Torah 948 articles

Context Parshat Tazria opens with one of the strangest examples of biblical ritual “impurity”: tumat yoledet, tuma resulting from childbirth. The Torah relates that, following the birth of a male child,...

Context In the shadow of Nadav and Avihu’s tragic death, God turns to their father, Aharon, and commands: Do not drink wine or intoxicating beverage, you and your sons with you,...

Before the sad stuff begins, it is the greatest of days: And Moshe and Aharon went to the Tent of Meeting and they went outside and blessed the people,...

The Coming Week’s Daf Yomi by Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz This essay is based upon the insights and chidushim (original ideas) of Talmudic scholar Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, as published in the Hebrew...

After the tragic death of Nadav and Avihu, Aharon and his remaining sons are commanded to continue officiating as Kohanim, rather than conducting themselves as mourners (Vayikra 10:6). Since they are...

The Coming Week’s Daf Yomi by Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz This essay is based upon the insights and chidushim (original ideas) of Talmudic scholar Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, as published in the Hebrew...

The Coming Week’s Daf Yomi by Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz This essay is based upon the insights and chidushim (original ideas) of Talmudic scholar Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, as published in the Hebrew...

For the past two generations, it has become customary for Modern Orthodox men to wear garishly decorated knitted kipot, instead of plain fabric skullcaps as previously customary. Let us examine the...

Context As Parshat Tzav draws to a close, God commands Moshe to instruct Aharon concerning the laws of the shivat yemei hamiluim, the seven days of preparation that will lead to...

The stage is set – the table is bedecked in fine linen; the chairs, with soft pillows. The props are in place – the Seder plate, Elijah’s cup, the matzot. The...