Parasha of the Week RSS

"Sodomy and Judaism, two opposite poles" Abraham Abinu, our Patriarch, the father of Judaism, was a hospitable man, since his happiness increased when he could receive guests and each time he did so, it seemed as if it were the first time. Regardless of the weather conditions, even in the face of unbearable heat, they would rush to welcome their guests. Not only he, but his family and employees were active participants in fulfilling this great precept. Hospitality, envelops, within itself the secret and the basis of The Jewish faith. Abraham is the father of Judaism and the driving force...

Read more

"Korach" (Bamidvar-Numbers 16-18) One of the teachings that this Parasha gives us is about the seriousness of the dispute. "Because Adam caused harm by eating from the Tree, he brought corruption and conflict to his seed. Immediately after sinning, Cain and Abel began to argue with each other. Their argument was a precursor to all the disputes and conflicts to come, especially those against the Tzadikim (great righteous ones). Thus, their conflict engendered Korach's conflict. (Likutey Halachot) Korach separated from Aaron the Cohen because he felt he could support himself and did not attach importance to the evil inclination. In...

Read more

The beauty of the Menorah "And so the Menorah was made, beaten, engraved in gold" (Numbers 8:4) (Parashat Behaloteja Bamidbar-Numbers 8,1 - 12,16)The great commentator Rashi, in Perasha Terumah wrote (25:32):Moshe Rabbenu had a hard time making the Menorah, so Hashem instructed him to throw a piece of gold into the fire and it would make itself. A question arises here. It is known that in Washington there is a museum that has statues of all the presidents who governed the United States. These pieces are also made from a single piece of metal. How is it that Moshe had...

Read more

Parasha Ajarei Mot - Kedoshim Vayikra - Leviticus (16,1- 20, 27) “Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel and say to them: You shall be holy, for I, Hashem, your God, am holy.” (Vayikra 19:2). There are two kinds of holiness, the holiness that implies a departure from what is permitted by the Torah, “Sanctify yourself with that which is permitted to you,” As the Ramban wrote, and there is also holiness, which involves a distancing from what is prohibited by the Torah, and that is also called holiness, as Rashi explained about the phrase in the...

Read more

“Israel traveled with all he had; he arrived at Beer Sheva and offered offerings to the God of Yitzchak, his father” (Bereishit 46:1) Rashi explains about the phrase “to the G-d of Yitzchak, his father” that a person should honor his father more than his grandfather, therefore Yitzchak was mentioned and not Abraham.When Yaakov Avinu was informed that Joseph was alive in Egypt, he was overjoyed beyond measure. This was primarily due to the fact that Joseph had governed himself and had not forgotten the Torah he had learned.Yaakov did not rejoice in the political and physical power that Yosef...

Read more