This Week in Learning

One of the fundamental themes which we are obligated to discuss at the Pesach Seder is our progression from slavery to freedom. As the Rambam writes: משנה תורה - ספר זמנים - הלכות חמץ ומצה - פרק ז:ד [ד] וְצָרִיךְ לְהַתְחִיל בִּגְנוּת, וּלְסַיַּם בִּשְׁבָח.  כֵּיצַד:  מַתְחִיל וּמְסַפֵּר שֶׁבַּתְּחִלָּה הָיוּ אֲבוֹתֵינוּ בִּימֵי תֶּרַח וּמִלְּפָנָיו, כּוֹפְרִים וְטוֹעִין אַחֲרֵי הַהֶבֶל וְרוֹדְפִין...

Betzalel the architect of the Mishkan is described as having a specific set of intellectual qualities. שמות לא ב) רְאֵ֖ה קָרָ֣אתִי בְשֵׁ֑ם בְּצַלְאֵ֛ל בֶּן־אוּרִ֥י בֶן־ח֖וּר לְמַטֵּ֥ה יְהוּדָֽה: ג) וָאֲמַלֵּ֥א אֹת֖וֹ ר֣וּחַ אֱלֹהִ֑ים בְּחׇכְמָ֛ה וּבִתְבוּנָ֥ה וּבְדַ֖עַת וּבְכׇל־מְלָאכָֽה׃ Shemot 31 2) "See, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah, 3) and...

The Book of Esther contains many universal themes. Its annual reading is incumbent upon the entire Jewish people. משנה תורה - ספר זמנים - הלכות מגילה וחנוכה - א:א קְרִיאַת הַמְּגִלָּה בִּזְמַנָּהּ, מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה מִדִּבְרֵי סוֹפְרִים; וְהַדְּבָרִים יְדוּעִים, שְׁהִיא תַּקָּנַת נְבִיאִים. וְהַכֹּל חַיָּבִים בִּקְרִיאָתָהּ--אֲנָשִׁים, וְנָשִׁים, וְגֵרִים, וַעֲבָדִים מְשֻׁחְרָרִים; וּמְחַנְּכִין אֶת...

The first vessel described in the process of the construction of the Mishkan is the Ark which contained the Torah. שמות כה – (יא) וְצִפִּיתָ֤ אֹתוֹ֙ זָהָ֣ב טָה֔וֹר מִבַּ֥יִת וּמִח֖וּץ תְּצַפֶּ֑נּוּ וְעָשִׂ֧יתָ עָלָ֛יו זֵ֥ר זָהָ֖ב סָבִֽיב: Shemot 25 – (11) And you shall overlay it with pure gold; from inside and from outside you shall overlay it, and you shall make upon it a golden crown all around...

During the revelation at Sinai, the Jewish people receive the well-known 10 statements or commandments. Along with these, they also receive a series of laws designed to structure human society. These are delineated in Parshat Mishpatim. Included are laws about the functioning of a formal court system. שמות כג – (ב) לֹא-תִהְיֶה אַחֲרֵי-רַבִּים, לְרָעֹת; וְלֹא-תַעֲנֶה עַל-רִב, לִנְטֹת אַחֲרֵי רַבִּי...

When Moshe approaches Pharaoh, he is instructed by Hashem to be prepared to give a sign. Aharon throws down his staff which turns into a snake. Pharaoh's magicians copy Aharon, and Pharaoh is unimpressed. שמות ז ח) וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהֹוָ֔ה אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה וְאֶֽל־אַהֲרֹ֖ן לֵאמֹֽר׃ (ט) כִּי֩ יְדַבֵּ֨ר אֲלֵכֶ֤ם פַּרְעֹה֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר תְּנ֥וּ לָכֶ֖ם מוֹפֵ֑ת וְאָמַרְתָּ֣ אֶֽל־אַהֲרֹ֗ן קַ֧ח אֶֽת־מַטְּךָ֛ וְהַשְׁלֵ֥ךְ...

After Moshe accepts the mission to redeem the Jewish people, he approaches Pharaoh and demands that the people be granted freedom of worship. Pharaoh predictably refuses. He further punishes the people and increases their workload. The people complain to Moshe and Aharon. שמות ה כב( וַיָּשָׁב מֹשֶׁה אֶל-יְהוָה, וַיֹּאמַר:  אֲדֹנָי, לָמָה הֲרֵעֹתָה לָעָם הַזֶּה--לָמָּה זֶּה, שְׁלַחְתָּנִי. כג( וּמֵ...

At the end of Yaakov’s life, he gathers all his children together. He gives them each an individual blessing. He states, “the scepter will not depart from Yehudah” (49:10), “Zevulun will dwell by the coast of the seas (49:13), and “a fruitful branch is Yosef” (49:22). בראשית מט:כח כָּל־אֵ֛לֶּה שִׁבְטֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל שְׁנֵ֣ים עָשָׂ֑ר וְ֠זֹ֠את אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּ֨ר לָהֶ֤ם אֲבִיהֶם֙ וַיְבָ֣רֶךְ אוֹתָ֔ם אִ֛י...

