I am making mistakes as fast as I can by Rabbi Mordechai Rhine The Parsha of Bichukosai is one of the places that the Torah declares that there is reward for good deeds and punishment for wrongdoing. The Parsha begins, “If you go in My laws, and observe My commandments.” The commentaries wonder that the more »
Be Cause by Rabbi Mordechai Rhine Among the beloved articles in the Sanctuary was the menorah. The menorah was lit daily and represented the “Ner Tamid,” the eternal flame of the Jewish people. Interestingly, the command to donate oil to fuel the menorah is given twice, once in the Parsha of Titzaveh (Shimos 27:20), and more »
I can’t change the past… by Rabbi Mordechai Rhine The loss of Ahron’s sons was a great one. It was on the inauguration day of the Mishkan, a day of celebration, that Nadav and Avihu, caught up in the spiritual potential of the day, entered the holy area of the Mishkan without authorization. As a more »
The Holy Gaze by Rabbi Mordechai Rhine A tragedy had occurred. On the inauguration day of the Mishkan, two of Ahron’s sons proceeded to bring an unauthorized offering in the Sanctuary, and G-d took their lives. In the aftermath, Moshe told Ahron, “I knew that great people would die on this day. I just wasn’t more »
Blessings of Anticipation by Rabbi Mordechai Rhine In this week’s parsha, the Torah describes the mitzvah of shemitah. We are told that the farmer is not permitted to plant, to prune, or to harvest the produce of his field. This is a tremendous demand to make of the farmer, and of a society that depended more »
Passing the Torch by Rabbi Mordechai Rhine Among the mitzvos in this week’s parsha is the mitzvah to light the menorah. “Command the Jewish people and they should take oil …” What is striking is that we already encountered this very mitzvah previously in Parshas Titzaveh. Why does the Torah repeat this mitzvah? The commentaries more »
A Double Standard by Rabbi Mordechai Rhine The Kohein Gadol was special. Even among the Kohanim who served in the Beis Hamikdash, the Kohein Gadol was the chosen one. To the public, his was a powerful position. He had the ability to lead and to rebuke as necessary. In private, he was the chosen one more »
Divine Fingerprints by Rabbi Mordechai Rhine The holiday of Pesach, which we recently celebrated, is a model for the Jewish belief system. At the Seder we transmit the story of the Exodus from one generation to another. And so it is with all of Judaism. The transmission, or Mesorah, is the foundation of our belief more »
Destination Judaism by Rabbi Mordechai Rhine The Parsha begins- “Vayikra” – Hashem wished to speak to Moshe so He called to him. The commentaries observe that the word “Vayikra” denotes endearment. It means that Hashem went out of His way, so to speak, to speak to Moshe. Contrast this with the word “Vayiker” which is more »
Choose Your Blessings by Rabbi Mordechai Rhine The rebuke, found in this week’s Parsha and also in the book of Devorim, is associated as well with blessing. In conjunction with the statements of what bad will befall the Jewish people if they do not treasure their relationship with Hashem and His mitzvos, the Torah also more »