This week’s parsha highlights the death of Aharon’s two sons, Nadav and Avihu, when they brought a strange fire before Hashem. (Vayikra 10:1). Despite the loss of their sons and brothers, Moshe commanded Aharon and his two remaining sons, Elazar and Ithamar, to carry on with their duties with the inauguration of the Mishkan. This command led to a dispute between Moshe and the Cohanim. As mourners, Aharon, Elazar and Ithamar burned the he-goat of the sin-offering, and did not

The Haggadah of Pesach tells us that “Rabban Gamliel used to say: Whoever has not explained the following three things on Passover has not fulfilled his duty, namely: Pesach – the Passover Offering; Matzah – the Unleavened Bread; Maror – the Bitter Herbs.” This is puzzling. The Torah generally does not reveal the reasons for the mitzvos. Hashem’s mitzvos are multi-faceted, with many layers of understanding underlying each mitzvah. Indeed, the Torah itself does not reveal the

The Pesach Haggadah highlights four sons: the wise son, the wicked son, the simple son, and the one who does not even know how to ask a question. These four sons parallel the four sons who are depicted in various places in the Torah. Each son, except for the one who cannot formulate a question, engages with the Pesach experience by asking about it. Yet the wicked son poses a particularly provocative question: “What is this service to you?” By the nature of the wording, the wi

At the beginning of Sefer Vayikra, the Torah details the various ways one can bring a burnt offering (עולה). The Torah begins with offerings from cattle (Vayikra 1:3), sheep or goats (1:10), birds (1:14), and finally flour (2:1). For each of the first three sacrifices, the Torah says: “If one’s offering is from…” and then specifies the animal. However, with the flour meal-offering (מנחה), the Torah says: “When a soul (נפש) offers a meal-offering to Hashem.” (Ibid. 2:1). Why d

At the end of Sefer Shemos, the Torah describes the craftsmanship of the Mishkan (Tabernacle) and how it was shown to Moshe. Specifically, the Torah enumerates the following items that were brought to Moshe (Shemos 39:39): “The Copper Altar and its copper meshwork, its staves, and all its utensils, the Laver and the base.” The mention of the Laver is puzzling, because earlier the Torah specifies that “seventy talents and two thousand four hundred shekels” of copper were donat

At the beginning of this week’s parsha, Vayakhel, which deals with the construction of the Mishkan (Tabernacle), the Torah interjects the subject of Shabbos (Shemos 35:3): “On six days, work (מלאכה) may be done, but the seventh day shall be holy for you, a day of complete rest for Hashem; whoever does work on it shall be put to death.” We learn from the juxtaposition of the Shabbos with the construction of the Mishkan that the Torah’s definition of forbidden “work” on the Sha

In Megillas Esther, Chapter 2 describes how Esther was chosen as Queen over the entire kingdom. We then read how Mordechai foiled the plot of Bigthan and Teresh to assassinate the King. The Megillah tells us (Esther 2:23): “The matter was investigated and corroborated, and they were both hanged on a gallows. It was recorded in the book of chronicles in the King’s presence.” The very next pasuk states (Ibid. 3:1): “ After these things, King Ahasuerus promoted Haman, the son

In this week’s parsha, the Torah describes the garments worn by the Kohen Gadol (High Priest). The Torah says (Shemos 28:31): “You shall make the Robe (מעיל) of the Ephod entirely of turquoise wool (תכלת).” The Torah adds (28:33-34): “You shall make … a gold bell and a pomegranate, a gold bell and a pomegranate on the hem of the robe, all around. It must be on Aharon in order to minister. Its sound shall be heard when he enters the Sanctuary before Hashem and when he leaves,

The Torah sets forth in this week’s parsha the details of constructing the Menorah. Regarding the lamps of the Menorah, the Torah states (Shemos 25:37) : “You shall make its lamps seven; he shall raise up its lamps so as to give light towards its face.” The pasuk is difficult to understand. What does it mean to “raise up its lamps”, and how does that “give light towards its face?” Furthermore, what is the “face” of the Menorah? The Mizrachi explains that this pasuk cannot be

The Torah tells us (Shemos 23:5): “If you shall see the donkey of your hater lying under his burden, will you allow yourself to leave it to him? You must forsake everything and hasten to his aid.” The Torah tells us that despite hating someone, if you see his donkey suffering under its burden, you are obligated to help that person and relieve the donkey from its suffering. There are two positive aspects for helping. First, there is potentially a Torah commandment to prevent