Parshat Mishpatim 5778
Parshat Mishpatim And, Parshat Mishpatim starts off in a peculiar way. The Hebrew text begins with a “ו“, which translates as “And,” a word usually used to connect two ideas or concepts. But this is the beginning of a new…
Parshat Lech Lecha 5778
Parshat Lech Lecha The book of Bereshit is the book of creation. It begins with the creation of the physical world and continues to detail the creation of the Jewish nation, the ultimate purpose for the world’s creation. The stories…
Parshat Emor 5778
Parshat Emor This week’s portion contains the commandment to sanctify Hashem’s name. The verse states (Leviticus 22:32): ספר ויקרא פרק כב לב) וְלֹא תְחַלְּלוּ אֶת שֵׁם קָדְשִׁי וְנִקְדַּשְׁתִּי בְּתוֹךְ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲנִי יְדֹוָד מְקַדִּשְׁכֶם You shall not desecrate My holy…
Parshat Korach
Parshat Korach The name of this week’s Torah portion is Korach. Korach is the name of the great and holy man who created a rebellion against Moshe. I am sure you are wondering about my choice of words in describing…
Parshat Ekev 5777
Parshat Ekev Ekev is the third portion in the book of Devarim (Deuteronomy), the fifth book of the Torah. This entire book was told to the Jewish people in the last thirty six days of Moshe’s life, with last three…
Parshat Chukat 5777
Parshat Chukat The name of this week’s Torah reading is Chukat. A חק is an edict, so the word חקת means “the edict of” and in context “This is the edict of the Torah.” The Torah continues to detail…
Parshat Chayei Sarah
Chayei Sarah ספר בראשית פרק כג (א) וַיִּהְיוּ חַיֵּי שָׂרָה מֵאָה שָׁנָה וְעֶשְׂרִים שָׁנָה וְשֶׁבַע שָׁנִים שְׁנֵי חַיֵּי שָׂרָה: 1) Sarah lived one hundred years, twenty years, and seven years; the years of Sarah's life. Sarah died in Kiriath-arba,…
Parshat Bo 5778
Parshat Bo The Jews are finally out of Egypt. By killing every first born, Hashem delivered the knockout punch to Pharaoh who could not get rid of them fast enough. This chapter in Jewish history, the slavery and the process…
Parshat Beshalach 5778
Parshat Beshalach This Shabbat, on which we read the Torah portion of בשלח (Beshalach), is called שבת שירה (Shabbat Shira), the Sabbat of the Song, because this portion contains the song that the Jewish people sang to Hashem in appreciation…
Parshat Bereishit 5777
Bereshit What we refer to as the Sukkot holiday in general terms actually comprises two separate holidays: The first seven days are Sukkot when we eat in the Sukkah and shake the lulav on all days except Shabbat. Following Sukkot…