In Parshas Kedoshim, the Torah states: “You shall not eat over the blood; you shall not practice sorcery, and you shall not believe in lucky times.” (Vayikra 19:26) The meaning of the phrase “You shall not eat over the blood” is not immediately clear. The Ramban explains it in a narrow sense, referring to ancient sorcerers who would use blood as part of their rituals to predict the future. Rashi, however, takes a broader approach. Citing the Gemara in Sanhedrin (63a), h

In Parshas Metzora, the Torah introduces the phenomenon of tzaraas affecting houses: “Hashem spoke to Moshe and Aharon, saying: When you arrive in the land of Canaan that I give you as a possession, and I will place a tzaraas affliction upon a house in the land of your possession.” (Vayikra 14:34) This passage raises an immediate question: Why would Hashem place tzaraas specifically on a person’s house? What behavior warrants such a response? Rabbenu Bachye answers by focu

Paths of Peace In this week’s parsha, the Torah lists eight sheratzim —small creeping creatures—that transmit ritual impurity: “These are the creeping animals that are impure to you… the weasel, the mouse, the tortoise… the anakah , the ko’ach , the lizard, the chomet , and the mole… whoever touches them when they are dead shall become impure until the evening.” (Vayikra 11:29–31) Although the precise identification of some of these creatures is uncertain, the Torah makes cle

The Circle of Life On Shevi’i shel Pesach , we commemorate Kriyas Yam Suf , the splitting of the sea. The Torah describes this miracle in vivid terms: “The Children of Israel came within the sea on dry land; and the water was a wall for them, on their right and on their left.” (Shemos 14:22) However, after describing the drowning of the Egyptians, the Torah appears to repeat the same idea: “The Children of Israel went on dry land in the midst of the sea; the water was a wall