Unperplexed: Parsha Lessons from Maimonides's Guide of the Perplexed

Our verse functions as a sort of warning: don’t turn to false gods, since, in the end, you may come to think that they are real.

Notably, this is not the usual uniform of the High Priest, clothed generally in gold, jewels, and wool. Rashi explains that the gold, reminiscent as it was of the sin of the golden calf, would have been problematic.

Some stupendous humility may be called for in such a case. Perhaps the teacher of all of the priests is not a priest. Then, that teacher will never be able to declare tzara’at, though his students could. A surprising lesson is contained here. Listen to the Parsha Pick-Me-Up to learn more.

"If a man does well, they say to him, you preceded the angels; if he does not, they say to him: (in creation) the fly preceded you, the gnat preceded you, the snail preceded you." - Reish Lakish But what does this have to do with the laws of Kashrut and ritual purity?

"I am torn within, I cry without end. I do not sleep.... Maybe Hashem has finally decided that we are no longer His chosen people?" Words and worries from the past and present. As always, the parsha comes to speak to our moment. Sources: Rabbi Yuval Sherlow, Shu’’t HaHitnatkut p. 139 Lev. 9:23 with Rashi Jer. chap. 2 with Rashi.

Do we need to earn our place in this world? We find ourselves here, and no one asked us whether we were interested. Yet, once we are here, God makes demands of us. Our parasha contains the beginning of a meditation on this problem. Sources: Lev. 6:10, Malachi 1:10, Tosefta Demai 2:8.

Soldiers on the front lines will have an easy time answering key questions. They serve the people of Israel. And the rest of us?

Surely, complex as the process was, it could not have taken six months to make such a small building as the Tabernacle! What was it that took so long that the Mishkan could not be assembled until nearly six months had passed?  The answers the Sages give is mysterious. It is also precisely the answer we need right now.

Bezalel is key to the construction of the Mishkan (Tabernacle), such that it is named after him. What is the Torah teaching us by singling him out?

There is a great secret here: That which is kadosh , holy or sacred- or its opposite- can change our lives.

The High Priest's apron requires golden threads in each strand. The gold teaches us a special lesson that may elevate our behaviors.

The Menorah has a very unusual quality to it: each of its six outer lamps faces in towards the center, so that its light travels inwards.

Negative speech, in order to qualify as Lashon Hara, must be true. So how could the Sages construe our verse, which explicitly warns against falsehoods, to be a warning against true speech, negative though it may be? 

There is an important and timely comment on social ties made at the beginning of our Parasha- one that usually goes unnoticed.

What is the significance of this place, Pi HaChirot ? In fact, it stems from something we learned of long ago but means so much to us now.

The Jewish people are commanded to declare and sanctify the new moon each month. The Sages point to something that is key to becoming the people we want to be. Source: Mechilta DeRabbi Yishmael Masechta DePischa 2.

Moshe Rabbenu has great news to tell the Children of Israel: God is going to save them, take them out of Egypt, and bring them to the Land of Canaan. Yet, this uplifting and joyful message could not get through. They were experiencing something that we often experience, with lessons for our own time.

A new king rose over Egypt who did not know Yosef. The old king knew Yosef, the powerful and influential viceroy who saw Egypt through a difficult time. The new king not only does not appreciate what Yosef has done for his people, but he suspects the children of Israel, worrying that they might escape Egypt and even pose a military threat. This new king- whatever that means- is an object lesson in...

Yosef agrees to bury his father in Israel but Yaakov does not simply take his word for it. Instead, he makes Yosef swear to arrange his burial in the proper manner. Why?

Israel and his children seem to be an emotional group. Their tears say something profound about our people, our faith, and our way of life.

As the old fable has it, the ant that gathers food in the summer has what to eat in the winter, while the grasshopper that spent the summer dancing begins to starve. Yet, the present is in so many ways stronger than any prior moment.

Yaakov’s predicament is not theoretical. Many families of Israel await news regarding their loved ones. They will not be consoled and neither should we.

What is the meaning of Yaakov's new name, "Israel"? Why is its connection with failure so important?

Leah is not loved most. This is a major part of her life, just like our own disappointments. Yet, she persevered.

Yitzchak teaches a simple lesson about getting what you want and Rivka, Yaakov, and Esav all take it to heart. It is a lesson we should review now.