Shemot

Shemot: Forever Building! ~ Yehoshua Steinberg

Article abstract: In Parashat Shemot, the word "הָאָבְנָיִם" appears, denoting a birthing stool. The word also appears in the Book of...

Shemot: Prophets and Visionaries ~ Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein

When G-d appoints Moshe as His emissary to redeem the Jewish People from their Egyptian bondage, He splits the leadership position into...

Shemot: The Pharaoh and The King ~ Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com The Pharaoh and the King I still remember my fifth grade Rebbe, Rabbi A. Y. Berman, asking the one...

Shemot: Hashem’s Treasure ~ Tzvi Abrahams

For the illui neshamahof my mother, Chaya Rachel basMordechai, on her yahrtzeit, the 17th of Teves, תש”ע Parshasשְׁמוֹת Hashem’s Treasure...

Va’era: Positively Divided! ~ Yehoshua Steinberg

The root פלה first appears in this week’s Parsha, and it appears here twice, which is more than any other Parsha in the Torah. The first...

Va'era: Down by the River ~ Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein

Before bringing the Plague of Blood, G-d tells Aharon to stretch out his staff over the different bodies of water in Egypt. He tells...

Va'era: Just Because ~ Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein

Just Because Before the Plague of Hail, Moshe warns the Pharaoh that he truly deserves to be killed, but that G-d had said, “nonetheless,...

Va’era: How Do We Give Kavod To Hashem ~ Tzvi Abrahams

Va’era How Do We Give Kavodto Hashem? כָּבֵד: heavy כָּבֵד: liver כָּבוֹד: honor לְכַבֵּד: to clean or sweep the house יוֹכֶבֶד: Moshe’s...

Bo: I Desire it ‘Na’ Now, Even Half-Baked ~ Yehoshua Steinberg

Article abstract for Parashat Bo: The word נא appears in Parashat Bo four times, with arguably three disparate meanings. Yet, Rashi...

Bo: The Sign is Coming ~ Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein

In Parshat Bo there are three signs: The plagues in Egypt are called a “sign” (Ex. 10:1-2), the blood which the Jews were supposed to...

Bo: Turning off the Lights ~ Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein

Turning off the Lights The ninth plague in Egypt was the plague of darkness. When describing this plague, the Torah relates that G-d told...

Beshalach: Manna at the Ready ~ Yehoshua Steinberg

Article abstract: Parashat Beshalach is the portion of the Exodus and the Splitting of the Red Sea; it is also the portion of the Manna,...

Beshalach/Tu B’Shvat: Tree Words ~ Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein

This upcoming week is a little-known holiday called Tu B’Shevat (the 15th of the month of Shevat). The Mishna (Rosh Hashanah 1:1) says...

Beshalach: Sweet and Pleasant ~ Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein

Photo by mali maeder on Pexels.com Sweet and Pleasant Not long after the Jews’ Exodus from Egypt, they travelled in the desert for three...

Beshalach: How to Pass the Driving Test ~ Tzvi Abrahams

Bishalach How to Pass the Driving Test נִסָיוֹן: test נֵס: miracle נֵס: banner נוּס: flee נֵס: sail נִיסַן: Nisan נִסָיוֹן: Test...

Yitro: Excruciating Elation ~ Yehoshua Steinberg

Article abstract for Parashat Yitro: This week's Parashah opens with an apparently clear statement describing Jethro's joy about Hashem's...