Hagaon Rav Yitzchak Mecklenberg zt”l on Parshat Tetzaveh – read
(from Haktav Vehakabala ) The Seemingly Misplaced Mizbeiach (Incense Altar) The Mizbach Haketoret (incense altar) seems to be out of place in Parshat Tetzaveh. In Parshat Teruma the Torah presents the command to construct the Aron, Shulchan, Menora, and Mizbach Hanechoshet, along with the external structure of the Mishkan. Parshat Tetzaveh is primarily devoted to […]
Hagaon Rav Meir Simcha of Dvinsk zt”l on Parshat Teruma – read
(from Meshech Chakhma on Shemot) The Poles of the Aron That Carries its Carriers The Torah makes a curious distinction between the poles of the Aron (Ark of the Covenant) and the poles of the Mizbeiach (incense altar) and Shulchan (table of the showbreads). It is forbidden to ever remove the poles from the Aron, […]
Hagaon Rav Eliahu of Vilna zt”l on Parshat Mishpatim – read
(from Kol Eliahu on Mishpatim) Two Hints by the Gra An Eye for an Eye The Sages have a tradition that the biblical pronouncement, “An eye for an eye – ayin tachat ayin,” (Shemot 21:24) refers to a monetary payment. The Gra shows how this is hinted at in the words of the Torah. Why, […]
Hagaon Rav Naftali Tzvi Yehuda Berlin zt”l on Parshat Yitro
(from Haamek Davar on Shemot) Preparing for Holiness The Torah seems to unnecessarily repeat a fact when it tells the story of the giving of the Torah. We are told (Shemot 19:2), “They traveled from Refidim and they came to the Wilderness of Sinai,” even though we already know (Shemot 17:1) that they were in Refidim [and […]
Hagaon Rav Levi Yitzchak of Berditchov zt”l on Parshat Beshalach
(from Kedushat Levi ) Preserving Joy The introduction to the Shirat Hayam ends in a seemingly inappropriate way. “Then Moshe and the Children of Israel sang this song to G-d. They said ‘to say’ . . .” The last word, “leimor,” (to say) seems out of place. It usually means to tell others. For instance, […]
Hagaon Rav Yosef Chaim zt”l on Parshat Bo
(from Ben Ish Chai Parshat Bo) The Tefillin-Torah Connection The Torah follows the command to put on tefillin with, “ . . . In order that the Torah of G-d should be in your mouth,” implying a causal connection between tefillin and Torah. How does putting on tefillin make sure that G-d’s Torah stays in […]
Hagaon Rav Baruch Epstein zt”l on Parshat Vaeira
(from Torah Temima on Shemot 6:26) Is Aaron Really Equal to Moshe? “This is the same Aaron and Moshe to whom G-d told, ‘Take the Jewish people, all of their hosts, out of Egypt.’” (Shemot 6:26) The Tosefta at the end of Masekhet Keritot asks: Why does Aaron precede Moshe in this verse, whereas Moshe […]
Hagaon Rav Gedalya Shor zt”l on Parshat Shemot
(from Or Gedalyahu, Parshat Shemot, p. 19) Moshe’s Name: The Inner Meaning What is the significance of the name “Moshe”? The Torah itself (Shemot 2:10) gives the basic answer, “For I (Pharaoh’s daughter) drew him out of the water.” The Maharal brings out the inner significance of this expression. Water embodies physicality (the medieval Hebrew […]
Hagaon Rav Yehuda Aryeh Leib of Gur zt”l on Parshat Vayechi
(from Sfat Emet on the Torah) The Humble Lion The blessing of Yehuda includes the following verse: Yehuda crouches down and lies like a lion (Bereishit 49:9). What is the greatness of lying down like a lion? Since the Jewish people are referred to as “Yehudim,” (for example, in Megillat Esther), our explanation applies to […]
Hagaon Rav Yisrael Meir Hakohen of Radin zt”l on Parshat Vayigash
(from Chofetz Chayim on the Torah) I am Yosef “Yosef said to his brothers, ‘I am Yosef.’” (Bereishit 45:3) All of the time the brothers were trying to buy wheat and went through the ordeal of being accused as spies by the Egyptian viceroy, they were asking themselves and each other many questions. There was […]
