Shavuot
Shavuot nowadays has two distinct aspects. On the one hand, it is defined by the Torah as the day following fifty days of counting omer (Vayikra 23:16). On the other hand,...
Bamidbar: Cooking on Yom Tov
During the weekday, we are permitted to perform any kind of labor we like. But on Shabbat, we are forbidden to do any kind of creative labor, particularly those 39 archetypical...
Behar-Bechukotai: Protection of Workers
The Torah principles of judgment are scrupulously fair. They may favor neither the low nor the high: “don’t favor the poor man, nor glorify the great” (Vayikra 19:15). Fundamentally this applies...
Acharei Mot-Kedoshim: Laws of Damages
Any person whose acts or possessions damage someone else’s property must make good the loss of the damaged party. Laws protecting property are a necessary feature of any legal system; even...
Tazria: Writing the Ketuba
Last week we explained the profound importance of the husband’s obligation to provide for the wife in the case of divorce or widowhood. This obligation is not only meant to provide...
Tzav – “Hagbah”: Raising the Torah Scroll
There is a very ancient custom to raise the Torah scroll adjacent to its reading, to show the script to everyone in synagogue. “Then he opens the Torah scroll three columns,...
Vayikra: Nullification of Chametz
The elimination of chametz has two distinct parts: the search for chametz and the nullification of chametz. Our sages tell us that according to strict Torah law, one of these would...
Vayakhel: Intercalation
The Jewish calendar is based on a lunar month (about 29 days) and on a solar year (about 365 days). Since a solar year is not an exact multiple of the...
Ki Tisa: Blessing on Smell
Our parsha discusses the making of the special scented oil for anointing the utensils of the Mikdash and the incense used as part of the service (Shemot 30:22-38). The prominence of...
Tetzaveh: Obligation to Sleep on Purim
One of the lesser-known duties of the Purim holiday is the obligation to sleep. This obligation is mentioned explicitly in the Rema: “A person should drink more than he his accustomed...
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