Parshat Shavua

Israel's 1st Chief Rabbi:

Shmini: Immersion in water

When we immerse ourselves in water, we are forced to recognize our existential estrangement from the physical universe.

Eretz Yisrael in the Parsha: Shmini

Mitzvahs in Eretz Yisrael

Young Religious Zionist Torah scholars study connections between the weekly Torah portion and the holy land.

Parashat Shmini:

The power of the eighth day

Parashat Shmini opens on the eighth day, the 1st of Nissan.

Parashat Shmini:

It has split hooves but what lies beneath?

“Chazer Treif” is a Yiddish expression that describes something which is absolutely and completely non-kosher. The use of this description goes well beyond the kitchen...

Parshat Shmini:

Simcha in the face of tragedy

Despite the tragedy in the parasha and a similar one in the haftarah, the joyous celebrations at the time continued. How could they find the inner strength?

Parashat Shmini:

Moses said to Aaron: Approach the altar and perform your service

Why did Aaron have to be convinced to approach the altar?

Parashat Shmini:

Moving with astonishing speed

Our sages wondered why the Exodus is mentioned specifically in response to avoiding insects.

Torah Mitzion:

Holocaust Remembrance Day: And you shall be holy

Those who fought and those who went to their deaths with heads held high. All are holy.

Parashat Shmini:

With an abundance of love and faith

Just as there were crises on the eighth day when the Mishkan was erected, so too in our times, when we have been privileged to establish our national home, there are national and personal crises.

Eretz Yisrael in the Parsha: Tsav

The daily offering - where, what when?

Young Religious Zionist Torah scholars find connections between the week's Torah portion and Eretz Yisrael.

Parashat Vayikra:

Introduction to Redemption

Why is it appropriate that we begin reading this Book on the Shabbat of the month of redemption (whether Nissan or Adar)?

Torah Mitzion: Parshat Vayikra:

The Asham and the Chatat offerings

What is the difference between the two sin offerings and is there a psychological insight in that difference?

What is the parallel between heavenly and earthly Eretz Yisrael?

Connections between the Torah portion and the Holy Land, collected by young Religious Zionist Torah scholars.

Pekudei:

Moshe could not enter the tent of meeting - why?

Commentators weigh in on why the greatest of Prophets could not enter the Tabernacle after it was put up - see the end of the Book of Exodus.

The Parsha and Current Events: Pekudei

The war over the soul of our nation

We have no option but to succeed in revealing the hidden sanctity in the inanimate stones of Hashem’s holy land and in the deep recesses of our Jewish souls.

Pekudei:

The things we leave unsaid

About the accounting we must make every so often to clear up unsettled issues.

Torah Mitzion:

Living in the shadow of Hashem

Moshe Rabeinu is the spiritual leader who relies on the direct light from Hashem but he realizes that sometimes we should use the shadows instead.

Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch:

Pekudei: Dress up

Clothes have the power to change us.

Israel's 1st Chief Rabbi: Vayakhel

Art and Creation

What is the difference between wisdom, insight, and knowledge? How do they apply both to the Creator of the universe and to the human artist?

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi: Parshat Parah

One of the greatest parables I have ever read…

How can I accept irrational commandments?

Vayakhel:

The men came with the women

‘The men needed to donate their ornaments to atone for their souls; but the women who did not want to give their ornaments for the calf did not require atonement. ‘Why, then, should the women give their ornaments?

Torah Mitzion:

The power of the community in building the Mishkan

The sanctity of Am Yisrael does not stem from the individual alone but from each person’s ability to contribute to the greater good.

The Parsha and Current Events:

To where is the renewed fighting leading?

Look at a map of ancient Israel and compare it to where the IDF is today - and where it may be soon.

The Parsha and Current Events:

Megillat Esther: Hashem's relationship with Am Yisrael

Where is Hashem’s partiality for Israel made real in the 167 verses of Megillat Esther?

Rabbi Shimshon Refael Hirsch:

Ki Tisa: Not just for children

Hashem wants mature, robust adults serving Him.

Israel's 1st Chief Rabbi:

Tetzave: Raising a Constant Flame

The oil is a metaphor for the human intellect. The mind also needs guidance; not every intellectual pursuit leads to ethical and spiritual growth. And what about the spiritual growth of the nation?

Parashat Tetsave:

The priestly robe atones for lashon hara'a

The instrument of speech is a priceless gift to our people to serve Hashem, more so than any of our other organs. The robe was designed to remind us of that.

Parashat Tetsave:

You are good

When we get dressed, we feel awake. When we dress like a professional, we behave professionally. When we dress casually, we behave casually. The same is true for good deeds, the garments of our souls. When we fill our days with good deeds, we create a mindset of goodness.

Rabbi Shimshon Refael Hirsch: Tetsave

More red than blue

The kohen’s avnet represents the life we should all live.

Eretz Yisrael in the Parsha:

Is the Land of Israel the Exact Center of the World?

Young Religious Zionist Torah scholars find connections to Eretz Yisrael in the parasha and othr sources of Judaic knowledge

Israel's 1st Chief Rabbi:

Terumah: Tachash skins in the Tabernacle

Was the tachash, whose hides covered the Tabernacle, a kosher animal? Does it matter?

