A perpetual fire shall be kept burning on the altar, not to go out. Vayikra/Leviticus 6:6 Our parasha describes the initiation of formal worship by our Israelite ancestors after having completed the construction of the Mishkan while encamped at the foot of Mt Sinai. Through an elaborate series of religious rituals the Mishkan is consecrated, Continue Reading »
…’Cause everyone’s crazy ’bout a sharp-dressed man.1 As we begin the book of Vayikra/Leviticus, Aaron and his sons will finally begin using the elaborate vestments prepared for them as worship is inaugurated in the Mishkan, the Tabernacle. Regarding this attire the Torah instructed: Make sacral vestments for your brother Aaron, for dignity and adornment. Next Continue Reading »
The silver of those of the community who were recorded came to 100 talents and 1,775 shekels by the sanctuary weight: a half-shekel a head, half a shekel by the sanctuary weight, for each one who was entered in the records, from the age of twenty years up, 603,550 men. The 100 talents of silver were for Continue Reading »
Moses then convoked the whole Israelite community and said to them: These are the things that the Lord has commanded you to do: … 4 Moses said further to the whole community of Israelites: Sh’mot / Exodus 35:1, 4 Our Torah portion opens with Moshe gathering all the Israelites together to give them God’s Continue Reading »
You shall further instruct the Israelites to bring you clear oil of beaten olives for lighting, for kindling lamps regularly. Exodus 27:20 Unlike all the other materials itemized for the construction of the Mishkan which were a one-time donation, the requirement here is an ongoing obligation. A very specific kind of material must be used for Continue Reading »
…the Lord said to Moses, “Go to the people and charge them to sanctify themselves today and tomorrow. Let them wash their clothes. Sh’mot / Exodus 19:10 The Mekhilta1 comments upon this verse: There are tomorrows that are only in the future. In a collection of teachings by Gerer rabbis they expand upon the Mekhilta Continue Reading »
…This is my God and I will enshrine Him; New Jewish Publication Society Translation …This is my God and I will glorify Him; Old Jewish Publication Society Translation Sh’mot / Exodus 15:2 The difference between the two translations of this phrase from the Song at the Sea exists within the writings of our medieval biblical Continue Reading »
And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I stretch out My hand over Egypt and bring out the Israelites from their midst.” Continue Reading »
But [Moshe] said, “Please, O Lord, make someone else Your agent.” Exodus 4:13 Moshe finds himself at the top of Horeb, drawn there by the mystery of the burning bush that was ablaze but not consumed by the flames. God speaks to Moshe as the same God who spoke with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and Continue Reading »
“The God in whose ways my fathers, Abraham and Isaac walked, The God who has been my shepherd from my birth to this day —” Continue Reading »
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