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Torah Talk for Parashat Vayikra

March 28, 2017 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

In this parasha, Hashem commands Moshe regarding various types of offerings, under what circumstances they should be offered, and what they should consist of. The Torah chooses two interesting words for those bringing offerings. Instead of utilizing the common term “ish,” meaning “man” or more generically “person,” it utilizes the following words. Read more >

  • Parent-Child Learning

Torah Talk for Parashat Vayakhel-Pekudei

March 21, 2017 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

In these parshiyot the Bnei Yisrael bring so many materials for the construction of the Mishkan (Tabernacle) that Moshe tells them to stop; Betzalel and Oholiav, gifted craftspeople, construct the elements of the Mishkan. The work of constructing the Mishkan is completed; Moshe receives the command to anoint its vessels and to anoint Aharon and […]

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Torah Talk for Parashat Ki Tisa

March 15, 2017 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

In this parasha, Hashem continues describing the Mishkan (Tabernacle) to Moshe; the people worship the Aygel Hazahav (Golden Calf), Moshe pleads on their behalf, and Hashem forgives them. This parasha contains one of the famous passages about the Shabbat, one which we recite in the Shabbat morning kiddush (31:12-17). The commentators ask why this section […]

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Torah Talk for Parashat Tetzaveh

March 7, 2017 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

In this parasha, Hashem describes to Moshe the clothing and the process of anointing the cohanim (priests). Almost an entire Torah portion is dedicated to how people, in this case Aharon and his descendants, should dress. At first glance, it seems like too trivial and materialistic an issue for the Torah to address. However, when […]

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Torah Talk for Parashat Terumah

February 28, 2017 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

In this parasha, Hashem instructs Moshe to collect gifts from Bnei Yisrael in order to build a Mishkan (Tabernacle) so that Hashem can dwell among the people; Hashem describes to Moshe the vessels and structures that comprise the Mishkan. An oft-quoted verse appears in Chapter 25:8: “They will make for Me a sanctuary, and I […]

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Torah Talk for Parashat Mishpatim

February 21, 2017 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

In this week’s parasha, Moshe informs the people of numerous ethical and ritual laws and seals the brit (covenant) between the Bnei Yisrael and Hashem. One of the numerous laws in the parasha states (22:20): “Do not wrong a stranger nor oppress him for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” Hermann Cohen (1842-1919), […]

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Torah Talk for Parashat Yitro

February 16, 2017 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

Yitro, Moshe’s father-in-law, suggests a system for establishing lower courts to settle disputes; Hashem articulates the Aseret HaDibrot (Ten Commandments) to the Bnei Yisrael amidst fire, smoke, and sounds of the shofar. We often translate Aseret HaDibrot, as I did above, as “The Ten Commandments.” However, they are not really Ten Commandments, because Dibrot means […]

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Torah Talk for Parashat Beshalach

February 7, 2017 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

After the Bnei Yisrael cross the Reed sea in safety while Paro’s army drowns, they sing praises to Hashem; in response to their complaints about a lack of food and water, Hashem gives them manna; they are then attacked by Amalek. The TaNaKH contains ten songs. When we look at each song, without even reading […]

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Torah Talk for Parashat Bo

February 1, 2017 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

This week’s parasha tells the story of the last three plagues, the preparations that the Bnei Yisrael needed to make in order to leave Mitzrayim, and the actual exodus itself. The first mitzvah mentioned in Sefer Shmot, and in fact, the first mitzvah given to the nation, appears in this parasha [12:2]: “This month shall […]

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Torah Talk for Parashat Vaera

January 25, 2017 by Sharon Freundel (Community)

In this parasha, God brings the first seven plagues upon the Egyptians through Moshe and Aharon, but Pharaoh repeatedly refuses to allow the Bnei Yisrael to leave. Twice in this parasha (6:12 and 30) Moshe says, “I am of uncircumcised lips.” In last week’s parasha, Moshe declared (4:10), “…for I am slow of speech and […]

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