Torah Thoughts, Stories, and Inspiration on the weekly Parsha
In this week’s Parsha, the Torah speaks about someone contracting tzaraas, a lesion on the skin that appears due to different types of sins. The pasuk says “Adam ki yieyeh…” – A person who contracts tzaraas should be brought to Aharon Hakohen, or one of his sons, the kohanim. Someone who is presumed to have…
In this week’s Parsha, the pasuk says, u’fashat es begadav, the Kohen, divests himself of his holy priestly clothing, velavash begadim acherim, he puts on ordinary simple clothing, vehotzi es hadeshin, in order to remove and dispose of the ashes. The question is why? Why do we require the holy Kohen to do the menial…
In this week’s Parsha, the pasuk says, “Adam ki yakriv mikem karbon lashem – when a person from you offers a sacrifice to Hashem.” There is a question here: The Torah could have simply said Adam ki yakriv karbon lashem – when a person brings a sacrifice to Hashem. Why does the Torah use the…
In this week’s Parsha, Hashem’s home, the Mishkan is finally inaugurated. After a seven-day process in which Moshe had to assemble and disassemble and build and demolish the Mishkan – on the eighth day it was finally permanent. On the eighth day the Mishkan was finally ready. The question is why? Why all the upheaval?…
In this week’s Parsha, we learn about the men and women who donated gold and material for the building of the Mishkan. The pasuk says, vayavo’u ha’anashim al hanashim, which literally means that the men ascended to the women. Seemingly, the pasuk should have said vayavo’u ha’anashim im hanashim – the men and women came…
Read More “Parshas Vayakhel: When You Fall Down You Get Back Up!” »
In this week’s Parsha, we learn about the vestments that Aharon HaKohen wore in his service to Hashem. One of the special things that Aharon wore was the choshen, the breastplate which Aharon wore on his heart. The choshen had the names of all the twelve shevatim inscribed on it, representing the Yidden, and symbolizing…
In this week’s Parsha, the Jews were instructed to build a Mishkan. The pasuk says that Hashem said, “V’Asu Li Mikdash v’Shachanti b’Socham” – “And they shall make me a Mishkan and I shall dwell in them.” There is an obvious question here. The wording in this pasuk seems incorrect. Seemingly, Hashem should have said…
In this week’s Parsha the Torah commands us to be Anshei Kodesh – “people of holiness.” There is a question here. Other times, the pasuk says to be holy. How come over here the pasuk says to be “people” of holiness? Wouldn’t it make sense for the pasuk to simply say to be holy? Isn’t…
In this week’s Parsha, the Jewish people finally leave Mitzrayim. They were ready to go to Eretz Yisroel, but Hashem didn’t allow them to go the easy way. The pasuk says Vlo Nachum Elokim Drech Eretz Pilishtim – Hashem didn’t take the Jews up the short way – Hashem didn’t take the Yidden to Eretz…
In this week’s Parsha, Pharaoh decreed that all Jewish male babies be killed. He decreed that all newborn babies must be thrown into the Nile River. With no other choice, Moshe’s family had to put him in the river. In a twist of irony and fate, none other than Pharaoh’s own daughter, Basya went to…
