In the beginning of the Torah section of Metzora, we read (Vayikra 14:1-4): “And G-d spoke to Moses, saying: This shall be the law of the metzora on the day of his purification; and he shall be brought to the kohen. The kohen shall go forth to the outside of the camp, and the kohen shall look and behold the tzara’at affliction had been…
The Torah section of Shmini tells us of the sad incident involving the death of Aaron’s two prestigious sons, Nadav and Avihu. Despite their greatness, the two overstepped their bounds and were consumed by a heavenly fire. We read (Vayikra 10:1-3): “And the sons of Aaron, Nadav and Avihu, each took his fire-pan and they…
The Torah section of Tzav begins by telling us (Vayikra 6:1-4): “And G-d spoke to Moses, saying: Command Aaron and his sons, saying: This is the law of the burnt-offering; it is the burnt-offering [that stays] on the flame, on the Altar, all night until the morning, and the fire of the Altar should be…
In the Torah section of VaYakhel and continued into the Torah section of Pekude, Moses repeats to the nation, whom he has led through the desert to the holy land, G-d’s instructions for the construction of the Mishkan (the Holy Tabernacle), a focal point for communicating with and serving G-d. In one of his talks, printed in Mikhtav…
In the Torah section of Ki Tisa, we read G-d’s instructions for contributing to the holy service in the Mishkan as well as the inauguration of its vessels and the kohanim (priests) who are to perform the service. Subsequently, we read a description of Moses’ descent from Mount Sinai with the Holy Tablets containing the Ten Commandments to find…
We read in the Torah section of Tetzave (Sh’mot 28:2-4), “And you shall make vestments of sanctity for Aaron your brother, for glory and splendor. And you shall speak to all the wise-hearted people whom I have invested with a spirit of wisdom, and they shall make the vestments of Aaron to sanctify him to…
In the Torah section of Terumah, we read of the construction of the Mishkan (Holy Tabernacle), predecessor to the Bet HaMikdash, and its various components. In the course of instructing His people on the construction of the Mishkan, G-d enjoins Moses and the Israelites (Sh’mot 25:23), “And you shall make a Table of acacia wood, two cubits in length…
In the Torah section of Mishpatim, G-d introduces to the followers of His Torah many of the laws and regulations that are to guide our way of life. In one of these verses and the resultant directive we can especially see the emphasis that G-d places on the proper mindset that we are to maintain. We…
In the Torah section of Yitro, we are told of the arrival of Yitro, Moses’ father-in-law, his praise for Moses and the Israelites, his advice to Moses and the Israelites’ subsequently receiving the famous Ten Commandments on Mount Sinai. Amongst the Ten Commandments, fifth no less, we find (Sh’mot 20:12): “Honor your father and your…
In the Torah section of B’Shalach, we read (Sh’mot 13:18), “And the children of Israel were armed when they went up from Egypt.” On this verse, the great exegete R. Shlomo Yitchaki (1040 – 1105), known as Rashi, cites a comment found in the Mekhilta and Tanchuma on this verse: The word for “armed” in…
