Over these seven weeks we are building our characters. This is thanks to the Torah law in Parshat Emor which tells us, “Sheva shabbatot temimot tihyena.” We count the days from the second day of Pesach until Shavuot and these ‘must be seven whole and complete weeks’ of counting. We …
Parshat Kedoshim presents us with the well known verse… “Veahavta lereacha kemocha,” – “Love your fellow as yourself.” Rabbi Akiva famously added, “Zeh klal gadol baTorah,” – “This is the most important principle of the Torah.” Rabbi Akiva wants to highlight for us the centrality of our compassion and our …
Acharei Mot: Have you ever been asked to take ‘shliach mitzvah’ money? If you have, you’ll be familiar with the idea. The Talmud teaches, “Shluchei mitzvah einan nizokin.” – “People who are on a mission to perform a good deed on behalf of others will come to no harm.” With this in …
At our seder tables, we declare, “Kol dichfin yeitei v’yeichol. Kol ditzrich yeitei veyifsach.” – “Let all who are hungry come in and eat. Let all who are needy come in and partake of the paschal lamb sacrifice.” It’s an odd statement. We are turning to people who are already …
This coming shabbat will have the title ‘Shabbat HaGadol’ – The Great Sabbath. Many reasons are given as to why the shabbat preceding Pesach has this name. The great 14th century Jewish scholar, the Tur, explains, “Lefi shena’aseh bo neis gadol.” – “It’s because on that shabbat, a great miracle …
Tazria & Parshat HaChodesh: It’s not always good for us to become creatures of habit. This shabbat we’ll be reading the special maftir for Parshat HaChodesh from the Book ofShemot (12:2). There we have the important mitzvah, “HaChodesh hazeh lachem rosh chodashim,” – “This month (of Nissan, which is just …
Shemini: Aaron had been appointed as the Kohen Gadol, the High Priest of the nation. And now, the moment came for him to offer his opening sacrifice, and yet Moshe needed to say to Aharon (Vayikra 9:7), “Krav el hamizbeach,” – “Approach the altar.” Rashi on Vayikra 9:7 explains that …
Tzav A recipe for disaster: that’s what happens when people always insist on getting their way. In Parshat Tzav, the Torah introduces us to the ‘korban olah’, the burnt offering, and this is how the Torah starts the passage (Vayikra 6:2): “Zot torat haolah,” – “This is the Torah (law) …
According to Rashi there is a reference to Adam right at the beginning of the book. At the commencement of Vayikra, the Torah introduces us to the concept of sacrifices and we’re told, “Adam ki yakriv meihem korban l’Hashem” – “When anyone amongst you offers a sacrifice to Hashem…” (Vayikra …