We read the Torah with great care. It is necessary to understand why the Torah included certain details. There are many examples where the narrative could have read smoothly without a particular piece of information. We must then understand why it was included. One such example is included below: בראשית מו:כח וְאֶת־יְהוּדָ֞ה שָׁלַ֤ח לְפָנָיו֙ אֶל־יוֹסֵ֔ף לְהוֹרֹ֥ת לְפָנָ֖יו גּ֑שְׁנָה וַיָּבֹ֖אוּ א...

The Talmud describes the proper location to place our Chanukah lights: תלמוד בבלי – שבת כב. אָמַר רַבָּה: נֵר חֲנוּכָּה מִצְוָה לְהַנִּיחָהּ בְּטֶפַח הַסָּמוּךְ לַפֶּתַח. וְהֵיכָא מַנַּח לֵיהּ? רַב אַחָא בְּרֵיהּ דְּרָבָא אָמַר: מִיָּמִין; רַב שְׁמוּאֵל מִדִּפְתִּי אָמַר: מִשְּׂמֹאל. וְהִילְכְתָא: מִשְּׂמֹאל, כְּדֵי שֶׁתְּהֵא נֵר חֲנוּכָּה מִשְּׂמֹאל וּמְזוּזָה מִיָּמִין. Talmud Bavli - Shabbat 22...

Yaakov flees his home to escape the wrath of Esav. He heads toward Haran to begin a new stage in his life. Hashem appears to him in a dream and tells him: בראשית כח (טו) וְהִנֵּ֨ה אָנֹכִ֜י עִמָּ֗ךְ וּשְׁמַרְתִּ֙יךָ֙ בְּכֹ֣ל אֲשֶׁר־תֵּלֵ֔ךְ וַהֲשִׁ֣בֹתִ֔יךָ אֶל־הָאֲדָמָ֖ה הַזֹּ֑את כִּ֚י לֹ֣א אֶֽעֱזׇבְךָ֔ עַ֚ד אֲשֶׁ֣ר אִם־עָשִׂ֔יתִי אֵ֥ת אֲשֶׁר־דִּבַּ֖רְתִּי לָֽךְ׃ Beresheit 28 (15) And behold, I am...

There are many confusing elements in story we read about the relationship between Yitzchak, Rivka, Esav, and Yaakov. Clarification is needed in order to understand the perspectives and motivations of each. They emerge from a close read of the narrative with classical commentaries. בראשית כה:כו-כז וַֽיִּגְדְּלוּ֙ הַנְּעָרִ֔ים וַיְהִ֣י עֵשָׂ֗ו אִ֛ישׁ יֹדֵ֥עַ צַ֖יִד אִ֣ישׁ שָׂדֶ֑ה וְיַעֲקֹב֙ אִ֣ישׁ ת...

After Lot and Avraham part ways, Hashem tells Avraham that he will inherit the land of Israel. (Beresheit 13:14-17). He gives a further message to Avraham that he will have a child and his children will be as numerous as the stars (15:1-5). But between these two messages, we find a detailed description of a war between the alliances of four kings and five kings. בראשית יד (א) וַיְהִ֗י בִּימֵי֙ אַמ...

Following the flood, Noach is commanded to leave the ark. He blesses Noach, and exhorts him and his children to repopulate the world. God makes a covenant that He will not destroy the land and its population again through a flood. He sets up the rainbow a sign of this covenant. בראשית ט (יב) וַיֹּ֣אמֶר אֱלֹהִ֗ים זֹ֤את אֽוֹת־הַבְּרִית֙ אֲשֶׁר־אֲנִ֣י נֹתֵ֗ן בֵּינִי֙ וּבֵ֣ינֵיכֶ֔ם וּבֵ֛ין כׇּל־נֶ֥פֶש...

Kayin brings an offering to God. His brother Hevel follows his lead and brings an offering of his own which is accepted by God. Kayin’s offering is rejected and he is crestfallen as a result. Before the episode spirals into murder, God gives Kayin a message: בראשית ד:ז הֲל֤וֹא אִם־תֵּיטִיב֙ שְׂאֵ֔ת וְאִם֙ לֹ֣א תֵיטִ֔יב לַפֶּ֖תַח חַטָּ֣את רֹבֵ֑ץ וְאֵלֶ֙יךָ֙ תְּשׁ֣וּקָת֔וֹ וְאַתָּ֖ה תִּמְשׇׁל־בּֽוֹ׃...

It is the standard Ashkenazic custom to read the book of Kohelet on the intermediate Shabbat of Sukkot. The Sukkot holiday is described in our liturgy as zeman simchateinu –the time of our joy. Why was this book chosen to be read on the holiday of joy? One possibility is Kohelet’s focus on the concept of simchah, perhaps best translated as joy. What is Kohelet’s message regarding joy? The book of...

