The beginning of our parasha, Emor, focuses upon a variety of laws that pertain solely to the kohanim. From a halachic perspective, they have little to do with the majority of the Jewish people, as …
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By Rabbi David Etengoff
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5/15/24
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One of the most celebrated mitzvot of our parasha, Kedoshim, is “v’ahavta l’reicha kamocha (and you shall love your fellow Jew like yourself).”
Rashi, citing the Midrash …
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By Rabbi David Etengoff
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5/8/24
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Our natural inclination at this time of the year is to focus upon the phrase, zacher l’yetziat Mitzraim (a remembrance of the Exodus from Egypt. This is the case, since one of the major mitzvot …
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By Rabbi David Etengoff
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4/17/24
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T he primary focus of our parasha, Tazria, is the illness known as tzaraat . In his commentary on the Torah, the Rashbam presents the unique nature of this disease:
All of the sections dealing …
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By Rabbi David Etengoff
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4/10/24
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L ike much of sefer Vayikra, our parasha, Tzav, focuses on the korbanot . Accordingly, the second verse presents the mitzvah of the korban olah:
“Command ( tzav ) Aharon and his sons, …
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By Rabbi David Etengoff
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3/27/24
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This Shabbat we will read Parashat Zachor which, according to the Shulchan Aruch, is a Torah-based mitzvah. In addition, it enables us to fulfill two of the three Taryag Mitzvot associated with …
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By Rabbi David Etengoff
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3/20/24
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Sefer Shemot is a grand journey that takes us from the depths of Egyptian servitude to the construction of the Mishkan wherein Hashem’s Schechinah was revealed to the entire Jewish people. …
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By Rabbi David Etengoff
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3/13/24
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T he best-known pasuk in our parasha, Terumah, is this: “And they shall make Me a sanctuary (mikdash) and I will dwell in their midst.” It is followed by many verses that specify every …
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By Rabbi David Etengoff
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2/14/24
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T he words na’aseh v’nishmah (we will do, and we will hear) are two of the most celebrated words that appear in our parasha, Mishpatim. When the Jewish people uttered this phrase during …
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By Rabbi David Etengoff
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2/7/24
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The most celebrated section of our parasha, Yitro, is that of the Asseret HaDibrot. It begins with the well-known words: “And Elokim spoke all (kol) these words saying.”
The Mechilta …
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By Rabbi David Etengoff
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1/31/24
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