Talmud Bavli, Baba Batra 14b-15b, teaches that the Tanach was written by a community of writers. While the entire Torah is Torat Moshe, Sefer Devarim stands out most prominently as Moshe’s …
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By Rabbi David Etengoff
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7/19/23
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The phrase, “aleh hamitzvot (these are the commandments),” appears twice in the Torah, in the concluding pasukim of Sefer Vayikra and Parashat Masei.
Vayikra 27:34: …
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By Rabbi David Etengoff
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7/12/23
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Parashat Chukat contains a mysterious passage that focuses upon a well: “From there to the well, that is the well of which Hashem said to Moshe, Gather the people, and I will give them water. …
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By Rabbi David Etengoff
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6/28/23
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At the beginning of our parasha, Sh’lach, Hashem tells Moshe: “Send out for yourself men (shelach lecha anashim) who will scout the Land of Canaan, which I am giving to the children of …
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By Rabbi David Etengoff
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6/14/23
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Sefer Vayikra is the only book in Tanach where we find the expression, v’yarata m’elokecha (“and you shall have awe for your G-d”). It appears three times in Parashat …
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By Rabbi David Etengoff
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5/10/23
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CHAPTER 23 of our parasha is popularly known as parashat hamoadim. In its introductory verses we find:
And Hashem spoke to Moses, saying: “Speak to the children of Israel and say to them: …
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By Rabbi David Etengoff
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5/3/23
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The prohibition of eating blood is one of the best-known mitzvot in Parashat Acharei Mot. In his Commentary on the Torah, on Sefer Vayikra 17:10-11, the Ramban notes that many of the verses that …
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By Rabbi David Etengoff
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4/26/23
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The first time we are introduced to the mitzvah of brit milah is the 17th chapter of Sefer Bereshit. This mitzvah is found once again in the first of our parshiot, Parashat Tazria. This repetition …
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By Rabbi David Etengoff
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4/19/23
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This week’s haftarah is focused on Yechezkel’s well-known nevuah (prophecy) of the “Dry Bones,” that begins: “The hand of Hashem came upon me and carried me out in the …
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By Rabbi David Etengoff
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4/3/23
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The name,“Shabbat HaGadol” has captured the imagination of Torah exegetes since time immemorial. The second Bobover Rebbe, HaRav Ben-Zion Halberstam (1874-1941), begins his analysis of …
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By Rabbi David Etengoff
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3/29/23
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