Parashat Shekalim:

How to apologise to your spouse - a lesson from a broken coin

A half which completes and is completed by the other achieves a far deeper level of “wholeness” than ever before.

In a dark exile, whispering trees

A father plants saplings 210 years early, offering solace to his children.

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi

The joyful times to come…

Our hope is that with the beginning of this month of Adar, our joy will not only grow throughout this month but continue to increase as we move forward.

The Parsha and Current Events

Tzahal’s failure to protect has to do with its upper echelons

There are very many religious and Torah educated officers in Tzahal, but there is a glass ceiling covering the general staff that leaves no room for Torah-oriented generals. That must change now.

Shabbat Parshat Shkalim:

Giving and receiving

The topic of funds is addressed in this week’s portion, Terumah, as well as in the special maftir reading for Shabbat Shekalim, and in the Haftarah. From these, we learn that there is more than one way to give.

Terumah:

'They shall make a sanctuary for Me..for the Torah in the Ark

A collection of commentaries on our Sages' question: ’’THEY shall make an Ark’’- in plural, unlike the other utensils, which they are also commanded to make, but where the command is in the singular: ‘YOU shall make..’ - why?

Terumah:

You are gold

The final teaching of the Lubavitcher Rebbe on this Parashah four weeks before he suffered the stroke from which he did not recover.

"If only You had blessed him with long life"

On the one year Azkara of my son-in-law David Schwartz Z”L, Hy"d

Several weeks ago, Aruz Sheva ceased posting weekly Parasha articles by David Schwartz Hy"d. They had been translated from the book of Divrei Torah published for his wedding to Meital שתיבל"א and sadly, there are no more. David Hy"d is certainly learning Torah with the other tsaddikim in Gan Eden...

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi:

Mishpatim: To see or be seen…?

As far as the Temple was concerned, it was important not only to be seen but also to see. What about other situations?

Torah Mitzion: Mishpatim

The small details

The covenant is established through both aspects—the "big" revelations and the "small" laws—together leading to spiritual heights.

Mishpatim:

Making Torah out of business

What can we learn from the fact that this issue of "Mishpatim" (laws) comes right after the revelation at Mount Sinai?

Mishpatim:

The Parsha and Current Events: Be a Rosh Gadol!

What is lacking today among many Torah leaders is the will to achieve “rosh gadol”.

Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch:

Mishpatim: Watch your diet?

The Torah quickly disabuses us of a popular notion.

'Distance yourself from a false word"

From our childhood, we indulge in a world of imagining, until that which we imagine becomes our reality....

Israel's 1st Chief Rabbi: Yitro

Breaking bread with scholars

A scholar’s greatest influence takes place in those spheres where others can best relate to him.

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi: Yitro

Every child is the one and only.

Honoring one's father and mother is only one of two lessons on family life in the parasha.

Yitro's proclamation

Why Yitro used "measure for meaure" to proclaim G-d's rule

Were there not other great things that could have made Yitro say, ‘Now I know,’ such as the actual redemption or the splitting of the sea?

Yitro:

The outsider

Sometimes, just sometimes, when the nation of Israel is at a low ebb, when we are vulnerable and uncertain, when we need strengthening, G-d sends us a leader like Yitor from outside who can provide that emboldenment.

Beshalach:

Shabbat Shirah

When G-d grants us victory over our enemies, when He destroys our enemies who oppress us, we are obligated to thank Him with ecstatic praise. Anything less denotes extreme ingratitude

Eretz Yisrael in the parsha:

The goal: Reaching Eretz Yisrael

Young religious Zionist Torah scholars find connections between the Torah reading and the Holy Land.

Beshalach;

This is my G-d

What do I do for a G-d who forged a personal relationship with me and showed me His tender love? I beautify Him. I make Him as beautiful as I can.

When Pharaoh sent them out

Who freed the slaves - Hashem or Pharaoh?

Israel's 1st Chief Rabbi:

Bo: The Special Pesach Offering

Why may the korban pesach only be eaten at the nighttime? And why must it be roasted?

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi:

Am Yisrael Chai

Following the commemorations for the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, to which I accompanied King Charles, we can be certain, perhaps more than at any other time before, of the truth that Am Yisrael Chai.

Parashat Bo:

'In your blood you shall live, in your blood you shall live'

Various commentators weigh in on a question on the Torah reading. Did Bnei israel in Egypt not have any Mitzvot, so that Hashem felt compelled to give them these two new Mitzvot - pesach and milah - in the merit of which they were redeemed from Egypt?

Prashat Bo:

Ten plagues and nine ceasefires

A lesson of hope for today from this week's Torah reading.

The Parasha and Current Events: Bo

Existential challenges

Tje hareidi and religious Zionist total 22% and the others 78% of Israel's population. These numbers parallel the demographics of our ancestors on the eve of the Exodus!

Eretz Yisrael in the Parsha: Vaera

What is "morasha"?

Religious Zionist scholars find and explain connections between Torah readings and the Holy Land. This week: The Land of Israel as a "morasha."

Israel's 1st Chief Rabbi: Vaera

Hamotzi - For all times

What is the difference between motzi and ha-motzi?