Parshat Mishpatim We begin a new era in the Torah: the Mitzvah era. In the first 86 verses of the Parsha, there are 51 mitzvot. The bulk of the parsha is civil law mitzvot. The end of the parsha resumes the narrative, describing the impending entry...
Parshat Emor by Rabbi Reuven Tradburks 1st aliya (Vayikra 25:1-18) Shmita: The Land of Israel has its Shabbat. Work 6 years, the 7th is a Shabbat to G-d. What grows on its own is available to be used. Yovel: 7 cycles of 7 years is followed...
By Michael Freund Over and over again, the same refrains were uttered: “We must unite,” “We all share the same fate” and “We must learn to live together with one another despite our differences.” Continue reading ...
Parshat Emor by Rabbi Reuven Tradburks 1st aliya (Vayikra 21:1-15) Cohanim are not permitted to come in contact with the dead except for their nuclear family. Nor are they to adopt non Jewish mourning practices such as balding their head and beard or cutting their flesh. ...
Parshat Achrei Mot-Kedoshim by Rabbi Reuven Tradburks 1st aliya (Vayikra 16:1-24) Aharon is instructed to enter the Holy of Holies only through an elaborate process of offerings. He is to bring a private sin offering. And a communal sin offering of 2 identical goats, one as...
Parshat Tazria-Metzora by Rabbi Reuven Tradburks The double parsha of Tazria-Metzora is challenging. Their theme is simple: entry to the Mikdash is restricted for those who are Tamei. There are a number of situations that render a person Tamei. The removal of the Tuma status allows...
Parshat Shemini by Rabbi Reuven Tradburks 1st Aliya (Vayikra 9:1-16) On the eighth day of the inauguration of Aharon and the Cohanim, Moshe gathers the people. He instructs Aharon to offer a chatat and an olah. The people are also to bring a chatat, olah, shlamim...
Parshat Tzav by Rabbi Reuven Tradburks 1st aliya (Vayikra 6:1-11) Instructions are given to the Cohanim: while the offerings must be done during the day, the burning of the fats and limbs may continue all night. In the morning the Cohen shall take some of the...
By Rabbi Reuven Tradburks The theme of the Parsha is sacrifices. Different offerings will be required in a variety of circumstances later in the book of Vayikra. This parsha outlines the rules of those offerings so that when they come up later, their procedure will be...
Parshat Vayakel-Pekudei by Rabbi Reuven Tradburks This double parsha is the implementation of the building of the Mishkan. We have had 3 parshiot of commands to build the Mishkan. This is the actual construction and assembly. When we have a double parsha, the first parsha will have...
