Chametz on Shavuot The Chatam Sofer says (Parshat Emor, page 61) that matzah (non-leavened bread) represents our spiritual aspect, while chametz (leavened goods) represents our physical aspect. On Passover, the […]
Weekly Torah Portion
Insight and themes on the weekly Torah portion read aloud in synagogue.
Woe to the Wicked, Woe to his Neighbor This week’s Torah reading dictates where each tribe should camp, as the Jews traveled through the desert on their way from Egypt […]
All That’s Left is Torah This week’s Torah reading, Parshat Bechukotai, warns us that if we fail to keep the Torah properly, we will be exiled from our land, and […]
And Your Brother Shall Live with You The verse in this week’s Torah reading states (25:36), “You shall not take interest from him, and you should fear your God, and […]
Sefirat HaOmer – Rising to New Levels In this week’s Torah reading, Parshat Emor, we are instructed to count the Omer (Sefirat HaOmer). Every day, beginning with the second day […]
The Depth of “Love Your Fellow Jew” This week’s Torah reading says (19:18), “And you should love your fellow Jew as you love yourself.” The Rambam sums up this Mitzvah […]
The Weight of Warning: A Reminder of Consequences In the beginning of this week’s Torah reading, God instructs Moshe (Moses) to warn Aaron and his sons to refrain from entering […]
The Potion for Life: A Lesson in Eternal Rewards This week’s Torah reading discusses the process of purification of a Metzora – one who was afflicted with the disease of […]
The Mourning of a Metzora: A Reflection on Sin This week’s Torah reading discusses the laws of a Metzora – someone afflicted with the unique disease of Tzara’at. One of […]
The Spiritual Aspect of Food This week’s Torah reading dictates laws pertaining to the Kosher diet; which animals we may eat and which we may not eat. The Abarbanel explains […]
