Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parashat Tazria AS FOR THE PERSON WITH A TZARAAT (Although traditionally translated as 'leprosy', tzaraat is now understood as a kind of skin disease, not as serious as true leprosy. In the Bible, it was, however, often taken as a sign from God of wrongdoing on the part of the victim. – (Everett Fox The Five Books Of Moses)) AFFECTION, HIS CLOTHES SHALL BE RENT, HIS HEAD SHALL BE LEFT BARE, AND HE SHALL COVER OVER...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Parashat Shmini AHARON LIFTED HIS HANDS TOWARD THE PEOPLE AND BLESSED THEM; AND HE STEPPED DOWN AFTER OFFERING THE SIN OFFERING, THE BURNT OFFERING, AND THE OFFERING OF WELL-BEING. MOSHE AND AHARON THEN WENT INSIDE THE TENT OF MEETING. WHEN THEY CAME OUT, THEY BLESSED THE PEOPLE; AND THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD APPEARED TO ALL THE PEOPLE. FIRE CAME FORTH FROM BEFORE THE LORD AND CONSUMED THE BURNT OFFERING AND THE FAT PARTS ON THE ALTAR. AND ALL THE PEOPLE SAW, AND SHOUTED, AND FELL ON...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Parashat Vayikra The Sacrifice Symbolizes The Way One Approaches God Rabbi Yehoshua of Sikhnin said in the name of Rabbi Levi: Come and see how God is considerate of Israel's possessions – He said to them: If one is obliged to bring an offering, if the offering is to be an olah – a burnt offering – let him bring from his cattle – "If his burnt offering is a burnt offering from the herd (Vayikra 1:3); and should he not find from the herd, let him...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Parashat Tzav THE LORD SPOKE TO MOSHE, SAYING: TAKE AHARON ALONG WITH HIS SONS, AND THE VESTMENTS, THE ANOINTING OIL, THE BULL OF SIN OFFERING, THE TWO RAMS, AND THE BASKET OF UNLEAVENED BREAD; AND ASSEMBLE THE WHOLE COMMUNITY AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE TENT OF MEETING. AND MOSHE DID AS THE LORD COMMANDED HIM. AND WHEN THE COMMUNITY WAS ASSEMBLED AT THE ENTRANCE OF THE TENT OF MEETING, MOSHE SAID TO THE COMMUNITY, "THIS IS WHAT THE LORD HAS COMMANDED TO BE DONE." (Vayikra 8:1-5) ...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Parashat Pekuday THE CLOUD COVERED THE TENT OF MEETING, AND THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD FILLED THE TABERNACLE. MOSHE COULD NOT ENTER THE TENT OF MEETING, BECAUSE THE CLOUD HAD SETTLED UPON IT AND THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD FILLED THE TABERNACLE. (Shemot 40:34-35) "But will God really dwell on earth? Even the heavens to their uttermost reaches cannot contain You, how much less this House that I have built!" (I Kings 8:27) There was this man who walked along, saying: When our love was...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Parashat Vayakhel MOSHE THEN CONVOKED THE WHOLE ISRAELITE COMMUNITY AND SAID TO THEM: THESE ARE THE THINGS THAT THE LORD HAS COMMANDED YOU TO DO: ON SIX DAYS WORK MAY BE DONE, BUT ON THE SEVENTH DAY YOU SHALL HAVE A SABBATH OF COMPLETE REST, HOLY TO THE LORD; WHOEVER DOES ANY WORK ON IT SHALL BE PUT TO DEATH. YOU SHALL KINDLE NO FIRE THROUGHOUT YOUR SETTLEMENTS ON THE SABBATH DAY. "You shall kindle no fire" – The fire of Hell and the fire of...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Parashat Ki Tissa AND GOD SAID TO MOSHE: I SEE THIS PEOPLE – AND HERE, IT IS A HARD-NECKED PEOPLE! SO NOW, LET ME BE, THAT MY ANGER MAY FLARE AGAINST THEM AND I MAY DESTROY THEM – BUT YOU I WILL MAKE INTO A GREAT NATION! MOSHE IMPLORED THE LORD HIS GOD, HE SAID: FOR WHAT REASON, O LORD, SHOULD YOUR ANGER FLARE AGAINST YOUR PEOPLE WHOM YOU BROUGHT OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT WITH GREAT POWER, WITH A STRONG HAND… AND THE LORD RENOUNCED...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Parashat Tetzave I WILL SANCTIFY THE TENT OF MEETING AND THE ALTAR, AND I WILL CONSECRATE AHARON AND HIS SONS TO SERVE ME AS PRIESTS. I WILL ABIDE AMONG THE ISRAELITES, AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD. (Shemot 29) I WILL ABIDE AMONG THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, AND I WILL NEVER FORSAKE MY PEOPLE ISRAEL. (I Kings 6) Man's Creations, Repentance, The Residence Of The Shechina, And Geula "If you follow my laws" – What is written there? "I will establish My abode in your midst"...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Parashat Truma YOU ARE TO MAKE ITS LAMPS, SEVEN OF THEM, YOU ARE TO DRAW UP ITS LAMPWICKS SO THAT THEY LIGHT UP THE SPACE ACROSS FROM IT… NOW SEE AND MAKE, ACCORDING TO THEIR BUILDING PATTERN WHICH YOU ARE GRANTED TO SEE UPON THE MOUNTAIN. (Shemot 25:37, 40) Rabbi Yossi son of Rabbi Yehuda says: An ark of fire and a table of fire and a candelabra of fire descended from heaven; Moshe saw and made according to them, as is written (Shemot 25) "Now...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Parashat Mishpatim "WHEN YOU ACQUIRE A HEBREW SLAVE, HE SHALL SERVE SIX YEARS; IN THE SEVENTH YEAR HE SHALL GO FREE, WITHOUT PAYMENT. BUT IF THE SLAVE DECLARES, "I LOVE MY MASTER, AND MY WIFE AND CHILDREN; I DO NOT WISH TO GO FREE", HIS MASTER SHALL TAKE HIM BEFORE GOD. HE SHALL BE BROUGHT TO THE DOOR OR THE DOORPOST, AND HIS MASTER SHALL PIERCE HIS EAR WITH AN AWL; AND HE SHALL THEN REMAIN HIS SLAVE FOR LIFE." Temporal servants are servants of servants...