The President Calls for Shabbos
No one quite expected the President of the United States to call upon Jews to observe Shabbos. But he did! In his proclamation in honor of Jewish American Heritage Month, President Trump wrote: In special honor of 250 glorious years of American independence and on the...
Sticking to the Deal
In this week's reading, Hashem tells us to lend money to others when they are in need. This is in addition to giving charity; it is a separate obligation, applicable to those who do not need outright gifts, but temporary help to meet the needs of the moment. Within...
The Evil of Gossip
This week we read about the Metzorah, who was afflicted with a spiritual type of leprosy. Our Sages teach that a person got this disease because of the sin of lashon hora, gossiping. What is so harmful about a bit of gossip, that a person got a punishment requiring...
250 Plagues by the Sea
In the Passover Haggadah, we read the Ten Plagues, and Rebbe Yehudah’s acronym, and then learn that in reality, the Egyptians experienced much more than “only” ten plagues. Rebbe Yossi teaches that there were ten plagues in Egypt, but 50 at the sea. Rebbe Eliezer says...
It’s Not So Simple
Along with Elevation Offerings, Guilt Offerings, Flour Offerings and others, this week Aharon and his sons, the Kohanim, learn how to offer the Sin Offering. Last week we discussed, with regards to this offering, an exception to the rule: when one gave an offering for...
The Crime of Indifference
In this week’s reading, we learn about sin and guilt offerings in the Temple. One was called the “higher or lower” offering, as this offering depended upon a person’s financial situation. If a person entered the Temple without being in a pure state, or swore falsely...
