United we stand, in the Mishkan and on Shabbos

ויקהל משה את כל עדת בני ישראל ויאמר אליהם אלה הדברים אשר צוה ה' לעשות אותם, Moshe assembled the entire Assembly of the Children of Israel and said to them: These are things that HaShem commanded, to do them. (Shemos 35:1)

In this week’s…

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The relationship between the weekdays and Shabbat is spelled both in last week’s sidra Ki Tisa and in VaYaKail. Both sidroth connect Shabbat with the construction of the Tabernacle. However, these rather lengthy passages are not redundant though containing similar content. The two passages have a fundamental difference; in Ki Tisa building the Tabernacle prefaces the observance of Shabbat whereas in VaYaKail Shabbat observance prefaces the building of the Tabernacle.



Why, the switch?… Continue

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Holy Cow?

וינחם ה' על הרעה אשר דבר לעשות לעמו, HaShem reconsidered regarding the evil that He declared He would do to His people. (Shemos 32:14)

In this week’s parasha the Torah records how the Jewish People, upon despairing of Moshe returning from his ascent on the mountain to…

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During a Jewish Leap Year there are two (2) months of Adar. The Talmud in Megila 6b discusses the relationship between the two Ardars in regards to the observance of Purim.

The Talmud concludes that under the rationale of not delaying, literally not passing over Mitzvoth all the rituals associated with Purim should be celebrated during the First Adar. However, it was deemed more apropos to connect redemption to redemption and observe Purim in the Second Adar so its celebrate the redemption… Continue

Clothing of Betrayal

ועשית בגדי קדש לאהרן אחיך לכבוד ולתפארת, you shall make vestments of sanctity for Aharon your brother, for glory and splendor. (Shemos 28:2)

In this week’s parasha the Torah records the instructions regarding the בגדי כהונה, the Priestly Vestments worn by the…

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The Talmud Zevachim 88b posits that each of the special garments worn by the Cohen Gadol, the High Priest served to achieve atonement for various sins just like the various sacrifices. VaYikrah 7:37-38 speaks of the sacrifices and 8:1 follows immediately mentions the priests’ special garments, hence the sages’ comparison.



Among the High Priest’s vestments is the M’iel robe comes to atone for Lashon Harah, evil speech. Conversation this is true albeit derogatory about another. Such… Continue

A friend of mine wondered who the author of Shoshanas Yaakov was. I don’t know the answer to that, but I can tell you that he was someone great. He writes להודיע שכל קויך לא יבשו, to make known that all who hope in You will not be ashamed. The word קויך equals in gematria the word כנוס, and Esther told Mordechai לך כנוס את כל היהודים, go and gather all the Jews. Furthermore, the word כנוס equals in gematria the words צום, ממון, קול, fasting, money, and voice, which correspond to תשובה תפילה…

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Adar is the month of happiness. The Gemara states משנכנס אדר מרבים בשמחה, when one enters Adar, we increase in happiness. Why does the Gemara state that when one, an individual, enters Adar, we all increase in happiness? The answer to this question is the essence of the Purim miracle. Mordechai instructed Esther to beseech Achashveirosh to rescind Haman’s decree of annihilating the Jews. Esther responded with the words לך כנוס את כל היהודים, go and gather all the Jews. The key to our…

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I just finished acting as sort of a proxy for my cousin.  He converted to Judaism reformed/renewal.  His mother was Christian.  My uncle of course was Jewish, by birth orthodox, but by most of his life not practicing.  He had no other children but my cousin.  My uncle returned to Judaism in the end, yet he never believed in any other "god" anyway. My cousin never helped his father, even though his father was very old and very sick, wouldn't even talk with him.  He hates him, even though his… Continue

Preparing for Holiness in the Exile

ועשו לי מקדש ושכנתי בתוכם, they shall make a Sanctuary for me – so that I may dwell among them. (Shemos 25:8)

In this week’s parasha the Torah relates how HaShem instructed Moshe regarding the building of the Mishkan, the Tabernacle that…

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The Talmud (Tanit 29a) teaches “Rav Yehudah son of Rav Shmuel son of Shilat in the name of Rav that just as when the month of Av begins one diminishes one’s sense of joy so too with the advent of Adar one increases one’s sense of joy”



The character of Adar is described by Rashi ZT’L ZY’A the reason for an elevated level of joy lies in the fact Adar and the following month Nissan are days when Jewry experienced miracles Purim and Passover.



The symmetry with Av is explored… Continue

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