10 May PARASHAT EMOR: KIDDUSH HASHEM AND HILUL HASHEM
We find in Parashat Emor one of the most important commands in the entire Torah: “Ve’lo Tehalelu Et Shem Kodshi” – “You shall not desecrate My sacred Name” (22:32). The...
03 May PARASHAT KEDOSHIM: WHAT DOES “HOLY” MEAN?
Parashat Kedoshim begins with the command of “Kedoshim Tiheyu” – that we be “holy.” The term “holy” conjures up different associations among different people, the common denominator being that they have...
27 Apr PARASHAT ACHARE MOTTHE LESSON OF THE WHITE AND GOLD GARMENTS
We read in Parashat Ahareh-Mot of the spe- cial service which the Kohen Gadol would perform on Yom Kip- pur in the Bet Ha’mikdash. One of the many fascinating features of this service is the...
12 Apr PESACH: THE “INTOXICATION” OF THE SEDER
The Rema Mi’Pano (Rav Menahem Azarya of Fano, Italy, 1548-1620) writes that the verse in Shir Ha’shirim (5:1), “Ichlu Re’im Shetu Ve’shichru Dodim” – “Eat, friends; drink to intoxication, beloved...
05 Apr PARASHAT MESORA: CORRECTING THE SIN OF LASHON HA’RA
Parashiyot Tazria and Mesora speak at length about the subject of Sara’at, the skin infection that would be suffered by those guilty of the sin of Lashon Ha’ra – negative...
29 Mar PARASHAT TAZRIA: ELIYAHU HA’NABI AND THE BERIT MILA “REDEMPTION”
Parashat Tazria begins with the law of “Tum’at Yoledet” – the state of impurity that descends upon a woman after she delivers a child. The Torah establishes that the woman...
22 Mar PARASHAT SHEMINI- SACRIFICING FOR MISVOT
Parashat Shemini tells of the events that took place “on the eighth day” – meaning, the day after the sevenday Miluim process during which Aharon and his sons were prepared to serve as Kohanim. On this...
15 Mar PARASHAT SAV: MAKING SACRIFICES
Parashat Sav continues the Torah’s discussion which began in the previous Parasha, Parashat Vayikra, outlining the basic laws that apply to the various types of sacrifices. One of the voluntary sacrifices...
08 Mar PURIM – WHAT HAMAN LEARNED FROM MORDECHAI
We read in the Megilla of how Ahashverosh wanted to repay Mordechai for saving his life, and he summoned Haman to ask him what would be an appropriate way of...
01 Mar PARASHAT PEKUDEI: THE SCHOLARS OF TORAH & THE SUPPORTERS OF TORAH
The Gemara in Masechet Berachot (55a) tells of the conversation Moshe had with Besalel, the man appointed by G-d to lead the construction of the Mishkan, when Moshe approached him...