Parsha Tetzaveh – A Diamond with a Flaw

  “You shall place both stones on the shoulder straps of the ephod, remembrance stones for the Children of Israel.”  Shemos 28:12 Moshe was commanded to make garments for the Kohanim Moshe was commanded to make garments for the Kohanim. Included in these was the ephod, a piece of clothing similar to an apron, with two shoulder [...]

Parshas Trumah – Hishtadlus For a Dvar Mitzvah

“And you shall make a menorah of pure gold, hammered out shall the menorah be made. Its base, its shaft, it cups, its knobs, and its blossoms shall be (hammered) from it.” — Shemos 25:21   Moshe Rabbeinu was charged with the construction of the Mishkan, the dwelling place of HASHEM in this world. While [...]

Parshas Mishpatim – Learning Torah: That was easy!

“And these are the statutes that you shall place before them.” Shemos 21:1 The Dos Zakainim teaches us that “before them” means before the Jews and not before the gentiles. The Torah is for the Jewish people exclusively.   He then brings an example of this concept. On the inside of almost every Chumash is [...]

Parshas Yisro – The Astonishing Potential of Man

“And Yisro… heard that  which HASHEM did for Moshe and Yisrael” With these words, the Torah explains what motivated Yisro to join the Jewish people. He heard all of the great miracles that HASHEM did: the ten Makkos, the splitting of the sea… all done for Moshe and Yisrael.   Rashi makes an observation on [...]

Parsha Bishalach – People Believe What They Want to Believe

“And Moshe stretched out his hand over the sea, and HASHEM moved the sea with a strong eastern wind all the night, and He turned the sea to damp land and the water split.” — Shemos 14:21       Egypt, the country that bragged that no slave had ever escaped its land, stood by [...]