The Torah in Parashat Korah delineates the twenty-four “Matenot Kehuna” – gifts that the Kohanim are to receive from the rest of the nation. After listing all the various gifts, G-d commands Moshe to tell Aharon that these gifts are a “Berit Melah Olam” – literally, “an eternal covenant of salt” (18:19). Different approaches have been taken to explain the
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In the beginning of this weeks Parsha, Rashi cites Chazal who derive from the word B’haalotecha, which is connected to alah, go up, that there was an elevation before the Menorah in the Bait HaMikdash. The Kohen would ascend those steps in order to kindle the lamps. I once heard a profound homiletic rendering of this Chazal. Not only was
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Our Rabbis teach us that everything written in the Torah is recorded because of its relevance to every Jew in every generation. Why are the seemingly trivial details which dominate Parshat Naso, such as the arrangement of the encampments of the various tribes, significant and relevant to us? Rav Aharon Kotler suggests that although this information seems like historical facts
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This week’s parsha delineates the various responsibilities of the Levi’im. “And the assignment of Elazar ben Aaron HaKohein is the oil of illumination, the spices of the incense, the daily flour offering and the anointment oil” (Bamidbar 4, 16). Rashi cites the Gemara Yerushalmi which explains that Elazar was not merely charged with overseeing that the above items were transferred
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For the eternal merit to the soul of my grandfather Yitzchak Aziz Ben Mashallah Hacohen A”H This week’s Torah portion begins with God calling Moshe and speaking to him from the Ohel Moed (Leviticus 1:1). Rashi points out that God addresses Moshe with the word “vayikra,” whereas in Parshat Balak (Numbers 23:4) God speaks to the gentile prophet, Bilam, with
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For the eternal merit to the soul of my grandfather Yitzchak Aziz Ben Mashallah Hacohen A”H In the first portion of Parshat Vayakhel, the Torah states: “Every man and woman whose heart moved them to bring for any of the work that God had commanded to make, through the hand of Moshe, Bnei Yisrael brought a free-willed offering to God.”
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For the eternal merit to the soul of my grandfather Yitzchak Aziz Ben Mashallah Hacohen A”H When Haman was promoted to second-in-command, the king ordered that every passerby must bow down to him. The Gemara (Sanhedrin 61b) explains that it was halachically permissible to comply with this edict, for there was no issue of actual idolatry involved. As a result,
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For the eternal merit to the soul of my grandfather Yitzchak Aziz Ben Mashallah Hacohen A”H Hashem told Moshe: “Speak to Bnei Yisrael and they shall take for Me a contribution (for the construction of the Mishkan)” (Shemot 25:2). The Rabbis note that we would expect the pasuk to say, “They shall give to Me a donation” – not take
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For the eternal merit to the soul of my grandfather Yitzchak Aziz Ben Mashallah Hacohen A”H The great revelation at Sinai was a most significant moment in the experience of communication. The event is described as an experience like “eating and drinking;” a real, live, enjoyable experience. Moshe, the leader of the people, achieved an even greater level of communication
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For the eternal merit to the soul of my grandfather Yitzchak Aziz Ben Mashallah Hacohen A”H R’ Shlomo Brevda z”l (1931-2013); Maggid and author, noted for his commentaries on the teachings of the Vilna Gaon z”l) writes: Parashat Yitro describes the most important event in human history–the Giving of the Torah. Why is the Parashah that includes that seminal event
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The Valley Torah Scroll 