In Sh’mot 19:1-18, we are told, “On the third month, after the exodus of the children of Israel from the land of Egypt, in this day did they come to the wilderness of Sinai . . . .And Moses went up unto G-d, and the L-rd called unto him . . .’Thus shall you say…
The Torah section of Bamidbar begins (1:1-4): “And G-d spoke to Moses…Take a census of the entire assembly of the children of Israel according to their families, according to their fathers’ household, by number of the names…you shall count them…you and Aaron. And with you shall be one man from each tribe, a man who is…
In the beginning of the Torah section of Behar, we are told, “Six years you shall sow your field and six years you shall prune your vineyard and gather in the fruit thereof. But the seventh year shall be a sabbath of rest for the land…you shall not sow your field nor prune your vineyard. That which…
From the second day of Pesach (Passover) until the onset of Shavuot, we are enjoined by the Torah: “And you shall count … seven weeks … you shall count fifty days” (Vayikra 23:15-16). We count from the initiation of the holiday in which we celebrate our miraculous release from the slavery of Egypt up to…
The Torah portion of Acharei begins with a reminder of the death of two of Aaron’s children Nadav and Avihu, referred by G-d Himself as “those who are near me” (Vayikra 10:3) but who overstepped their bounds deciding to bring “an alien fire that He did not command” (Vayikra 10:1). As a result they were consumed…
At the beginning of the Torah section of Tazria and towards the end of the Torah section of Metzora, the Torah provides us a sampling of some of the many laws concerning women that are strewn along with other references to women throughout the Holy Scriptures and Rabbinic writings. Throughout Biblical and Rabbinic literature, we find many and various…
Towards the end of the Torah portion of Shmini, we find a large concentration of laws concerning what is permitted or forbidden to be consumed. In fact, this is a large portion of a set of laws samplings of which are found throughout the Torah. Throughout the Torah, we find dietary laws permitting and prohibiting various creatures…
Shortly before his death, our forefather Jacob, also known as Israel, emigrated with his wives and children and their wives and children to Egypt. The children of Israel, after enjoying good fortune for a short period of time, were set upon by the insecurities and jealousies of the large, well-established nation of Egypt who not…
The Torah section of Tzav concludes a series of instructions beginning at the start of the third book of the Torah, Vayikra, concerning the major sacrifices that make up the regular sacrificial service. The priests – kohanim – were charged with the sacrificial order, both in the Temple – Bet HaMikdash – and, earlier, in the…
The very first instruction imparted to Moses to relay to the people of Israel in the Torah section of Vayikra beginning the third book of the Torah by the same name is: “Adam [a person] who shall offer from amongst you a sacrifice to G-d, from animals – from cattle or from sheep – shall…
