Open a chumash with Rashi on this week’s parsha, Vayakhel, and the first thing you notice is … there is no Rashi. You can count on your hand the number of comments Rashi provides on … more

T he Jewish movements that changed the face of Jewry in the 19th and 20th centuries raised serious concerns about the nature of the Torah and how it stands the test of time. Many of the mitzvot … more

One wonders how much the global warming camp can convince their opponents that “we” control the weather. The Gemara (Taanit 2a) certainly concurs with an assessment that G-d (and not … more

The Torah is comprised primarily of laws and narrative. Let us take a quick scan of Parshat Terumah to see where it fits in the scheme of the rest of the Torah. According to the Sefer HaChinukh, … more

This week’s parsha , Yisro, begins by telling us that Yisro heard what G-d had done for Israel in taking them out of Egypt: Yisro, father-in-law of Moshe, took Zipporah, wife of Moshe, … more

After Moshe followed the instructions that made the waters of Marah drinkable, we are told, “There he taught them ‘chok u’mishpat’ and there he tested them.” The simple … more

When one reads the opening of Parshat Bo, it is hard to ignore the question of who has the bigger ego — Pharaoh or G-d? Over the course of the previous seven plagues, Pharaoh has actually … more

One of the most difficult questions we face when looking at the narrative of the plagues in this week’s parsha, Vaera, in understanding verse 3 in chapter 7. In explaining how the plagues will … more

When the Israelites leave Egypt, there is much discussion as to how they received the wealth they took with them from Egypt. Was it borrowed, taken — or received as a gift or payment for the … more

By the time Yaakov dies at age 147, in parashat Vayechi , his sons range in age from 62 (Reuven) to 56 (Yosef, Zevulun, and possibly Asher), to around 48 (Binyamin). As we know how old Yosef is … more