Rav Shlomo Brama, Detroit Kollel, Torah MiTzion Garments of Sanctity Much of Vayakhel and Pekudei – which describe the construction of the Mishkan – pertain to the multiple layers which are used to dress and swathe the Mishkan, the kohanim and the keilim (utensils). Specifically, the Mishkan was covered with wool panels (yeri’ot tzemer) upon which were red-dyed tachash skins; the kohanim wore layers of the bigdei kehunah (the priestly…
Rabbi Binny Freedman – I was desperate to get a day off; we were still in basic training, and I had barely been in the army three months, but my folks were landing at the airport the next afternoon, and I was hoping my commanders would give me a break as I had not seen head or hair of any family in the two months since I had joined up.
PARSHAT SHEMOT: By Rabbi Jesse Horn – Yeshivat HaKotel
There seems to be a significant contradiction between two of the Ramban’s central themes on Sefer Shmot. Firstly, the Ramban (introduction to Shmot) summarizes Sefer Shmot as a book of “Galut and Ge’ula,” beginning with Bnei Yisrael’s enslavement and concluding with Hashem dwelling among them in the Mishkan.
This week’s parashah details Am Yisra’el’s severe sin of the Golden Calf which occurs at Mount Sinai. I would like to present, and analyze a number of various approaches in understanding the nature of this sin and its severity.
It is interesting to note, that this section of the Torah[2] is actually the portion that we read on all the Jewish fast days (save Yom Kippur), perhaps alluding to the fact that this is the essential question of every fast day: we fast and pray, and attempt to repent, in an effort to change G-d’s mind. But how can we expect G-d to change His mind?
(by Yehuda HaKohen) “Speak to the Children of Israel and they shall take to Me a portion, from every man whose heart will motivate him you shall take My portion.” (SHEMOT 25:2) It is important to note that the above verse does not state “give Me a portion,” which would imply that property belongs to…
What, indeed, is the seemingly incomprehensible preoccupation we seem to have with land and can any piece of property ever be worth fighting, much less dying for?
This week’s portion, Terumah, introduces us to one of the most challenging concepts in Judaism.
“And they shall make for me a sanctuary, and I will dwell in their midst.” (Shemot 25:8)
Song and music produce religious prophets; speech and words produce learned sages. Song and music can touch every individual deeply and profoundly. Speech and words can only move those with an intellectual background and innate ability.
By Rabbi Shlomo Riskin
Why does the author of the Haggada call the questioner in this sequence “the wicked child”? The reason that the Haggada itself emphasizes lies in the questioner’s exclusion of himself from the family ritual when he asks, “What is this service to you?” …
by Rav Ilan Goldman – of Bnei Akiva UK
excerpted from –
PEROT HAILAN
A SHALIACH’S THOUGHTS ON THE PARASHA
There are times in which we are faced with questions on Judaism which we, as observant Jews, are expected to deal with, whether it is for the sake of answering ourselves or answering others who question, doubt and challenge our faith.