The Shadow Knows

The Shadow Knows

Betzalel was appointed to manage the construction of the Mishkan (The Holy Tabernacle), both the building and its vessels. When Moshe (Moses) related the instructions from G-d on how to build the Mishkan, he began by describing the Holy Ark, continued with the other...
Looking Forward to Purim

Looking Forward to Purim

When the Rabbis instituted the Mitzvah of reading the Megillah (Megillas Esther, the Scroll of Esther) on Purim, they included a number of strict laws regarding the reading and writing of the scroll. One such law is to not read the Megillah backwards, meaning that...
The Lofty Labor of Life

The Lofty Labor of Life

This and the upcoming Torah portions explain the construction of the holy Mishkan (Tabernacle) in great detail. One key reason to discuss these details, the Talmud explains (Shabbos 49b), is to learn the 39 types of work done to construct the Mishkan—because these are...
Winners Don’t Go Out of Bounds

Winners Don’t Go Out of Bounds

It’s a hot, humid day in the middle of summer. Out from the ice cream parlor walks a fellow with a waffle cone, briefly escaping the oppressive temperatures as he enjoys his frosty delicacy. Of course, you are inspired to want one for yourself. You check for...
Blind to the Obvious

Blind to the Obvious

Did you ever ponder how blind we can be? This week’s reading gives us a lesson in how we can become caught up in events, unable to see outside the narrow scope of our own goals. And as a result, we miss out on something so crucial. As the Jews journeyed out of...