Parshas Vayigash: Thinking About Living a G-d Focused Life
Parsha Nitzavim “Ezra legislated that the curses enumerated in Parshas Ki Savo be read prior to Rosh Hashana so that the year may end along with its curses,” the Talmud teaches. Nonetheless, Tosafot adds, we read Parshas Nitzavim on the Shabbos immediately preceding Rosh Hashana to serve as a buffer, so that we do not…
Moses proceeds to review the regulations necessary for a civilized society. Local judges and officers were to be appointed in every city, and justice was to be administered righteously and impartially. A bribe of even a small sum is forbidden. The Sanhedrin — the Jewish High Court of seventy one judges — is to make…
Parshas Vayetze spans the twenty years spent by Yaakov Aveinu – the quintessential ish tam, man of integrity – in the inhospitable company of his sinister uncle, Lavan, a master of manipulation, deceit and double talk. From his initial embrace of Yaakov, which, Rashi notes, is actually a search for concealed valuables, Lavan is bent…
This week we read the final portion of Exodus, a book which began with the Jewish people enslaved to Pharaoh in Egypt and now ends with the completion of the construction of the Mishkan in the desert. Exodus is known as ‘The Book of Redemption’; redemption was achieved not only through our escape from slavery,…
The portion begins with G-d continuing to teach Moses many of the laws relating to the Mishkan service. However, while last week’s portion described the korbanos (offerings) from the perspective of the giver, this week the Torah focuses more directly on the Kohanim, providing details about their service. After first describing the maintenance of the…
Following on the heels of the Ten Commandments, this week’s Torah portion deals primarily with civil law. Like the realm of the ceremonial, our worldly and common activities must be infused with holiness and observed carefully. Included among the civil laws discussed in the portion are: Penalties for causing bodily injury to another person and…