Torah Thoughts, Stories, and Inspiration on the weekly Parsha
In this week’s Parsha, we learn about Yitzchak Avinu who was 40 years old and still single. He needed to get married. The pasuk tells us, “Vayeitze Yitzchak lasuach basadeh” – Yitzchok went out to pray in the field. The pasuk continues, “Vayisa einav vayar” – he lifted his eyes and his intended bride, his…
In this week’s Parsha, Aharon, the Kohen Godel was commanded to light the Menorah, The Torah says, “V’yas k’ein Aharon – Aharon did so.” On this pasuk Rashi says shelo shino – that Aharon didn’t change the way he lit the menorah. When Aharon lit the menorah, he didn’t deviate from Hashem’s command even one…
In this week’s Parsha we learn about the Sotah – a lady who was seen secluded and suspected of sinning with another man. The Torah says that by the case of a suspected sotah, the husband must take his wife to the Beis Hamikdash where the kohen does a special test to see if she…
In this week’s Parsha, a census is taken of Klal Yisroel and all the shevatim were counted. Each time a shevet was counted, the resulting number was rounded off to hundreds. For example, shevet Reuven’s count was 46,500 people and shevet Shimon’s count was 59,300 people. However, there is one exception to this: Shevet Gad….
Read More “Parshas Bamidbar Inspiration: Every Jew is Priceless” »
In this week’s Parsha, the Yidden are traveling through the Midbar. The pasuk says V’chi yamuch achicha, Umata yodo imach – if your brother becomes impoverished and stretches out his hand – vehechzakta bo – you should give him strength. If a person needs help or assistance you should care for him and support him. There…
In the beginning of this week’s Parsha, the pasuk starts off, “Emor El Hakohanim” – say to the Kohanim… right after, the pasuk says “Vamarta Aleyihem” – and say to them. Rashi says that the Kohanim received a double charge. They were charged to protect their kedusha and “Lehazir Gedolim Al HaKetanim” – they were…
In this week’s Parsha, we are commanded “V’ahavta l’rei’echa kamocha, you shall love your neighbor like yourself. There is an obvious question here. What exactly does this mean? How is it possible to love someone else as we love ourselves? Isn’t that counterintuitive? After all, we are wired to fend and protect ourselves. We are wired…
Read More “Parshas Acharei Mos-Kedoshim Inspiration: Is Love Possible??” »
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…
