Building the Tabernacle dominates the remaining Sidrot in Shemoth. At its essence building a place of worship is described in 25:8 “And let them make for Me a sanctuary; that I may dwell within them” The original Hebrew text conveys something more than the translation. The original Hebrew reads almost like a non sequitur. The sentence begins with G-D commanding a sanctuary be built for G-D. Yet, the result arising from the sanctuary’s construction is not that G-D’s presence occupy the…

The Torah as an eternal document applies to all places and times. Therefore analyzing the text solely with a contemporary perspective may not do justice to what G-D wised to convey through scripture. The sidra Mishpatim addresses many aspects of civil and criminal law. The Sidra opens with “ And these are the judgments which you shall set before them” (Shemoth 21:1) Rashi ZT’L ZY’A comments that one is obligated to bring litigation to a Torah-Law court and not a secular forum even if both…

Daily and when one is called to the Torah one recites a blessing thanking G-D for” . . . choosing us from all other nations and gave us His Torah . . . .” The implication is the revelation at Sinai where the Torah was revealed and given was exclusively Jewish event that the rest of the nation had no part. The exclusively Jewish nature of the Law giving is supported by Shemot 19:5 “. . . .if you will obey My voice indeed, and keep My Covenant, then you shall be My own treasure among all…

What Bene Yisrael experienced after traversing the Yam Suf transcended the miraculous and enters the profound. The Splitting of the Sea left such a deep impression for eternity on the Jewish psyche that recalling this event prefaces the Shemoneh Esreh during morning and evening Shmoneh Esreh prayer. Rabbi Moshe Ben Maimon ZT’L ZY’A taught in the Laws of Prayer (4:16) that when one recites Shemoneh Esreh one should envision these words are being said before the Shechina (D-vine Presence).…