Category Weekly Parsha

Parsha Re’eh – 5777

Moses speaking to Israel - Deuteronomy Chapters 29-30

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…

Parsha Eikev – 5777

the golden calf

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…

Parsha Vaetchanan – 5777

cities of refuge

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,…

Parsha Devarim – 5777

Moses speaks to Israel

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

hills of Gilead

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

Phineas

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 Balak – 5777

Balaam and the angel

Parshat Balak In-Depth “Moab said to the elders of Midian (22:4) Moab and Midian were erstwhile enemies, as it is written (Genesis 36:35), ‘. . . who smote Midian in the field of Moab’; but out of fear of Israel,…

Parsha Chukat – 5777

Moses strikes the rock

Parshat Chukat In-Depth “In everything that G‑d taught Moses, He would tell him both the manner of contamination and the manner of purification. When G‑d came to the laws concerning one who comes in contact with a dead body, Moses…

Parsha Sh’lach – 5777

grapes of canaan

Parshat Sh’lach In-Depth “Send out for yourself men (Numbers 13:2) ‘Send out for yourself’—as your mind dictates. I am not instructing you; if you so desire, send. For the people of Israel had come to Moses, saying ‘Let us send…