A story is told about Rebbe Akiva in tractate Menachot (23b-24a). He was traveling among other sages to Jerusalem around 130 CE, after the destruction of the second temple. They arrived at a vantage point on Mount Scopus which currently hosts Hebrew University. Upon seeing the site where the temple had so recently stood, they tore their clothes, the time honored ritual of Keriyah expressing mourni...

Parshat Emor outlines the mitzvah of counting the Omer in the context of annual holidays: ויקרא כג טו וּסְפַרְתֶּ֤ם לָכֶם֙ מִמָּֽחֳרַ֣ת הַשַּׁבָּ֔ת מִיּוֹם֙ הֲבִ֣יאֲכֶ֔ם אֶת־עֹ֖מֶר הַתְּנוּפָ֑ה שֶׁ֥בַע שַׁבָּת֖וֹת תְּמִימֹ֥ת תִּֽהְיֶֽינָה: טז עַ֣ד מִמָּֽחֳרַ֤ת הַשַּׁבָּת֙ הַשְּׁבִיעִ֔ת תִּסְפְּר֖וּ חֲמִשִּׁ֣ים י֑וֹם וְהִקְרַבְתֶּ֛ם מִנְחָ֥ה חֲדָשָׁ֖ה לַֽיהֹוָֽה: Vayikra 23 15 And you shall count f...

Judaism advocates for a bold implementation of justice. We have always stood in opposition to the conception that might makes right. Among the many legal and moral principles outlined in Parshat Kedoshim, including paying a worker’s wages on-time, having only even weights and measures, and loving your neighbor as yourself, we encounter a concept central to the administration of justice: ויקרא יט (...

There are two different versions of the third mishna in Avot that have very different meanings. The standard text reads: פרקי אבות א:ג (ג) אַנְטִיגְנוֹס אִישׁ סוֹכוֹ קִבֵּל מִשִּׁמְעוֹן הַצַּדִּיק. הוּא הָיָה אוֹמֵר, אַל תִּהְיוּ כַעֲבָדִים הַמְשַׁמְּשִׁין אֶת הָרַב עַל מְנָת לְקַבֵּל פְּרָס, אֶלָּא הֱווּ כַעֲבָדִים הַמְשַׁמְּשִׁין אֶת הָרַב שֶׁלֹּא עַל מְנָת לְקַבֵּל פְּרָס, וִיהִי מוֹרָא שָׁמַיִ...

The Rambam outlines the mitzvah of discussing the exodus from Egypt, obligatory on the first night of Pesach: משנה תורה - ספר זמנים - הלכות חמץ ומצה - פרק ז מִצְוַת עֲשֵׂה שֶׁלַּתּוֹרָה לְסַפַּר בְּנִסִּים וְנִפְלָאוֹת שֶׁנַּעֲשׂוּ לַאֲבוֹתֵינוּ בְּמִצְרַיִם, בְּלֵיל חֲמִשָּׁה עָשָׂר בְּנִיסָן--שֶׁנֶּאֱמָר "זָכוֹר אֶת-הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה אֲשֶׁר יְצָאתֶם" (שמות יג,ג), כְּמַה שֶׁנֶּאֱמָר "זָכוֹר אֶת-יוֹם...

If you were to ask someone to tell you the first month of the Jewish calendar, they would likely reply Tishrei, when we celebrate Rosh HaShannah, literally translated as the beginning of the year. But if you look in the Torah, you will see that Rosh HaShannah is described as falling in the seventh month. When the Jews are about to leave Egypt, they are given their first mitzvah as a people. It is...

The final section of Parashat Shemini deals with the laws of Kashrut –permitted and prohibited foods. It lists the characteristics of kosher animals, birds, fish, and locusts. The section concludes: ויקרא יא (מה) כִּ֣י | אֲנִ֣י יְהֹוָ֗ה הַמַּֽעֲלֶ֤ה אֶתְכֶם֙ מֵאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם לִֽהְיֹ֥ת לָכֶ֖ם לֵֽאלֹהִ֑ים וִֽהְיִיתֶ֣ם קְדשִׁ֔ים כִּ֥י קָד֖וֹשׁ אָֽנִי: (מו) זֹ֣את תּוֹרַ֤ת הַבְּהֵמָה֙ וְהָע֔וֹף וְכֹ...

The story of Megilat Esther seems entirely fantastical. It boasts elaborate parties, a contest for queen of Persia, assassination attempts, political intrigue, evil villains and inspiring heroes. But beneath the familiar narrative lies a sinister plot to commit genocide. Modern history makes this story all too real. תלמוד בבלי – מגילה יג: - יד. ויאמר המלך להמן הכסף נתון לך והעם לעשות בו כטוב בעיני...

The Megillah of Esther is unique among the books of the Torah: תלמוד בבלי – מגילה יט. – וא”ר חלבו אמר רב חמא בר גוריא אמר רב מגילה נקראת ספר ונקראת אגרת Talmud Bavli - Megillah 19a: – And Rabbi Ḥelbo said further that Rav Ḥama bar Gurya said that Rav said: The Megilla is referred to as a “book” (Esther 9:32), and it is also referred to as a “letter” (Esther 9:29) The Talmud discusses the nature of...