Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Bereishit AND THE LORD GOD CALLED TO THE HUMAN, AND SAID TO HIM: "WHERE ARE YOU?" (Bereishit 3:9) The Story of the Jewish People is the Story of the First Human, which is the Story of Every Human Rabbi Abahu said in the name of R. Hanina: It is written: They, as a man , transgressed the covenant (Hosea 6) – they are like the first man . Just as I placed Adam in...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Simhat Tora MOSES WENT UP FROM THE STEPPES OF MOAB TO MOUNT NEBO, TO THE SUMMIT OF PISGAH, OPPOSITE JERICHO, AND THE LORD SHOWED HIM THE WHOLE LAND; GILEAD AS FAR AS DAN… AND THE LORD SAID TO HIM, "THIS IS THE LAND OF WHICH I SWORE TO ABRAHAM, ISAAC, AND JACOB, SAYING, ‘I WILL ASSIGN IT TO YOUR OFFSPRING.' I HAVE LET YOU SEE IT WITH YOUR OWN EYES, BUT YOU SHALL NOT CROSS THERE....
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Ha'azinu – Sukkot A sukkah whose height exceeds twenty cubits is unfit, but Rabbi Yehudah allows it… (Mishnah Sukkah 1:1) What is the scriptural basis?… Rava said: From You shall dwell in sukkot for seven days (Vayikra 23) – The Torah said: Leave your permanent dwelling and live in a temporary dwelling for all of those seven days. Up to twenty cubits – a person has made temporary dwelling; More than twenty...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Vayelech Rabbi Eliezer said: Since the destruction of the Temple, the gates of prayer are locked, for it is written, Also when I cry out, He shuts out my prayer (Eikhah 3:8). Yet though the gates of prayer are locked, the gates of tears are not, for it is written, Hear my prayer, O Lord, and give ear unto my cry, hold not your peace at my tears (Tehillim 39:13)… Rav Hisada said: All gates...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Nitzavim WHO IS A GOD LIKE YOU, FORGIVING ANY INIQUITY AND REMITTING TRANSGRESSION; WHO HAS NOT MAINTAINED HIS WRATH FOREVER AGAINST THE REMNANT OF HIS OWN PEOPLE, BECAUSE HE LOVES GRACIOUSNESS! HE WILL TAKE US BACK IN LOVE; HE WILL COVER UP OUR INIQUITIES, YOU WILL HURL ALL THEIR SINS INTO THE DEPTHS OF THE SEA. (Micah 7:18-19) Recitation of the Tashlikh by a River The point of the custom of reciting the passage...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Ki Tavo WHEN YOU ENTER THE LAND THAT THE LORD YOUR GOD IS GIVING YOU AS A HERITAGE, AND YOU POSSESS IT AND SETTLE IN IT, YOU SHALL TAKE SOME OF EVERY FIRST FRUIT OF THE SOIL, WHICH YOU HARVEST FROM THE LAND THAT THE LORD YOUR GOD IS GIVING YOU, PUT IT IN A BASKET AND GO TO THE PLACE WHERE THE LORD YOUR GOD WILL CHOOSE TO ESTABLISH HIS NAME. (Devarim 26:1-2) ...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Ki Tetseh IF, ALONG THE ROAD, YOU CHANCE UPON A BIRD'S NEST, IN ANY TREE OR ON THE GROUND, WITH FLEDGLINGS OR EGGS AND THE MOTHER SITTING OVER THE FLEDGLINGS OR ON THE EGGS, DO NOT TAKE THE MOTHER TOGETHER WITH HER YOUNG. SEND THE MOTHER AWAY, AND TAKE ONLY THE YOUNG, IN ORDER THAT YOU MAY FARE WELL AND HAVE A LONG LIFE. (Devarim 22:6-7) Send the mother away – a Scriptural Decree...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Shoftim IF SOMEONE SLAIN IS FOUND IN THE LAND THAT THE LORD YOUR GOD IS ASSIGNING TO YOU TO POSSESS, LYING OUT IN THE OPEN, THE IDENTITY OF THE SLAYER NOT BEING KNOWN… (Devarim 21:1) If someone slain is found: "But not in times when is commonplace" (Sifri). This commandment is observed in times when laws are enforced and murder and killing are rare, when a slain body on the ground is something...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Reeh BE CAREFUL TO OBSERVE ALL THAT I ENJOIN UPON YOU; NEITHER ADD TO IT NOR TAKE AWAY FROM IT. (Devarim 13:1) Neither add to it – five sections in tefillin, five types of plant in a lulav, four priestly blessings. (Rashi Devarim 13:1) All – This connects with that which was written above it – not to...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Ekev I SAW THAT YOU HAD SINNED AGAINST THE LORD YOUR GOD: YOU MADE YOURSELVES A MOLTEN CALF; YOU HAD BEEN QUICK TO STRAY FROM THE PATH THAT THE LORD HAD ENJOINED UPON YOU. (Devarim 9:16) The question is worth considering why Aaron, who was given a completely free hand in the choice of the form, should have just chosen that of a calf… But we have already had the opportunity on several occasions...