Following the Calling

Yonatan Sinclair Former Shaliach (Cape Town, 2004-05) Currently Head of Hachshara Department, World Bnei Akiva . . Following the Calling This week we will start reading the book of Vayikra, a book focusing mainly on the sacrifices and the work of the kohanim in the...

So why do we need a Mishkan anyway?

Emanuel Elstein Former Shaliach in Washington (2003-4) and Memphis (2010-12) Currently CFO,Torah MiTzion If we look at the sequence of events described in the latter half of Sefer Shemot, it seems to make perfect sense: After the revelation at Sinai and receiving the...

The Coincedence, and the War against Amalek

Parashat Zachor, the section that appears at the conclusion of our parasha, and which presents the obligation to remember Amalek’s attack against Benei Yisrael, is among the most important sections in the entire Torah. It is of such importance that there rests...

Enough With These Baseless Stringencies!

Like the last few weeks, this week has an additional section read after the weekly Parsha. The reason for these supplements is usually because of their relevance to an upcoming occasion in that specific week. For example, last week we read Parshat Zachor, which is...

Parshat Zachor – 5769

Yedidya Gruber Former Shaliach in Atlanta   This coming Shabbat, we will observe a unique mitzvah d’oraita (a mitzvah from the Torah) – remembering Amalek. Why are we commanded to remember this enemy and this war specifically? The Midrash (Pesikta 12:12)...

Double Date – 5767

Rav Yehuda Susman Former Rosh Kollel in Chicago Currently Rosh Yeshivat Eretz HaTzvi   Chronology counts. The two elements of this week’s Torah reading neatly bracket exactly one (perhaps the most important) year in the history of Bnei Yisrael, albeit in...

The Importance of Tomorrow – 5767

Rabbi Shlomo Sobol Former Rosh Kollel in Detroit   The struggle between Amalek and Am Yisrael will accompany the Jewish People throughout history until the Redemption at which time the memory of Amalek will be wiped away from the face of the earth and the name of...

Chained in the Reasoning Chain – 5765

In this week’s parsha (parshat Shemini) we read of the death of Aharon’s sons on the day of the inauguration of the altar. Then, as the “maftir”, we read parshat Para – the special instructions for the ritual purification required following contact with a human...