Parasha of the Week RSS

In one of the most eagerly awaited, anticipated, and spectacular moments of Chumash, after months and months of preparation and hard work, the Mishkan is completed. Moses performs the sacred service of its inauguration for seven days, so that the family of Kohanim can learn and assume this great responsibility. At its culmination on the eighth day, his older brother Aharon, in an act of passing on the priesthood, humbly performs all the rites and special sacrifices of the day, and as the pasuk says, still atop the great altar, he decides to bless the entire people. What did he...

Shabbat Shalom! "And Moshe gathered the whole congregation of the Bnei Yisrael and said to them: These are the things that Hashem commanded to do. For six days you will do your work and on the seventh "This day will be holy to you, a Shabbat completely for Hashem, and anyone who does any work will be put to death" (Shemot 35:1)The great Sages explain to us in the Haggadah: From the beginning of the Torah to the end, There is no other Parasha that begins with the verb “to gather.” Hashem said to Moshe: Make a great Assembly and...

"When you take a census of the Israelites to determine their number, each one will be counted and will give a ransom (atonement offering) for his life. In this way, they will not be struck by the plague when they are counted."(Shemot- Exodus 30:12)The great commentator Rashi explains that it was forbidden to take a census (literally counting heads of the Benei Israel), rather "Take half a shekel per person and count the shekelim" Why should we count the Jews in shekels and then give them to charity, thus avoiding the plague that comes with counting the people? Wouldn't it...

"You shall also command the children of Israel to bring pure, pressed olive oil to light the lamp continually" (Shemot - Exodus 27:20) The name of this Parasha is "Tetzave" from the book of Shemot - Exodus 27,20 - 30,10) The power of self-nullification or cancellation that must awaken in each of us so that we can be able to enlighten ourselves "Lighting the Menorah", אור המנורה- האור הגנוז (Or HaMenorah - Or Haganuz) The Eternal One commanded Moshe... "You shall also command the children of Israel to bring pure, pressed olive oil to light the lamp continually" (Shemot -...

"Speak to the Children of Israel and tell them to take an offering for Me" (Shemot-Exodus 25:2) We wonder why the Torah uses the word veikju (which take) and not twenty-one (give)? The sages explain to us that what a person truly has materially is what he gives for tzedakah (charity). While someone may have a lot of money, it is not considered to belong to them, but rather it has been "deposited" in their hands temporarily. Only what he gives for tzedakah belongs to him!, just as our Sages said regarding King Munbaz.Therefore it turns out that in fact...