Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Kedoshim You shall faithfully observe all My laws and all My regulations, lest the land to which I bring you to settle in spew you out. You shall not follow the practices of the nation that I am driving out before you. For it is because they did all these things that I abhorred them… You shall be holy to Me, for I the Lord am holy, and I have set you apart from other...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Seventh day of Pessah THEN MOSES AND THE ISRAELITES SANG THIS SONG TO THE LORD. THEY SAID: "I WILL SING TO THE LORD, FOR HE HAS TRIUMPHED GLORIOUSLY; HORSE AND DRIVER HE HAS HURLED INTO THE SEA. (Shemot 15:1) In Contrast to Human Beings and the Ministering Angels, God is never pleased at the fall of the Wicked. And they say, Give thanks unto the Lord, for his kindness is everlasting. Rabbi Yohanan said:...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Achary Mot THEN MOSES AND AARON CAME AND SAID TO PHARAOH: "THUS SAYS THE LORD GOD OF ISRAEL: SEND MY PEOPLE OUT SO THAT THEY CAN WORSHIP ME IN THE WILDERNESS. (Shemot 5:1) Starting with Words From the wilderness of Kedeimot – Although the Omnipresent had not commanded me to proclaim peace unto Sidon I learnt to do so from what happened in the wilderness of Sinai, i.e., from an incident that relates to...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Metzora IF, HOWEVER, HE IS POOR AND HIS MEANS ARE INSUFFICIENT, HE SHALL TAKE ONE MALE LAMB FOR A GUILT OFFERING, TO BE ELEVATED IN EXPIATION FOR HIM, ONE TENTH OF A MEASURE OF CHOICE FLOUR WITH OIL MIXED IN FOR A MEAL OFFERING, AND A LOG OF OIL… SUCH IS THE RITUAL FOR HIM WHO HAS A SCALY AFFLICTION AND WHOSE MEANS FOR HIS CLEANSING ARE LIMITED. (Vayikra 14:21,32) If, however, he is poor...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Tazria IF A MAN LOSES THE HAIR OF HIS HEAD AND BECOMES BALD, HE IS CLEAN… THE MAN IS LEPROUS; HE IS UNCLEAN. THE PRIEST SHALL PRONOUNCE HIM UNCLEAN; HE HAS THE AFFLICTION ON HIS HEAD… HE SHALL BE UNCLEAN AS LONG AS THE DISEASE IS ON HIM. BEING UNCLEAN, HE SHALL DWELL APART; HIS DWELLING SHALL BE OUTSIDE THE CAMP. (Vayikra 13:40,44,46) As for the uncleanness of leprosy, we have already explained its meaning....
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Shmini THIS IS THE RITUAL LAW THAT THE LORD HAS COMMANDED: INSTRUCT THE ISRAELITE PEOPLE TO BRING YOU A RED COW WITHOUT BLEMISH, IN WHICH THERE IS NO DEFECT AND ON WHICH NO YOLK HAS BEEN LAID. (Bamidbar 19:2) Respect for the Dead, the Impurity of the Dead, and the Cult of the Dead and their Graves Or a human bone or a grave – The Torah is stricter regarding the impurity associated with a...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Tzav – Purim WHEN THE FIFTEENTH FALLS ON SHABBAT, THE MEGGILAH IS NOT READ ON SHABBAT, RATHER, IT IS READ EARLY ON THE DAY BEFORE SHABBAT, AND MONEY FOR THE POOR IS COLLECTED AND DISTRIBUTED THAT SAME DAY. TWO TORAH SCROLLS ARE TAKEN OUT ON THAT SHABBAT. THEN CAME AMALEK IS READ FROM THE SECOND; AL HANISSIM IS RECITED. THE PURIM FEAST IS NOT HELD UNTIL SUNDAY. Like clouds, wind – but no rain...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Pekuday WHEN YOU TAKE A CENSUS OF THE ISRAELITE PEOPLE ACCORDING TO THEIR ENROLLMENT, EACH SHALL PAY THE LORD A RANSOM FOR HIMSELF ON BEING ENROLLED, THAT NO PLAGUE MAY COME UPON THEM THROUGH THEIR BEING ENROLLED. THIS IS WHAT EVERYONE WHO IS ENROLLED IN THE RECORDS SHALL PAY: A HALF-SHEKEL BY THE SANCTUARY WEIGHT… THE RICH SHALL NOT PAY MORE AND THE POOR SHALL NOT PAY LESS THAN HALF A SHEKEL WHEN GIVING THE...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Vayechi AND WHEN THE TIME APPROACHED FOR JACOB TO DIE, HE SUMMONED HIS SON JOSEPH AND SAID TO HIM, "PLEASE, IF I HAVE FOUND FAVOR IN YOUR EYES, PLACE YOUR HAND UNDER MY THIGH AND TREAT ME WITH KINDNESS AND LOYALTY: PLEASE DO NOT BURY ME IN EGYPT. WHEN I LIE DOWN WITH MY FATHERS, TAKE ME UP FROM EGYPT AND BURY ME IN THEIR BURIAL-PLACE." HE REPLIED, "I WILL DO AS YOU HAVE SPOKEN."...
Shabbat Shalom The weekly parsha commentary – parshat (link to original page) Click here to receive the weekly parsha by email each week. Parshat Ki Tissa AND ALL THE PEOPLE TOOK OFF THE GOLD RINGS THAT WERE IN THEIR EARS AND BROUGHT THEM TO AARON. THIS HE TOOK FROM THEM AND CAST IN A MOLD AND MADE IT INTO A MOLTEN CALF. AND THEY EXCLAIMED, "THIS IS YOUR GOD, O ISRAEL, WHO BROUGHT YOU OUT OF THE LAND OF EGYPT." (Shemot 32:3-4) This is your god, O Israel, who brought you out – Were they fools not to...