Vayakel and Pekudei are narrative Torah portions that describe the creation of the Mishkan and the bigdei kehuna. The word “vayaas” — “and he made” — is used …
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By Rabbi David Etengoff
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2/27/19
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The Tanach contains a number of instances when Hashem calls to individuals and repeats their name within the same verse. For example, just before G-d commands Avraham not to offer Yitzchak upon the …
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By Rabbi David Etengoff
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2/20/19
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There are two well-known verses in Shemot that express the concept of Hashem’s dwelling among the Jewish people. The first instance appears in last week’s parasha, “And they …
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Rabbi David Etengoff
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2/13/19
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Our parasha, Terumah, focuses upon the mitzvah of constructing the Mishkan (portable desert Sanctuary). The verse that conveys this commandment is found early on in our Torah reading: “And …
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By Rabbi David Etengoff
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2/5/19
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Our parasha, Mishpatim, contains the ethically-infused mitzvah “mi’devar sheker tirchak” (“Distance yourself from a false matter,” Shemot 23:7).
In his Torah …
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By Rabbi David Etengoff
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1/31/19
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The first pasuk of our parasha, Yitro, states, “Now Moshe’ father-in-law, Yitro, the chieftain of Midian, heard all that G-d had done for Moshe and for Israel His …
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By Rabbi David Etengoff
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1/22/19
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The concluding section of our parasha, Beshalach, contains the account of our ancestors’ mortal combat with Amalek, the marauding desert tribe that sought to destroy us after our departure from …
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By Rabbi David Etengoff
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1/16/19
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On that day, you must tell your child, ‘It is because of this that G-d acted for me when I left Egypt’.” (Shemot 13:8).
This is one of the best known pasukim of both our …
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By Rabbi David Ettengoff
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1/10/19
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The concluding verses of parashat Vayechi present Yosef’s final words to his brothers. They contain both a reminder of Hashem’s promise to ultimately redeem the Jewish people from …
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By Rabbi David Etengoff
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12/19/18
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Our Sages, in Tosefta Berachot 4:17-18, ask a fundamental question: “Why did Yehuda merit kingship?” After all, each of the brothers was great in his own way. Why, then, was …
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By Rabbi David Etengoff
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12/12/18
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