In Full Form and Stature
In the beginning of the Torah reading of Bereshit, we find the verse, “And G-d made the beast of the earth according to its kind, and the animal according to its kind, and every creeping being of the ground according to its kind, and G-d saw that it was good” (Bereshit 1:25). On this verse, […]
Four Species and a Hut
In Vayikra 23:34, G-d commands Moses to inform the people of Israel, “On the fifteenth day of this seventh month [Tishre] shall be the feast of Tabernacles.” For seven days in the Land of Israel and for eight days in the diaspora we are to celebrate the holiday of Sukkot followed by the holiday of […]
Day of Atonement
In Vayikra 23:27, G-d informs the people of Israel, “On the tenth day of this seventh month [Tishre] shall be a day of atonement, a holy convocation shall it be unto you.” And, unlike Sabbath, no part of Yom Kippur is reserved for enjoyment. G-d commands us, “You shall afflict your souls.” Our Sages explain […]
Remember the Days of Yore
In the beginning of the Torah portion of Ha’azinu (Devarim 32: 7-9), we read: “Remember the days of yore, understand the years of generation after generation. Ask your father and he will relate it to you, your elders and they will tell you. When the Supreme One gave the nations their inheritance, when He separated the children […]
When the Year Begins
In Vayikra 23:24-25, G-d tells us: “In the seventh month [Tishre] on the first of the month, you shall have a day of rest, a memorial of blowing of horns, a holy convocation. You shall do no work…” Rosh Hashana – the only holiday that lasts for two consecutive days in the Land of Israel […]
Standing and Moving
In the beginning of the Torah section of Nitzavim, we read: “You are standing today, all of you, before the L-rd, your G-d: your heads, your tribes, your elders, and your officers – all the men of Israel” (Devarim 29:9). On this verse, the famous medieval commentator known as Rashi comments: “Since Israel was going out from […]
Of Visions, Signs and Authors
In the Torah section of Ki Tavo, as he nears the end of his final exhortation to the nation of Israel before taking leave of his earthly existence, Moses emphasizes: “This day the L-rd your G-d commands you to perform these decrees and the statutes … You shall hearken to the voice of the L-rd your […]
When You Go Out to War
“When you will go out to war against your enemies…” (Devarim 21:10). So begins the Torah section of Ki Tetze, the reading from the Torah, the five books of Moses, that is read one week of every year by observant Jews the world over who adhere to principles and tradition laid before our ancestors by our greatest […]
A Matter of Order
We read in the Torah section of Shoftim (Devarim 17:8-11): “If a matter of judgment is hidden from you, between blood and blood, between verdict and verdict, between plague and plague, matters of dispute in your cities … You shall come to the priests, the levites and to the judge who will be in those days; […]
Takes All Kinds to Make a World
In the Torah portion of Re’eh, we read, “You are children to the L-rd your G-d, you shall not cut yourselves” (Devarim 14:1). Our Sages teach us (Babylonian Talmud, Yevamot 13b-14a) that this verse also instructs us not to “cut” or break up our community into different groups. But this prohibition does not apply to […]