Reservation FormParshas Bamidbar
Thursday, May 9th, 13
“And Bnei Yisroel did as [they were] commanded … they camped by their tribes, and they travelled each with his family, and with his father’s house”. (2:34) Besides the divisions of Kohen, Levi and Yisroel – which are different levels of kedusha, Klal Yisroel was also divided into twelve tribes. And this division was reinforced
read moreParshas Emor
Thursday, April 25th, 13
The incident of the mekalel (24:10) is introduced with “Vayetzeh – and there went forth.” This word is the only clue that the Torah gives us to help us understand how a person who stood at Har Sinai could have committed such a grave sin. Rashi here quotes the three comments given in Chazal as
read moreParshas Metzora
Thursday, April 11th, 13
Today’s sedrah begins with the process of teharah – the purification of the metzorah. This is the teaching which the Haftorah should in some way echo. For the subject of a regular Haftorah is always chosen to in some way echo or elucidate a teaching in the sedrah – unless it is a special shabbos.
read moreParshas Vayakhel
Friday, March 1st, 13
It is interesting that of all the descriptions of the Mishkan there is only one item that is actually named “the Mishkan”. For example, the beams are called “the beams of the Mishkan”. So too with the other items. Only the curtains which covered the roof are called “the Mishkan”, with no other descriptive word.
read moreParshas Ki Sisah
Thursday, February 28th, 13
The circumstances that led up to the sin of the Eigel, the most grievous sin we have ever committed as a people, are described in the Torah itself with very few details. Perhaps this itself makes a statement, that there is no explanation which can in any way mitigate the sin which was committed. However
read moreParshas Mishpatim
Thursday, February 7th, 13
When we see the great caution with which the Targum translates the posuk of the vision of Hashem at the conclusion of Mishpatim (Shemos 24:10), we are fearfull of commiting some great error when discussing this vision. Nevertheless, all of the Torah was given to be learned even by small children, and even by ignorant
read moreParshas Yisro
Wednesday, January 30th, 13
There is no human being who has ever lived who has not been affected by the events of 6 Sivan 2448. The “Ten commandments” are the foundation for all of civilization. No society could have ever existed without the prohibitions contained in the aseres hadibros. It is curious however that the asseros hadibros were written
read moreParshas Beshalach
Thursday, January 24th, 13
“Then Moshe and the children of Yisroel sang this song to Hashem and said, ‘I will sing…”’(Shemos 15:1). The Yalkut Shimoni here tells us in the name of R. Akiva “when Yisroel said ahz yashir, Hashem donned a beautiful garment on which were embroidered every ahz in the Torah….” The exaltation and the song of
read moreParshas Bo
Wednesday, January 16th, 13
Come to Pharaoh for I have hardened his heart…” (Shemos 10:1) Hashem hardening someone’s heart would seem to contradict one of the most fundamental tenets of Torah: that man has the freedom to choose to do whatever he wishes. To answer this question, the Rambam explains (Teshuva 6:3) that when a person has committed a
read moreParshas Shemos
Wednesday, January 2nd, 13
“And the children of Israel were fruitful, had many children and became numerous; they became very powerful, and the land was filled with them” (Shemos 1:7). Our people have never been able to lock ourselves up in self imposed ghettos. When Yosef died, and then his brothers, and then all the rest of the generation,
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