The Parsha in a Nutshell Parshat Shemini is the last chapter of the long section that we began in the 25th chapter of Shemot. We started with the command to build the Mishkan (the Tabernacle) and in Shemini, the building and preparations are all finished. It is finally time to start using the Mishkan. Special priestly celebrations took place to…
…Devarim, the section on curses is longer and far more graphic than the section on blessings. This seems to contradict a basic principle of Judaism, that God’s generosity to those who are faithful to Him is far more than His punishment of those who are not. The whole idea contained in the 13 Attributes of Compassion (Shemot 34:6-7) is that…
…in it?” He told them “Do not steal.” They replied to Him, “Theft has always been part of our way of life. We cannot accept the Torah!” Finally He came to Israel. They simply said, “We will do and we will listen” (na’aseh ve-nishma) (Shemot 24:7). Pesikta Rabbati, 21 The Israelites actually stood underneath the mountain, as Hashem held the…
…to one another and enter into this mutual agreement, the covenant. This is how it was defined by God at Mount Sinai: “Now if you obey Me fully and keep My covenant, then out of all nations you will be My treasured possession, for all the earth is Mine.” (Shemot 19:5). This means: If you are My people, I will…
…to Respect Parents Shemot 20:12 Devarim 5:16 Vayikra 19:1-3 Talmud Bavli, Kiddushin 31a Core Questions Why is it important to respect parents? How can this be achieved? How do you respect your parents Talmudic parental responsibilities Talmud Bavli, Kiddushin 29a Core Questions What responsibilities does this text say parents have? What do these have in common? Do these still apply…
…11:19 Core Questions What are these texts also known from and when do read them? Why do you think educating children is central to them? Why is it a parent’s responsibility to educate their children? The Mitzvah to respect parents Shemot 20:12 Devarim 5:16 Vayikra 19:1-3 Talmud Bavli, Kiddushin 31a Core Questions Why is it important to respect parents? How…
…you read Sefer Bereishit, why did our ancestors go into slavery in Egypt, anyone know? A plain reading will be: a family that can sell one of their members into slavery has to experience being enslaved so that veger loh tilchatz ve’atem yadatem et nefesh hager ki gerim hayitem b’eretz mitzrayim (Shemot 23:9). It was to teach us never to…
…Bereishit 2:1-3 Read Shemot 23:10-12 Read Vayikra 25:1-24 Read Vayikra 26:34 The three great commandments of periodic rest – Shabbat, the sabbatical year and the jubilee year – [are] powerful forms of environmental education. On Shabbat we are commanded to renounce our manipulation of the world. It is a day that sets a limit to our intervention in nature and…
…SOURCE 1 Rashi on Bereishit 1:1 The Torah, which is the law-book of Israel, should have begun with the verse, “This month shall be unto you the first of the months,” (Shemot 12:2) which is the first commandment given to Israel. What is the reason, then, that it begins with the account of the Creation? … In case the peoples…
Delve into our collection of sources and guiding questions on notions of covenant, inspired by the teachings of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks zt”l, compiled by Sacks Scholar Mijal Bitton. Download in English Download in Hebrew Download in Spanish Download in French Download in German You may also wish to view our full range of Shavuot and Tikkun Leil resources….