What are we Building, Anyways?
In this week’s reading, Moshe gathers the entire nation of Israel together. He says, now it’s time to build the Mishkan, the Tabernacle. Everyone with a giving heart should bring their gifts. But first, he tells them that they have to observe the Sabbath. “For six days you shall do the labor, but the seventh day shall be holy for you, a Sabbath of Sabbaths to G-d” [35:2].
A Little Less Chutzpah
In this week's reading, we're told that the Kohen Gadol, the High Priest, was to wear a Tzitz, a band of gold across his forehead. And the band said "Kadosh LaShem," Sanctified to G-d. The Talmud tells us that the Tzitz atoned for azus panim, literally "boldness of...
Judgement Place
Immediately following the Ten Commandments in last week's reading, G-d instructs Moshe to tell the people to build a Mizbeyach, an Altar. And then, He goes on to say, at the beginning of this week's portion: "And these are the judgments which you shall place before...
Mission Statement
The Medrash says that when all the Jews were told to assemble at Mount Sinai, the souls of all their descendants, and those of all future converts, were brought to join them. Everyone had to be there, personally, at the moment when G-d Himself spoke to the Jewish...
Let’s Get To Work!
The Jews turned to Moshe and said, “was it due to a lack of graves in Egypt, that you took us out to die in the desert?” [Ex.14:11] From which we learn that sarcasm is an ancient Jewish tradition.
Teaching Torah to our Children
After the plagues had killed the Egyptian's animals and most of their crops, Moses and Aharon tell Pharoah that unless he lets the Jews go into the desert to worship G-d, locusts will be sent to finish off whatever the hail didn't destroy. Pharoah asks them, "exactly...
The Greatness of Gratitude
Did you ever notice that the first three plagues were not performed by Moshe? G-d appoints Moshe to lead the people out of Egypt, and sends him to Pharoah to demand that Pharoah let the Jews go. Moshe impresses Pharoah with his staff, with the signs G-d showed him,...
Getting It Done
This week, I came across a commentary by the Malbim that "spoke to me," and I'd like to share it with you. When Moshe first encounters G-d, in the well-known story of the Burning Bush, G-d tells him that he will lead the Jews out of Egypt, but Moshe responds that they...
Sharing the Burden
The Sages tell us that the tribe of Yissachar distinguished itself through devotion to Torah study. Yaakov foresaw this, and even among the blessings given to his sons, this one is unusual: "Yissachar is a strong donkey, who rests between the borders. And he saw rest,...
The Institution of Jewish Learning
In this week's reading, when Yaakov goes down to Egypt he sends his son Yehudah (Judah) to "show the way" in front of him, down to Goshen where they were to settle [Gen. 46:28]. In the original, the word "l'horos" would more accurately be translated "to instruct" or...
Restoring and Spreading the Light
Chanukah is one of only two celebrations added to the Jewish calendar by the Rabbis, the other, of course, being Purim. Rabbi Yosef Karo points out that unlike Purim, which has an obligation for a celebratory meal and rejoicing, Chanukah is about singing praises and...
At the Darkest Moments
When Yosef's brothers see a caravan of Arab merchants coming towards them on its way to Egypt, Yehudah suggests that they sell him -- because as Reuven had asked, they did not kill him, leaving him instead in a dangerous pit. The convoy itself is identified in the...
