While it’s true that actions speak louder than words, sometimes our appreciation is expressed more clearly by our speech than by our deeds. The bringing of “bikkurim” (the first fruit) into the Beit haMikdash unites thought, words and actions into one special mitzvah expressing gratitude.
In his “Message to Teiman” (“Iggeret Teiman”), the Rambam writes that “as a preparatory step for Mashiach’s coming… prophecy will return to Israel.” Has it already happened?
In Parshat ‘Shelach’, the Jewish people asked Moshe Rabeinu to send spies in order to “search out the land” – that is, to investigate how the land should be conquered. Moshe, however, did not consider that purpose significant, as he told the people, “HaShem, your G-d, proceeds before you. He …
This week’s Torah portion « Shelach » is best known as “Parashat ha-Meraglim » – “The Spy Story”. However, in describing the “spies’ mission in the Holy Land, the Torah actually does not use the word « to spy » – but rather « to explore the land. » Moreover, the « spies » were sent on a mission …
When HaShem instructed Moshe Rabeinu to prepare the people of Israel to receive the Torah at Mount Sinai some 3,300 years ago, He said: « Speak to the house of Jacob, and tell the sons of Israel » (Exodus 19:3). The « house of Jacob, » our sages explain, are the women; « the sons …
All the offerings in the Beis HaMikdash were required to be perfect and complete. But in the “Ki Tisah” Torah portion we read about a mitzvah where people were required to give no more than a half: “Twenty gerahs equal one shekel; half of [such] a shekel shall be an …
The name of this week’s Torah portion, « Vayakhel » can be translated from Hebrew as “And you shall gather”. The world around us is diverse, but the Torah points to its underlying unity. All the entities in the world can be united within the domain of holiness. The name of the …
The 80th chapter of Tehilim opens with the title: « For the Conductor, on the shoshanim, a testimony by Asaph, a psalm ». The commentators immediately draw our attention to the word « shoshanim » in the first ‘passuk’ of this song. The Hebrew word ‘shoshan’ means ‘lily’ (in modern Hebrew it came to …
Shushan Purim is a holiday which was originally instituted because of the events in Shushan. However, the mention of the Persian capital in the holiday’s name is a bit puzzling. It could have been changed afterwards, when the Sages decreed that Shushan Purim should be celebrated in all the cities …
The perek 53 which we read in today’s daily Tehillim portion is very similar to chapter 14, but there’s a number of changes. Can you see any of them?
