Ancient Connection – Modern Pioneers
In the post-mabul world, God imparts certain basic messages to Noah that are to be the cornerstone of a new Godly and moral society. One of the most fundamental directives is the prohibition against murder: Whoever sheds the blood of man through man shall his blood be shed, for in the image of God He […]
The story of humanity begins in a garden. The Garden of Eden is a pastoral setting, filled with rivers and beautiful flora and fauna. Prior to their sin, Adam and Chava were able to sense God’s presence through the natural world. It is only after they sinned that they were banished from this pristine natural/spiritual […]
The mitzvah of Lulav is intimately bound with Yerushalayim. The Talmud records that outside the Beit HaMikdash there is only a biblical command to take the lulav on the first day of holiday. In the Beit HaMikdash, however, the mitzvah lasts all seven days. Rambam extends this status from the limited area of the Beit […]
This week’s parsha provides an overview of the future history of the Jewish people. Moshe Rabbeinu teaches the Jewish people a prophetic song which outlines that they will enter the Land of Israel, be materially and spiritually successful, but then fall prey to sin and be exiled. Eventually, God will redeem the Jewish people due […]
One section of this week’s parsha that is particularly resonant this year is the commandment of Hakhel. During the Sukkot immediately following the shemitah year the Jewish people are to gather in “the place that God will choose” to hear the king read from the Torah. On a basic level, this ritual is a form […]
This week’s parsha begins with a covenant being created between God and the Jewish people. After telling the Jewish people that they will be punished for their sins, Moshe concludes this section of his speech with the following verse: Concealed things (nistarot) are for our God, but with overt acts (niglot), it is for us […]
When describing the mitzvah of bikkurim, the Torah emphasizes that the farmer should put the fruits into a basket for the purposes of bringing them up to Yerushalayim. The Midrash takes this phrase seriously and derives from here that this is a halachik requirement – “Bikkurim require a vessel.” What is the meaning of this […]
In our Haftorah, the prophet Yeshayahu turns to Yerushalayim and tells her to grow: “Enlarge the site of your tent, extend the size of your dwelling, do not stint! Lengthen the ropes, and drive the pegs firm, for you shall spread out to the right and the left.” The midrash understands this verse as a […]
Our parsha contains many laws of war. The Torah teaches us about who should go to war and who should not, and the limits of appropriate methods of warfare. All throughout this passage we are reminded that Jewish soldiers do not go into war alone, but are accompanied by God Himself: “For it is your […]
The centrality of Yerushalayim is a major theme in our parsha. For example, in the beginning of the parsha, we learn that when the Jewish people will first enter the Land of Israel they will be allowed to offer sacrifices in their own backyards. However, once the “place that God will choose” becomes revealed then […]
