I have always found this to be one the Haggadah’s fascinating sentences: “Metichilah ovdei avodah zarah hiyu avotainu, v’achshav karvanu HaMakom l’avodato (in the …
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By Rabbi David Etengoff
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4/25/22
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The term, u’chvode Hashem, is found twice in the context of the mishkan: “The cloud covered the Communion Tent, and Hashem’s glory (u’chvode Hashem) filled the Tabernacle. …
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By David Etengoff
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3/2/22
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Our parasha, Vayakhel, begins with the explicit linkage of Shabbat and the mishkan. The Rav notes that there are three other passages in the Torah where we find a direct connection between …
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By Rabbi David Etengoff
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2/23/22
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The best-known theme in our parasha, Ki Tisa, is the Chet HaEgel (the Sin of the Golden Calf), the most grievous sin in our nation’s storied history. In addition, our sidrah contains the …
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By Rabbi David Etengoff
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2/16/22
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One of the best-known verses in our parsha, Terumah, is this: “And they shall make Me a sanctuary (v’asu li mikdash) and I will dwell amongst them (v’shachanti …
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By Rabbi David Etengoff
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2/4/22
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The Choshen Mishpat, worn by the Kohane Gadol, is one of the more fascinating bigdei kahuna (garments of the kohanim) described in our parasha, Tetzaveh: “And you [Moshe] shall make a …
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By Rabbi David Etengoff
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2/10/22
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The Ramban begins his analysis of our parasha, Mishpatim, by noting that mishpatim (ordinances and civil laws) are the first category of mitzvot presented. This contrasts with what took place at …
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By Rabbi David Etengoff
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1/26/22
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Yitro is preeminently the parasha of the Asseret Hadibrot. The first of these statements begins with the famous words, “I am the L-rd your G-d, Who took you out of the land of Egypt, out of …
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By Rabbi David Etengoff
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1/19/22
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Parashat Vayishlach begins by telling us that “Ya’akov sent malachim lifanuv (messengers ahead of him) to his brother Eisav, to the land of Seir, the field of Edom.”
Rashi …
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By Rabbi David Etengoff
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11/17/21
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Our parasha, Vayetzei, begins with the well-known words: “And Ya’akov left Be’er Sheva, and he went to Haran.” (28:10)
In his Commentary on the Torah, Rashi explains this …
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By Rabbi David Etengoff
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11/10/21
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