Upon reading Parashat Vay-akhel, we cannot help but be struck – and perplexed – by the Torah’s ver-bosity. The Torah laboriously repeats all the details regarding the construc-tion of the...
Parashat Ki-Tisa begins with the Misva of “Maha- sit Ha’shekel” – the mandatory half- shekel tax that was imposed upon all members of Beneh Yisrael. The first time this tax was collected, the silver coins were used to make...
On Shabbat Zach- or, we read the final three verses in Para- shat Ki-Teseh which command us to remember the unprovoked attack launched against our ancestors when they left Egypt by the nation of Amalek. This attack oc- curred...
Parashat Teruma begins with the com- mand, “Ve’yikhu Li Teruma,” instructing Beneh Yisrael to do- nate materials for the construction of the Mishkan. Curiously, rather than commanding Beneh Yisrael to “give” or “donate” materials, Hashem commands them to “take...
Towards the end of Parashat Mishpatim, we read of Beneh Yisrael’s enthusiastic reaction when Moshe told them that they would be receiv- ing the Torah, making the famous procla- mation, “Na’aseh Ve’nishma” – “We will do and we...
Parashat Yitro is fa- mous for the story of Ma’amad Har Sinai – Hashem’s Revela- tion to Beneh Yisrael at Mount Sinai, when He pronounced the Ten Commandments. This is not the first time when we find the number...
The Torah in Parashat Beshalah tells the famous story of “Keri’at Yam Suf” – the splitting of the sea. Beneh Yisrael were trapped against the sea by the Egyptian army which pursued them, and Hashem miraculously split...
Parashat Bo begins with the message that Hashem commanded Moshe to bring to Pharaoh before the eighth plague, the plague of hail. In in- troducing this message, Hashem told Moshe that Beneh Yisrael will one day relate to...
In the beginning of Para- shat Vaera we read of the famous “Arba Leshonot Ge’ula” – “four expres- sions of redemption.” Hash- em told Moshe to convey to Beneh Yisrael His promise to “take them”...
The Torah in Para- shat Shemot tells of Pharaoh’s cruel de- cree that all male in- fants born to Beneh Yisrael should be put to death immediately at the time of birth. The two Israelite midwives who delivered...