Split Between the Lion and Wolf: Jerusalem Unites Rachel and Leah
In Yaakov’s blessing for his son Binyamin, he makes cryptic references to his youngest son as a “snatching wolf”. The…
The Lowly Jew’s Fire for Jerusalem
The Midrash Rabbah (Noach, 32) recounts a bizarre story about the great Tannaitic sage Rebbe Yonatan, who was a principal…
Swearing By Jerusalem
Our parsha opens with a discussion of oaths and vows. To be a bonified vow, the person taking the vow…
The Integrated Memory of Jerusalem
Bringing the sacrifices in the Mishkan and the Beit HaMikdash is referred to as an “avodah” or service of God.…
An Ohel Mo’ed Out of Jerusalem?
The Noam Elimelech opens his commentary to our parsha with an astute observation on the first verse of Vayikra. Our…
Yearning For Jerusalem
This week is the first of the four special Torah readings that lead up to Pesach. They are all connected…
Preparing for Jerusalem
During the plague of Arov, the Torah records a negotiation of sorts between Pharoah andMoshe. Pharoah tells Moshe that if…
The Purity of Jerusalem
This week’s parsha opens with the laws of childbirth. We are taught that the mother of the new baby becomes…
The Unifying Heart of the People
This week’s haftorah focuses on Shlomo’s prayer upon completing the construction of the Beit HaMikdash. He begins with a statement…
The Lion of Jerusalem
After receiving the donations for the Mishkan, Moshe informs the Jewish people that God appointed Betzalel and Ahali’av to lead…