naso Portion Commentary Messiah the Avenger Thought for the Week: Messiah is our redeemer. He has redeemed us from slavery, from sin, from condemnation and from death. He is our kinsmen redeemer, our brother in the house of God, who has ransomed us from the debt we could not pay. Therefore, we speak of Him as redeemer. He is also the national redeemer of Israel. … Continue reading Parashat Nasso / פרשת נשא
Parashat Tazria-Metzora (She Bears Seed-Infected One) TORAH READING Leviticus 12:1 – 15:33 HAFTARAH II Kings 7:3 – 7:20 In the Torah portion Tazria, God instructs Moses about the purification rituals for mothers following childbirth. God then describes to Moses and Aaron the procedures for identifying and responding to those infected with leprosy. In Metzora, God describes the purification ritual for people and homes afflicted with … Continue reading Parashat Tazria-Metzora
God spoke to Moses… Some say that this was said to Moses during the 40 days on the mountain (Tanna DeBei Eliahu Rabbah 17; Lekach Tov on Exodus 35:1; Ibn Ezra; Baaley Tosafoth; Zohar 2:194a, 224a). According to others, it was said after the Golden Calf, when Moses went up for the second set of tablets (Exodus 34:29; Seder Olam Rabbah 6 from Exodus 34:32; … Continue reading Parashat Terumah / פרשת תרומה
Noah’s SacrificesUnderlying the present parshah of Noah and the ensuing parshiyos, which tell the story of the patriarchs, is the quest for the Holy Mountain of G-d, the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. Adam’s body had been created from the dust and earth of the Temple Mount. And “to dust you will return!” — mankind must return to this spot and bring sacrifices in order to … Continue reading Noah’s Sacrifices
Genesis 23:2 with Sforno, Midrash Tanhuma Source Sheet by yaakov Saavedra בראשית כ״ג:ב׳ (ב) וַתָּ֣מָת שָׂרָ֗ה בְּקִרְיַ֥ת אַרְבַּ֛ע הִ֥וא חֶבְר֖וֹן בְּאֶ֣רֶץ כְּנָ֑עַן וַיָּבֹא֙ אַבְרָהָ֔ם לִסְפֹּ֥ד לְשָׂרָ֖ה וְלִבְכֹּתָֽהּ׃ Genesis 23:2 (2) And Sarah died in Kiriath Arba—it is Hebron—in the land of Canaan; Abraham came to grieve for Sarah and to weep for her. ספורנו על בראשית כ״ג:ב׳:א׳-ב׳ (ב) ותמת שרה. אחר שנולדה רבקה הראויה למלאת מקום … Continue reading Parashat Chayei Sara / פרשת חיי שרה
Torah Reading: HA-AZINU, Deuteronomy 32: 1-52 THE SONG OF G-D’S JUSTICE Some songs are happy, some are sad. Some are for entertainment. Some come to tell a story or teach a lesson. Some express the inner heart and soul. Unique among all songs is the song of Moses in our parshah. HA-AZINU is the song of G-d’s perfect Justice — the ultimate reproof to man. The … Continue reading Parashat Ha’Azinu / פרשת האזינו
Parashat Ki Tavo is the 50th weekly Torah portion in the annual Jewish cycle of Torah reading. Deuteronomy 26:10 – 29:8 Summary Parshat Ki Tavo In this parashah, Moses tells the people that when they come into the “land of milk and honey” (“Ki Tavo” means “when you enter”) and have settled there, each of them is to bring a basket containing the first fruits of … Continue reading Parashat Ki Tavo / פרשת כי־תבוא
When you go out to war against your enemies and HASHEM your G-d will deliver them into your hands and you will capture its captivity. (Devarim 21:10)The Torah only speaks versus the “negative inclination” (Rashi)“When you go out to war against your enemies…” In this verse we find the strategy for success in war against our most dangerous enemies.The Lubavitcher Rebbe saw in the verse, “When you go out to war “al”-literally over … Continue reading Parshas Ki Teitzei
Parashat Re’eh – [Mitzvot Draw their Rewards and Repercussions with Them, Understanding the Repentance of Kayin and Adam, as Well as The Power of Shabbat Observance and How it May Lead to Our Redemption] From HaGaon Rav Zevadia HaCohen Shlit”a, The Head of the Batei Din in Tel Aviv(translated by our dear friend Rav Daniel Levy Shlit”a, Leeds UK) It is stated in the Parasha, … Continue reading Parashat Re’eh
Parsha Summary for Parshas Reeh Note: The Shabbos Torah Reading is divided into 7 sections. Each section is called an Aliya [literally: Go up] since for each Aliya, one person “goes up” to make a bracha [blessing] on the Torah Reading. 1st and 2nd Aliyot: Moshe instructs the Chosen People to eradicate any remnant of idolatry and strengthen all aspects of service to G-d. All … Continue reading Parashat Re’eh / פרשת ראה
Eikev, Deuteronomy 7:12 -11:25 The Big IF “If only [i.e. because] you shall hearken to these laws, safeguarding and keeping them, then Hashem your G-d will safeguard for you the covenant and the kindness that He swore to your forefathers.” (Devarim 7:12) If only you shall hearken to these laws – The Hebrew word is “Eikev” which can mean “if only” or “because.” Understood as such, the Torah … Continue reading Parashat Eikev / פרשת עקב
