(Torah Portion Vayikrah) You’ll Find it All… This Shabbat is Rosh Chodesh Nissan. The month of Nissan is significant because it is the first month of the Jewish calendar, because G-d communicated to Moshe the laws of Rosh Chodesh when the Jews were on the verge of leaving Egypt. Thus the first month sanctified by …
Category: 5775
Sep 27
Bold and Daring!
(Torah Portion Tzav) Bold and Daring! The title of this Shabbat is, ‘Shabbat Hagadol.’ The Hebrew word Gadol can mean either great or big in size. Commentators explain that both meanings of the word apply to this Shabbat. It is customary that the rabbi of the congregation speaks on the Shabbat that precedes Pesach …
Sep 27
Wine
(Torah Portion Shemini) Wine! Wine consumed with moderation expands a person’s view, relaxes him and allows him to absorb things a little more. Wine gladdens one’s heart, and it is through wine that one reveals the secrets of his heart. Wine is the ultimate beverage used during our celebrations and traditions. All our celebrations have …
Sep 27
World Peace
(Torah Portion Tazria/Metzora) World Peace! King Solomon states in the Book of Proverbs, “Life and death lay in the power of speech.” Today, more so than anytime in history we see the power of the spoken or typed word. We clearly see that one can either be catapulted into instantaneous fame, or more often, one’s …
Sep 27
A Three Year Wait
(Torah Portion Acharai Mos/Kedoshim) A Three Year Wait! One of the many Mitzvos given to us in the Portions we read this week is the prohibition of eating fruit from a tree during the first three years after it was planted. This law is called Orlah and applies both to produce grown in and outside …
Sep 27
No Shame!
(Torah Portion Emor) No Shame! The Torah requires an agricultural landowner in the Land of Israel to leave certain gifts to the poor in his field. One corner of the field is not harvested and is to be left for the poor to harvest and keep for themselves. While the farmer is cutting his grain, …
Sep 27
Slight Change
(Torah Portion Behar/Bechukosai) Slight Change! King David was always on guard to preserve the integrity of the lineage of the Davidic dynasty. King David’s great grandmother was Ruth, a Moavite princess who converted. King David throughout his life was concerned because the Torah forbids a Moavite convert to marry a Jew. Before Ruth married Boaz, …
Sep 26
Under the Radar!
(Torah Portion Shemos) Under the Radar! If we focus on the lives of Yosef and Moshe, two exemplary Torah personalities, we can’t fail to notice similarities in their life experiences. Yosef was viceroy over Egypt for many years, and Moshe was raised in the palace of Pharoh by Pharoh’s own daughter, Basya. Yosef was separated …
Sep 26
A Day Off
(Torah Portion Va’erah) A Day Off! Have you ever wondered how the Egyptians were able to effectively enslave the Jewish populace in Egypt? The Torah relates that the Pharoh seeing the steep hike in the Jewish birthrate was worried that they would become a majority and powerful enough to take over the land. This claim …
Sep 26
Shopping
(Torah Portion Bo) Shopping! Two weeks before the exodus of the Jewish nation from Egypt, G-d spoke to Moshe detailing to him the laws and requirements of the Pascal lamb, how it should be designated, slaughtered, and roasted, and that it was to be eaten at night right before they were redeemed from Egypt. The …