” At his career’s beginning, Moses tries to avoid the divine call, arguing “I am not […]
In the Talmud, Brachot 21a Rav Yehuda states: From where in the Torah do we derive the obligation to recite Birkat HaMazon (Grace after meals)? From the verse (Parshat Ekev, Dvarim 8:10): “Veachalta vesavata uveirachta et Hashem Elokecha al haaretz hatova asher natan lach”, “You shall eat and be satisfied and bless your God for […]
In his “Varieties of Religious Experience,” William James identifies the “sad discordancy” of religious experiences in the secular world. “But they come seldom, and they do not come to everyone; and the rest of life makes no connection with them, or tends to contradict them than it confirms them.” This sentiment is succinctly captured by […]
