“When you enter the Land that God is giving you…you shall take from the first of all the fruit of the ground” (Dt 26:1-2). From these words we learn that everything that is for God’s sake should be of the best and most beautiful (cf. Rambam), as the Torah says: “Kol Khelev leHaShem” – Read More
“Is perhaps the tree of the field a man, to go into the siege before you?” (Dt 20:19). “Ki haAdam Etz haShade labo miPaneikha beMatzor” Rashi says this is a question; he interprets the word “Ki” as meaning: ‘perhaps’. However, this Hebrew particle indicates casual relations of all kinds. It can also be translated Read More
Everything that applies to the Temple or the Tabernacle also applies to us. For we are a Temple, as explained many times in previous lessons, for it says (Ex 25:8): “Let them make me a Sanctuary so that I may dwell among them; i.e. within them”. The Nefesh haKhayim says that If man sanctifies himself Read More
If in my statutes you will walk (im bekhukotai telechu)” (Lv 26:3). PART I – The Irrational Commands Generally speaking, the commands are divided in two main categories (Lv 25:18): “Khukot (statutes) and Mishpatim (laws or judgments)”. While Mishpatim (judgments) are logical (ethical and comprehensive) laws, the Khukot are the kind of commands that are Read More
PART I – The religion of counting To what can I compare the Jewish people? They are like a beggar who was given a great amount of money, and he counted the money, and counted it, and when finished, he counted it again… and although he didn’t use it yet, his Joy was so Read More
“R. Elazar ben Chisma said, “…Astronomy and Gematria are desserts (parperaot) of wisdom.” Pirkei Avot 3:23 7 Dag (Fish) – דג 13 Ahavah (Love) – אהבה Echad (One) – אחד 13 Middot of HaShem 14 David – דוד Hand – יד 18 Chai (Life) – חי The Amidah has 18 Benedictions, hence it is called Shemoneh Esrei (18). 26 Read More