Parshat Beha’alotcha In-Depth “Aaron did not bring an offering (for the Sanctuary’s dedication—see previous Parshah) with the other princes of the tribes, and so he thought: Woe is me! Perhaps it is on my account that G‑d does not accept…
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 Behar-Bechukotai In-Depth “G‑d spoke to Moses on Mount Sinai, saying . . . (Leviticus 25:1) What has the Sabbatical year to do with Mount Sinai? Were not all commandments given on Sinai? But the verse wishes to tell us:…
Parshat Emor In-Depth “Speak to the kohanim, the sons of Aaron, and say to them . . . (Leviticus 21:1) “Speak” and “say”—enjoin the elders regarding the youngsters. (Talmud; Rashi) The above dictum, which constitutes a primary biblical source for…
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…
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…
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…
Parshat Tzav In-Depth “The expression tzav (“command”) implies an urging for now and for future generations. (Torat Kohanim; Rashi) The king Moshiach will arise and restore the kingdom of David to its glory of old, to its original sovereignty. He…
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…
