Throughout the latter part of the book of Sh’mot, the narrative of the Torah revolves heavily upon the preparations for setting up the Mishkan, the forerunner of the Bet Hamikdash, the Holy Temple. Numerous times in the Torah, mention is made of “the place which the L-rd will choose” (Devarim 12:11 et al), i.e. the…
The Torah portion of Ki Tisah concludes a lengthy series of instructions concerning the many components of the Mishkan (Tabernacle), predecessor to the Bet HaMikdash (Temple). Afterwards, the Torah reports a rather embarrassing episode in the annals of the Jewish people. Moses left the people and had gone up to receive the Holy Tablets from…
Every year, on the 14th day of Adar in unwalled towns and on the 15th day of Adar in walled towns, we celebrate a relatively unique event which occurred during a crucial period in Jewish history. Upon the death of Nebuchadnezzar in 562 BCE, Jewish oppression at the hands of the then Babylonian empire was…
As Jews around the world hale the commencement of the joyous month of Adar and prepare for Ta’anit Esther (Fast of Esther), the fast that ushers in the subsequent Purim holiday, one may wish to reflect on the book in the Holy Scriptures that is at the center of the holiday of Purim that is…
Towards the end of the Torah portion of Mishpatim, G-d informs the people of Israel who have escaped a torturous slavery in Egypt, are trekking through a desolate desert and are eagerly awaiting a place to settle down in: “I shall send My fear before you and I shall confound the entire people among whom…
The Torah portion of Yitro begins (Sh’mot 18:1-12): “Jethro, the minister of Midian, the father-in-law of Moses, heard everything that G-d did for Moses and for Israel His people…And Jethro, the father-in-law of Moses, came to Moses with his sons and wife, to the desert where he was encamped…And Jethro rejoiced over all the good that…
In the Torah portion of B’Shalach, G-d culminates his series of punishments that he administers against the Egyptians on behalf of the great-great grandchildren of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. After many many years of slavery, constant beatings, backbreaking toil, and abject fear and terror, G-d decides to finally put an end to this situation. He…
In describing to Moses the course of events that is to unfold leading to the Israelites’ exodus from the slavery of Egypt, G-d says, “And I shall harden Pharoah’s heart and I shall [thereby] multiply My signs and My wonders in the land of Egypt” (Sh’mot 7:3). This hardening of Pharoah’s heart continues throughout the…
In the beginning of the second book of the Torah, Sh’mot (2:11-12), we are told of an encounter of the young future leader of the people of Israel, Moses, with a cruel Egyptian. “It happened in those days that Moses grew up and went out to his brethren and saw their burdens; and he saw…
On the first verse in the Torah section of VaYechi (the last section of Bereshit, the first book of the Torah), Rashi comments: “Why is this passage closed? Because once our forefather Jacob passed away, the eyes and heart of Israel were closed, because of the suffering of the enslavement, for the [Egyptians] began to enslave…
