Parshat Eikev In-Depth “Because you hearken to these laws (Deuteronomy 7:12) The commentaries dwell on the Hebrew word eikev in this verse—an uncommon synonym for “because.” Many see a connection with the word akeiv (same spelling, different pronunciation), which means…
Parshat Vaetchanan In-Depth “I beseeched G‑d at that time (Deuteronomy 3:23) Prayer is called by ten names: cry, howl, groan, song, encounter, stricture, prostration, judgment and beseeching. [These synonyms for prayer are derived from: Exodus 2:23–24, Jeremiah 7:16, Psalms 18:6,…
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)…
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…
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…
Parshat Vayikra In-Depth “Said Rav Assi: Why do young children begin [the study of Torah] with the book of Leviticus, and not with Genesis? Surely it is because young children are pure, and the korbanot are pure; so let the…
Parshat Ki Tisa In-Depth “This they shall give . . . half a shekel (30:13) The mitzvah of the half-shekel is that each should contribute a coin that [is valued at] half of the dominant coin of that time. If…
Parshat Terumah In-Depth “Speak to the children of Israel, that they should take to Me a terumah (“uplifting”) (Exodus 25:2) Every created entity has a spark of G‑dliness within it, a pinpoint of divinity that constitutes its “soul,” its spiritual…
Parshat Mishpatim In-Depth “And these are the laws which you shall set before them (Exodus 21:1) The phrase “and these” (ve’eileh) implies that they are a continuation of what is written before. This is to teach us that just as…
Parshat Shemot In-Depth “And these are the names of the children of Israel who came into Egypt . . . Reuben, Simeon, Levi and Judah (Exodus 1:1–2) Although G‑d had already counted them in their lifetime, He again counted them…
