Articles in Parsha Insights
Pekudei: Food for Thought for your Dinner Table
Sunday: The Famous Silver
Moses gave a full accounting for every ounce of copper and silver that was donated to the building of the Tabernacle. One Kikar (a measurement of Biblical origin) of silver was used to pour the foundations for the walls The thousand and the seven hundred and seventy-five …
Vayakhel: Food for Thought for your Dinner Table
Sunday: Oral Tradition
Moses gathered the nation and said, “These are the things which G-d has commanded . . Shabbat should be a day of rest. . . you shall kindle no fire.” A moment later, Moses said, “This is the thing that G-d has commanded,” and proceeded to instruct them …
Ki Tisa: Food for Thought for your Dinner Table
Sunday: All at Once
Every Jew was required to donate a half shekel, no less and no more, yet the entire half had to be donated at once; intermittent or gradual payments were not accepted. This seems odd. The total sum was not a complete denomination, only a half, yet the …
Tezaveh: Food for Thought for your Dinner Table
Sunday: The Binding Oil
“And you shall instruct the children of Israel and they shall take to you pure olive oil.” The Hebrew word “tetzaveh,” carries a dual meaning. It means instruct and it also means bind. An alternate, but deeper meaning of this verse is that Moses is instructed to …
Terumah: Food for Thought at your Dinner Table
Sunday: Take and Take Again
We have many motives to give charity. Some give out of peer pressure. Some give for purposes of self aggrandizement. Some give out of a sense of duty. Some give out of a sense of shame. In all the above examples the motive is self-centered; seeking …
Mishpatim: Food for Thought for your Dinner Table
Sunday: A Sacred Trial
When a Torah portion begins with the word and we assume that it is a continuation of the previous portion. This portion begins with “And these are the laws.” The previous portion speaks of the Ten Commandments. The message is that the laws discussed in this portion …
Yitro: Food for Thought for Your Dinner Table
Sunday: The Proof is in the Action
This Torah portion begins with the words, “And Jethro heard.” Our sages asked what did he hear that made him come? He heard of the miracle at the Reed Sea and of the Manna. When he heard about these miracles he felt compelled to …
Beshalach: Food for Thought for your Dinner Table
Sunday: Oy Vey
“And it was when Pharaoh sent the nation.” The Hebrew word vayehi, “and it was” is, can be divided into two words. The last two letters spell G-d’s name and the first two letters spell the word Vey. In other words, G-d exclaimed, Oy Vey. Why would G-d express …
