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…
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)” ……
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…
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 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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
