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...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Parashat Yitro NOW IT WAS ON THE MORROW: MOSHE SAT TO JUDGE THE PEOPLE AND THE PEOPLE STOOD BEFORE MOSHE FROM DAYBREAK UNTIL SUNSET. WHEN MOSHE'S FATHER-IN-LAW SAW ALL THAT HE HAD TO DO FOR THE PEOPLE, HE SAID: WHAT KIND OF MATTER IS THIS THAT YOU DO FOR THE PEOPLE? WHY DO YOU SIT ALONE, WHILE THE ENTIRE PEOPLE STATIONS ITSELF AROUND YOU FROM DAYBREAK UNTIL SUNSET? The Judge Can Judge Only By What He Sees … From the text, it seems that originally Moshe...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Parashat Beshalach YOU LED IN YOUR FAITHFULNESS YOUR PEOPLE REDEEMED, GUIDED THEM IN YOUR FIERCE MIGHT TO YOUR HOLY PASTURE. THE PEOPLES HEARD, THEY SHUDDERED; WRITHING SEIZED PHILISTIA'S SETTLERS. (Shemot 15:13-15) Rabbi Yehuda bar Simon opened his discourse (Devarim 32): "He said: I will conceal my face from thee" – the son of a king who would go out to the marketplace, strike – but not be struck, put to shame – but not be shamed, and he would stand arrogantly...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Parashat Bo SO THE PEOPLE TOOK THEIR DOUGH BEFORE IT HAD FERMENTED, THEIR KNEADING BOWLS WRAPPED IN THEIR CLOAKS UPON THEIR SHOULDERS…. NOW THEY BAKED THE DOUGH WHICH THEY HAD BROUGHT OUT OF EGYPT INTO MATZOTH CAKES, FOR IT HAD NOT FERMENTED, FOR THEY HAD BEEN DRIVEN OUT OF EGYPT AND COULD NOT LINGER; NEITHER HAD THEY MADE PROVISIONS FOR THEMSELVES. (Shemot 12:34, 39) "Before it had fermented" – The Egyptians did not let them wait for fermentation. (Rashi, Shemot 12:34) "For they had been...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Parashat Vaera GOD SAID TO MOSHE: SAY TO AHARON: STRETCH OUT YOUR HAND WITH YOUR STAFF, OVER THE TRIBUTARIES, OVER THE NILE CANALS AND OVER THE PONDS, MAKE THE FROGS ASCEND UPON THE LAND OF EGYPT! AHARON STRETCHED OUT HIS HAND OVER THE WATERS OF EGYPT, THE FROG HORDE ASCENDED AND COVERED THE LAND OF EGYPT. (Shemot 8:1,2) Subjugation of the Subjugators Why did He bring upon the Egyptians the frogs? Because they had subjugated the Israelites, ordering them "Bring us...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Parashat Shemot THE MIDWIVES, FEARING GOD, DID NOT DO AS THE KING OF EGYPT HAD TOLD THEM; THEY LET THE BOYS LIVE. SO THE KING OF EGYPT SUMMONED THE MIDWIVES AND SAID TO THEM, "WHY HAVE YOU DONE THIS THING, LETTING THE BOYS LIVE?" (Shemot 1 17:18) Ethical Behavior Is The Criterion For Fear of God … whoever withstands this test, willing to sacrifice his life – prepared to be killed rather than to transgress – definitely has in his heart the Lord, the Lord of...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Parashat Vayechi YISSACHAR IS A STRONG-BONED ASS, CROUCHING AMONG THE SHEEPFOLDS. WHEN HE SAW HOW GOOD WAS SECURITY AND HOW PLEASANT WAS THE COUNTRY, HE BENT HIS SHOULDER TO THE BURDEN, AND BECAME A TOILING SERF. (Bereishit 49:14,15) In Yissachar that disposition is described which works gladly but only in such a way, and with such an idea, as has worth in the true Jewish nation. While in Yehuda the ruling tribe and in Zevulun the commercial tribe is presented, in Yissachar the real backbone of...