Parsha Re’eh – 5777
Parshat Re’eh In-Depth “See, I give you today a blessing and a curse (Deuteronomy 11:26) Freedom of choice has been granted to every man: if he desires to turn toward a good path and be righteous, the ability to do…
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Parsha Devarim – 5777
Parshat Devarim In-Depth “These are the words which Moses spoke to all Israel on the other side of the Jordan, in the desert, in the Aravah, opposite Suf, between Paran and Tofel, and Lavan, and Chatzerot, and Di-Zahav (Deuteronomy 1:1)…
Parsha Matot-Masei – 5777
Parshat Matot-Masei In-Depth “Moses spoke to the heads of the tribes (30:2) This was the procedure with all the laws that Moses taught: first he would teach them to Aaron and the heads of the tribes, and then he would…
Parsha Pinchas – 5777
Parshat Pinchas In-Depth “Pinchas the son of Elazar the son of Aaron (Numbers 25:10) Why does G‑d refer to Pinchas as ‘the son of Elazar the son of Aaron’? Because the tribes of Israel were mocking him, saying, ‘Have you…
Parsha Korach – 5777
Parshat Korach In-Depth “Korach . . . the son of Yitzhar, the son of Kehat, the son of Levi (16:1) What moved him to start a quarrel? He was moved to it by the fact that Elitzafan, the son of…
Parsha Naso – 5777
Parshat Naso In-Depth “The priest shall write these oaths in a scroll, and he shall blot them out with the bitter water (5:23) Great is peace! To make peace between husband and wife, the Torah instructs that the name of…
Parsha Bamidbar – 5777
Parshat Bamidbar In-Depth “G‑d spoke to Moses in the desert of Sinai (Numbers 1:1) The Torah was given to the people of Israel in the ownerless desert. For if it were given in the Land of Israel, the residents of…
Parsha Achrei Mot-Kedoshim – 5777
Parshat Achrei Mot-Kedoshim In-Depth “After the death of the two sons of Aaron (Leviticus 16:1) Rabbi Elazar ben Azariah would explain this with a parable. A sick person was visited by a physician, who said to him: “Do not eat…
Parsha Tazria-Metzora – 5777
Parshat Tazria-Metzora In-Depth “G‑d spoke to Moses, saying: . . . A woman who shall seed and give birth (Leviticus 12:1–2) Rabbi Simlai said: Just as man’s creation was after that of cattle, beasts and birds, so too the laws…
Parsha Shemini – 5777
Parshat Shemini In-Depth “It came to pass on the eighth day (Leviticus 9:1) That day took ten crowns: It was the first day of creation (i.e., a Sunday), the first for the offerings of the nesi’im (tribal heads), the first…