Kedoshim תשפב The third verse in this week’s portion Kedoshim (Leviticus 19:3) tells us: (ג) אִישׁ אִמּוֹ וְאָבִיו תִּירָאוּ וְאֶת שַׁבְּתֹתַי תִּשְׁמֹרוּ אֲנִי יְדֹוָד אֱלֹקֵיכֶם 3) Every man, your mother and father, you shall fear, and my Shabbats, you shall…
Acharei Mot תשפב Last week we celebrated the Festival of Passover, commemorating the Jewish nation’s exodus from 210 years of Egyptian slavery. In this week’s portion, Acharei Mot, the Torah instructs us (Leviticus 18:3): (ג) כְּמַעֲשֵׂה אֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם אֲשֶׁר יְשַׁבְתֶּם בָּהּ לֹא…
Pesach The Festival of Pesach is, by far, the most celebrated holiday in the Jewish calendar. In terms of popularity, it trumps even Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the “High Holidays.” The theme of freedom that we celebrate on Pesach…
Pesach תשפב The Pesach holiday which commemorates the release of the Jewish nation from 210 years of slavery in Egypt, is celebrated for seven days (in the diaspora 8) beginning the 15th of the month of Nissan. Nevertheless, we are commanded to…
Shabbat eve, the 15th day of the month of Adar (March 18, 2022), Rabbi Chayim Kanievsky זצ"ל, the world’s holiest Torah sage, returned his soul to his Maker. The loss of this Torah giant constitutes a massive, immeasurable blow to…
Shemini תשפב Despite its many “stories,” the Torah is not a story book; their inclusion comes to teach us many important lessons. Often, the lesson is obvious, while sometimes it is deep beneath the surface. One of the most difficult…
Purim תשפב Purim is the most festive and happy holiday in the Jewish calendar. It is the only holiday that carries with it an obligation to drink wine to the point that one doesn’t know the difference between “Cursed be Haman”…
Parshat Zachor תשפ"ב The month of Adar has begun, and we are commanded to increase our happiness! The Talmud says (Taanit 29a): אמר רב יהודה בריה דרב שמואל בר שילת משמיה דרב: משנכנס אדר מרבין בשמחה Rabbi Yehuda the son of Rav…
Parshat Pekudei תשפ"ב This week’s portion has the Torah tallying the gold, silver, and copper used in the Tabernacle’s construction. But first, the Torah provides a lengthy introduction to the Tabernacle itself (Exodus 38:21,22): ספר שמות פרק לח כא) אֵלֶּה פְקוּדֵי…
Shabbat Shekalim תשפב This Shabbat, the Shabbat that precedes Rosh Chodes Adar, the first day of Adar, is called שבת שקלים - Shabbat Shekalim, Shabbat of the coins. When the Holy Temple stood, the Jewish community – צבור - tzibur, was obligated to bring two sacrifices daily:…