Terumah: Yibum (Levirate Marriage)
If a man dies without children, the brother is charged with continuing his line: “When brothers dwell together and one of them dies without a child, the widow should not marry...
Mishpatim: A Clean Body for Tefillin
When we are wearing tefillin, our bodies must be clean inside and out, and tefillin may not be worn when we are conscious of repulsive body wastes. The gemara illustrates this...
Yitro: The 39 Forbidden Melakhot
In our parsha we learn that we are not allowed to do “labor” (melakha) on Shabbat. But the Torah never specifies exactly what “labor” means. The mishna explains that there are...
Beshalach: Modesty During a Funeral Procession
The Shulchan Arukh tells us that we should be especially careful to avoid any immodest social mixing between men and women during a funeral procession. The Be’er HaGolah indicates that the...
Bo: Orlah
The particular year a fruit belongs to is relevant for various agricultural laws. For tithes, since it is forbidden to tithe from the fruits of one year on those of another,...
Va’era: Four Cups at the Seder – Four Stages...
At the beginning of our parsha, HaShem explains to Moshe that He will redeem the Jewish people in four successive stages: “Therefore go and tell the children of Israel, I am...
Shemot: Kosher Slaughter of Fowl
Kosher animals and fowl can be eaten only after shechita. Fish do not require such slaughter (SA YD 13:1). We have explained this in previous columns as follows: While our lower...
Vayechi: Prohibition on Shaving
The Torah forbids men from shaving the “corners of the beard” with a razor. (Vayikra 19:27. Most electric razors work like scissors and don’t fall foul of this prohibition.) In the...
Vayigash: Guaranteeing Loans
In our parsha, Yaakov Avinu is finally convinced to send Binyamin to Egypt after Yehuda promises that he will bring him back. Yet Reuven’s promise did not have the same effect....
Miketz: Oaths & Vows
Twice in our parsha we find Yosef swearing by Pharaoh (42:15,16). Rashi comments that he did this when he wanted to swear falsely. Yet the Midrash uses this incident as a...
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