Parsha Vayikra – 5777
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…
Parsha Vayakhel-Pekudei – 5777
Parshat Vayakhel In-Depth and Parshat Pekudei In-Depth “Moses assembled the entire congregation of the children of Israel (35:1) This was on the morning after Yom Kippur, the day that Moses descended from the mountain [with the second tablets]. (Rashi)” ……
Parsha Ki Tisa – 5777
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…
Parsha Tetzaveh – 5777
Parshat Tetzaveh In-Depth “And you shall command . . . (27:20) Tetzaveh is the only Parshah in the Torah since Moses’ birth in which Moses’ name does not appear (with the exception of the book of Deuteronomy, which consists mostly…
Parsha Terumah – 5777
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…
Parsha Mishpatim – 5777
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…
Parsha Yitro – 5777
Parshat Yitro In-Depth “Jethro, the priest of Midian, the father-in-law of Moses, heard of all that G‑d did for Moses and His people Israel, that G‑d had taken Israel out of Egypt (18:1) Of what did he hear that he…
Parsha Beshalach – 5777
Parshat Beshalach In-Depth “G‑d did not lead them through the way of the land of the Philistines (13:17) The tribe of Ephraim had erred and departed from Egypt 30 years before the destined time, with the result that three hundred…
Parsha Bo – 5777
Parshat Bo In-Depth “G‑d said to Moses: ‘Come in to Pharaoh’ (10:1) Rabbi Shimon [bar Yochai] continued: It is now fitting to reveal mysteries connected with that which is above and that which is below. Why is it written, ‘Come…
Parsha Va’era – 5777
Parshat Vaeira In-Depth “G‑d spoke to Moses, and said to him: ‘I am G‑d. I revealed Myself to Abraham, to Isaac and to Jacob’ (6:2–3) G‑d said to Moses: I regret the loss of those who have passed away and…