There is a tradition that the Ten Days of Repentance – the period from Rosh Hashanah through Yom Kippur – correspond to the Ten Commandments. Each day of this ten-day period is somehow associated with the corresponding commandments. According...
Moshe Rabbenu tells us in Parashat Nisavim (29:28), “Ha’nistarot L’Hashem Elokenu Ve’ha’niglot Lanu U’l’banenu Ad Olam” – “That which is hidden belongs to Hashem our G-d; but that which is revealed is for us and our children, forever.”...
The Torah in Parashat Ki-Tabo presents the Misva of Bikkurim, which obligates a farmer to take the first fruits that ripen, bring them to the Bet Ha’mikdash, and give them to the Kohen. The unique importance of...
Parashat Ki-Teseh concludes with two Misvot which, at first glance, are entirely unrelated. The first is the command to use honest weights and measures when conducting business. The Torah strictly forbids deceiving people, such as customers, by tampering...
Parashat Shoftim begins with the command to appoint judges throughout the land: “Shoftim Ve’shoterim Titen Lecha.” While the simple meaning of this Pasuk is that it refers to courtroom judges, there is also an additional level of interpretation. The...
The Torah in Parashat Re’eh discusses the basic laws of the three Regalim – the holidays of Pesach, Shabuot and Sukkot, when Beneh Yisrael would assemble in the Bet Ha’mikdash. In presenting the obligations relevant to the celebration...
In the prophecy read as the Haftara for Parashat Ekeb, G-d assures Beneh Yisrael that despite the Hurban (destruction), and His having banished them into exile, He has not forgotten them and will never forsake them. He proclaims,...
Parashat Vaethanan begins with Moshe recalling his impassioned prayer to be allowed to enter Eretz Yisrael. Our Sages teach that Moshe recited 515 prayers at this time, alluded to by the word “Vaethanan” (“I pleaded”), which has the...
The Mishna in Masechet Sota teaches that the world will be in a state of disarray and chaos in the generation before Mashiah’s arrival. Youngsters will disrespect adults, and children will brazenly disobey parents. During that period,...
In Parashat Matot, G-d commands Moshe to lead a war against Midyan, who initiated a scheme to lead Beneh Yisrael to sin which resulted in the deaths of thousands of people among the nation. The Midrash notes that...