What unique qualities did Moses have that convinced a nation of oppressed slaves that he was their redeemer?
Read the full story »Pekudei: An Arresting Question
A Final Accounting
The previous three Torah portions dealt with the specifications for building the Tabernacle and its holy vestments. In this portion a very important detail: is contributed – a calculation of the total sum of donations received for the cause.
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Vayakhel Pekudei: Celestial Real-estate
According To G-d
Our Parsha describes the building of the Mishkan and the specific details of craftsmanship involved. After describing each section of the Mishkan the Torah testifies that it was all done in accordance with G-d’s instruction to Moshe. Many have wondered why the Torah so often repeats this point?
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Pekudei: Learn to Love It
A Generous Text
This week’s Parsha continues the theme from the previous Parsha in describing our ancestor’s enthusiasm for building the Mishkan (tabernacle) and their exacting commitment to its great detail. After transmitting G-d’s detailed instructions for building the Mishkan the Torah could have simply concluded with the words “Vayasu Ken,” …
Vayakhel: The Real Shabbaton
Shabbat – A Day of Rest
“Six days your work is done and the seventh day is Shabbat Shabbaton” (our Parsha Exodus 35, 2) Contrast this verse with the way it appears in both recordings of the Ten Commandments. “Six days you shall labor and the seventh day shall be a …
Purim: Every Moment Counts
Every Moment Counts
The Midrash tells us that the in the merit of our matriarch Sarah’s one hundred and twenty seven righteous and meritorious years, her descendant, Esther, reigned over one hundred and twenty seven countries.
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Purim: Celebrating the Inner Battle
A Curious Distinction
Among the many rituals observed during the holiday of Purim are those of Mishloach Manot, sending food baskets to fellow Jews, and Matanot Laevyonim, sharing gifts with the poor.
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Ki Tisa: The Money Trap
Forgetting G-d
Moses was atop Mount Sinai, but he was slated to return the day before. When he failed to return on the designated day, the people worried that G-d may have taken him. They feared that he might never return and asked Aaron to create a new material G-d. (1)
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KI TISA: A True Leader
Moses’ Reaction
In this Parsha we read about the golden calf. When he saw the calf, Moses hurled the sacred tablets to the ground and meted out strict punishment to the sinners. Having vented his frustration Moses returned to G-d and pleaded for forgiveness on behalf of the Jewish people.
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Parsha Insights »
Matot Masei: The Three Weeks
We are in a time of year called the three weeks. During this time, Jerusalem was sacked twice, once by the Babylonians circa 420 BCE and again by the Romans in 69 CE. Each time, our enemies struck directly at the Jewish heart by destroying the Temple. The Babylonians destroyed …
Yearly Cycle »
Rosh Hashanah: Pickled Meat and Free Choice
Surface Attraction
A man once went to the butcher and saw two bins, one filled with fresh meat, the other, with pickled meat. The pickled meat smelled good and drew his attention. He bought five pounds of the it and returned the next day with terrible stomach pains. Why didn’t you …
Concepts »
The Nine Days: Suffering Leads to Growth
Why Nine?
Life isn’t a coincidence. Everything has meaning, it’s all “Bashert” [providential]. In 350 BCE and again in 69 CE, during the days leading up to the destruction of the Temple, our ancestors suffered greatly. The Babylonian forces and later the Roman Legions ransacked Jerusalem and brutalized the inhabitants. Every …
Rabbi’s Desk »
What Can We Do?
These past two days have been the most difficult for our people in the last fifty years. It was Simchat Torah, a time for rejoicing, yet it was a time of horror. Nearly a thousand members of our family were brutally murdered, more than a hundred were taken hostage, and …
