Carrying Our Weight
In this week's reading, we learn about the episode of the Golden Calf. Moshe took a day too long to come back down off the mountain, and many assumed that he must have died, that he was never returning to earth. And so they made a new leader for themselves, and some...
Celebrating the Miracle of Jewish Survival
Jewish survival is perhaps the greatest miracle of all Jewish history. It defies clear historical patterns. Whenever people move to different countries, they gradually integrate, following the beliefs and ideals of the local population. Yet the Jews were different, stubbornly so.
Cultivating a Generous Heart
Have you heard "Mitzvah" translated as a "good deed?" That's incorrect, and this week's reading proves it: not every good deed is a Mitzvah! A Mitzvah is something we are Commanded to do, from "Tzivui," a command. When it comes to the donations for building the...
Why So Much Hate?
Why are Jews hated? It comes from this week's reading. "Why is it called Mount Sinai? It is the mountain where hatred [Sinah] descended upon the nations of the world" [Shabbos 99a]. The Medrash says that G-d offered the Torah to various other nations of that time, but...
A Maidservant by the Sea
Even after all of the miracles that happened on behalf of the Jews while they were still in Egypt, what happened at the crossing of the sea was that much greater. In the Passover Haggadah, we compare the plagues which afflicted the Egyptians in Egypt to what happened...
An Appropriate Answer
Moshe and Aharon go to confront Pharoah and demand that he release the Jews. Pharoah demands a sign, and, as Commanded, Aharon throws his staff on the ground in front of Pharoah , where it turns into a snake. Pharoah calls in his magicians, and lo and behold, they do...
