Torah Thoughts, Stories, and Inspiration on the weekly Parsha
In this week’s Parsha (28:4), we learn about the ornaments and vestments that were worn by Aharon the kohen Gadol in his service to Hashem. One of the articles that he wore was the choshen, the breastplate, which he wore on his heart. Inscribed on the breastplate were the names of each of the twelve tribes…
In this week’s Parsha, Hashem instructed the Jewish people to build a Mishkan (Tabernacle). The pasuk says “V’Asu Li Mikdash v’Shachanti b’Socham-“And they shall make me a Mishkan and I shall dwell in them.” The wording in this pasuk seems incorrect. Seemingly, Hashem should have said that He “will dwell in it”, meaning that the…
In this week’s Parsha (22:30), the Torah commands us to be Anshei Kodesh – “people of holiness.” Other times the pasuk just says to be holy. However, here there’s an extra word – to be People of Holiness. Isn’t this wording extraneous? Isn’t it obvious that Hashem is addressing human beings? Can’t the pasuk simply say, “Be…
In this week’s Parsha Yisro says baruch Hashem asher hitzil eschem miyad Mitzrayim, blessed is Hashem who saved the Jewish people from the hands of the Egyptians. The Gemara in Sanhedrin (94a) says that Yisro was the first person to ever recite these words baruch Hashem. I would like to share with you a question…
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This week’s Parsha (Shemos 15:2) details the unprecedented miracle of Kriyas Yam Suf, the splitting of the sea. Upon witnessing the immense miracle, the Jewish people exuberantly proclaim, “Zeh Keili v’anvei’hu, Elokei Avi v’Arrom’menhu – This is my G-d, and I will glorify Him; the G-d of my father I will adore him. The order in this phrase,…
In this week’s Parsha, Hashem told Moshe Rabbeinu Bo el Pharoh, to come to Pharaoh. Now grammatically this doesn’t make much sense. The pasuk should say lech el Pharaoh, go to Pharaoh. Why does the Torah say come to Pharaoh? Let’s think about it. Moshe Rabbeinu was very intimidated by Pharaoh. He was scared, and…
In this week’s Parsha Hashem speaks to Moshe saying, “Va’eira el Avraham el Yitzchak ve’el Yaakov” – And I appeared to Avraham, Yitzchok, and Yaakov. Rashi says: va’eira el ha’avos, I appeared to the forefathers. Now Rashi is there to edify and illuminate. Everyone knows Avraham, Yitzchok, and Yaakov were the avos (forefathers). What is Rashi…
In this week’s Parsha we learn about Pharaoh’s evil decree that all Jewish male babies must be killed. Moshe was placed in a basket into the Nile River. In a twist of irony and fate, none other than Pharaoh’s daughter Basya comes to bathe in the water, sees the baby, and her compassion is aroused…
“And Moshe called …” (35:1) The Yalkut (Remez 408) has an astounding teaching: The one and only time the Torah says “Vayakhel” (referring to the fact that Moshe proactively and deliberately gathered all the Jews together), was for the building of the Mishkan. I heard from Rav Yitzchok Fingerer that the Avnei Nezer and the…
This they shall give …” (30:13)The Torah records that Moshe had difficulty understanding several items, e.g., the Menorah and the sheretz (creeping animals), and Hashem showed him examples. But what trouble could he have comprehending the half shekel? Had he never seen a coin before? Why did Hashem show him a coin of fire when…
