One of the fascinating midrashim on parsha Shemini pictures Aharon, the Kohen Gadol, brother of Moshe, leader extraordinaire, hesitating before going to fulfill his sacred duty, because on the … more

One of the bigger challenges we face on Pesach evening is keeping everyone around the table engaged throughout the Seder. Whether we read the Haggadah straight (boring to some), have many Torah … more

Pesach begins next Friday night, and with it comes the longest mitzvah we can fulfill, the telling of the story of the Exodus from Egypt. In Maimonides’ count it is positive mitzvah 157. In … more

Rabbenu Bachya ben Asher begins his commentary on the book of Vayikra with an introduction, in which he includes a verse from Mishlei 22:4: “In the wake of humility comes fear of the Lord, … more

At the very beginning of his instructions about the construction of the Mishkan, Moshe says to the people regarding their terumah (donations), “Take from yourselves terumah to G-d, all … more

Who doesn’t like the smell of freshly made popcorn? Many years ago I remember reading a comic book (I think it was Richie Rich) in which a character was looking to have a popcorn smelling … more

Anyone acquainted with the Torah reading we hear each Rosh Chodesh will find themselves in familiar territory as we read in this week’s parsha Tetzaveh (29:38-46) of the daily tamid offerings … more

One of the more destructive qualities of any leader, teacher, mentor is being hypocritical. Anyone who looks up to someone else can easily be disenfranchised when they catch the person they admire … more

According to the Sefer HaChinukh, there are 53 mitzvot in Parshat Mishpatim. Other than in similarly mitzvah-laden parshas (such as Re’eh, Shoftim, Ki Tetze, and possibly Kedoshim) it is hard … more

This week’s parsha begins by telling us that Yisro heard what G-d had done for Israel in taking them out of Egypt: So “Yisro, father-in-law of Moshe, took Zipporah, wife of Moshe, after … more