Parshat Shemini: Significance in the Details Yigal Klein, Educational Director of the Yachad – Jewish Identity Program Parshat Shemini centers on the terrible agony experienced upon the death of Nadav and Avihu, Aharon’s two sons. The pain in their passing becomes even more significant and heart-wrenching when considering the temporal dimension, namely, the day the …
Shabbat Shalom: Parshat Shemini (Leviticus 9:1-11:47) By Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel – And Nadav and Avihu, the sons of Aaron, each took his censer, placed fire on it, and laid incense thereon, and offered strange fire which He had not commanded them. And there came forth fire from before God, and it devoured them, …
“And the edict was given in Shushan the capital” Rabbi Dr. Udi Abramowitz, Rosh Midrasha of Midreshet Lindenbaum – Lod This week’s parsha, Tzav, picks up where the previous parsha left off, and lists the various types of sacrifices. This time, however, it focuses on the special role of the priests in the offering of …
Shabbat Shalom: Parshat Tzav (Leviticus 6:1- 8:36) By Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel – “And the Lord spoke to Moses saying: ‘Command Aaron and his sons, saying, this is the law of the burnt offering…’” (Leviticus 6:1–2) When first encountering the concept of animal sacrifices in the book of Leviticus, we explored in depth the …
Parshat Vayikra: God seeking man, and man seeking God God doesn’t merely expect people to turn to Him. He makes an overture to them and calls out to them. God is not passive in this world – He reveals his presence. By Rabbi Eliahu Birnbaum, Director of the Beren-Amiel and Straus-Amiel Emissary Training Programs The third …
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Shabbat Shalom: Parshat Vayikra (Leviticus 1:1- 5:26) By Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel –“Speak unto the children of Israel and say unto them: When any person of you brings an offering unto God, you shall bring from the cattle, the herd or the flock “ (Leviticus 1:2) The book of Leviticus continues where the book of …
Parshat Pekudei: The Power of Responsibility by Avichai Foa, Director of Educational Projects, Ohr Torah Stone Only this week, after Bezalel had completed creating all of the priestly vestments, does the Torah inform us that the construction of the Mishkan has finally ended: “All the work of the Mishkan of the Tent of Meeting was …
Shabbat Shalom: Parshat Pekudei (Exodus 38:21-40:38) By Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel –“And he set the laver between the Tent of the Meeting and the altar, and put water there for washing. And Moses and Aaron and his sons washed their hands and their feet… “ (Exodus 40:30–31) Before the priests would enter the Tent …
