Understanding The Hebrew Name Of The Book Of Exodus
The Meaning of the Name Shemot In Hebrew, the book of Exodus is called Shemot, which means “names.” On a straightforward peshat level this choice is unremarkable because many Torah portions derive their names from a keyword in their opening verses. Shemot begins with the verse, “And these are the names [shemot] of the […]
Leaving the Ark Amazing Article
Parshat Noach In his book, Awakening the Spark Within, (which this author assisted in writing) Rabbi Yitzchak Ginsburgh analyzes God’s command to Noah to leave the ark after the waters of the flood subsided. Rabbi Ginsburgh proposes that God’s command was not just on the physical level, but also entailed leaving behind his pre-Flood consciousness […]
The Songs of Moses
The Torah portion of Vayelech is the shortest of all portions, a mere 20 verses. Although in most years it is read along with the previous portion of Nitzavim, the last part of Vayelech introduces the song of Ha’azinu, the next portion. It is mentioned a number of times that Moses is to teach the […]
Creating Doubt and its High Cost-Parshat Ki Teitzei
Parshat Ki Teitzei “You shall have a full and honest weight, [and] a full and honest ephah measure, in order that your days will be prolonged on the land which Hashem, your God, gives you. For whoever does these things [deceptive measurement], whoever perpetrates such injustice, is an abomination to God, your God” (Deuteronomy 25:15-16). […]
A Cord of Three Strands- Parshat Va’etchanan
Parshat Va’etchanan In the portion of Va’etchanan, Moses reviews with the people the awesome events that occurred at the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai. He emphasizes the importance of the commandment to “make them known to your children and to your children’s children (Deuteronomy 4:9). The Ba’al HaTurim brings a tradition from Sefer […]
The Primordial Torah-Parshat Devarim
Parshat Devarim “So I [Moses] sent messengers from the desert of Kedemot to Sichon, king of Heshbon, with words of peace, saying, Allow me to pass through your land: I will go along by the highway, I will turn neither to the right nor to the left” (Deuteronomy 2:26). The Talmud tells us that the […]
Equality and Hierarchy- Parshat Korach
Parshat Korach The main slogan Korach used in order to sway people to his side in his rebellion against Moses and Aaron was encapsulated in this public declaration: “You take too much upon yourselves, for the entire congregation are all holy, and God is in their midst. So why do you raise yourselves above God’s […]