Rabbi Mordechai Rhine ~ www.teach613.org Bireishis / Genesis Chapter 21, ArtScroll Chumash Pages 94-99 How old was Avraham when Yitzchok was born? (verse 5) What did Sorah see in Yishmoel that turned her off? (verse 9, with commentary pg 97) Did Avraham want to listen to Sorah’s request? Why did he? more »
Rabbi Mordechai Rhine ~ www.teach613.org Bireishis / Genesis Chapter 22, ArtScroll Chumash Pages 100-105 What did Hashem command Avraham to do? (verse 2 with commentary) Who did Avraham take with him, besides Yitzchak? (commentary to verse 3) What did the Angel tell Avraham? (verse 12) What did Avraham sacrifice instead more »
Moshe is frustrated. Hashem told him to go to Pharoh and demand the release of the Jewish People. Moshe did so, and expected that the terrible slavery would abate as a result. Instead, Paroh increased the workload of the Jews. At the conclusion of last week’s portion Moshe turns to Hashem in frustration. “Why have You more »
Parshas Yisro- “Yisro is Coming!” by Rabbi Mordechai Rhine A sense of excitement swept the camp. From tent to tent people whispered the news: “Yisro is coming!” Yisro was the father in law of Moshe. But, to the Jewish people he was much more than that. Yisro was the only advisor of Pharoh who took more »
The Parsha of Mishpatim/ laws begins with the law of the Jewish slave. The Jewish slave is quite unique in that he isn’t much of a slave at all. He must indeed serve his master with loyalty, but he in turn is treated in royal fashion. Our sages teach for example, “If there is only more »
The Mishkan was a special place. The ambiance was structured so that here one could connect with Hashem in a very special way. Each one of the utensils was fashioned in a way that symbolized greatness. The Aron, for example, was structured with half measures (1 1/2 x 1 1/2 x 2 1/2) to symbolize more »
The Aron, or Ark, of the Sanctuary was fashioned in a most sophisticated way. In addition to the crown and ornaments adorning its top, the Aron was fashioned of three different boxes. The inner box was made of gold, the middle box was made of wood, and the outer box was made of gold. What more »
The Service that took place in the Mishkan was designed to emulate the way that Hashem runs His world. After all, the Mishkan was meant to be a microcosm of the world. Through the Mishkan we discover how we can emulate Hashem in our own daily lives. For example, in the desert Hashem provided special more »
The event of the golden calf was a great setback for the Jewish people. When Moshe didn’t come back immediately after their count of forty days had elapsed, people started getting nervous. “We do not know what has happened to Moshe.” So a group of people decided to replace Moshe with a new and powerful more »
The Ambulance That Wasn’t Needed by Rabbi Mordechai Rhine The fundraising efforts for the Mishkan were going quite well. In general it would be gauged as a massive success. Yet there was one group of people that did not donate right away and were censured for their delay. This group was none other than the more »