There are many metaphors for the Jewish people. One comes from this week’s parsha. We are compared here to olive trees and olives. The olive oil to be used in the lighting of the lamps in the Mishkan begins this section. Olives are picked, chosen, then they are put under enormous pressure. The trees take a long…
The Hebrews are instructed to build a Mishkan – a holy place in the middle of their community where the spiritual meets the physical. There are various objects mentioned in this parsha Terumah that are in the Mishkan including the covering that is to be on top of the ark that contains the tablets of…
This parsha is filled with instructions on how to live fairly with other human beings. Some of these laws are archaic and specific to those times, but many are useful for our times. One that stands out Exodus 23:5 is that if your enemy’s donkey collapses from too much weight, it is your responsibility to…
This is the most significant parsha of the Torah for here was the revelation – the delivery of the Torah to the Hebrew people. Mountains argued that they be the place to receive this honor. Mount Tabor, Hermon, and Carmel stood up, but Hashem chose a small mountain – Sinai – as a symbol of humility. Moses…
The Torah speaks of two pillars, one of smoke and one of fire, that led the children of Israel to the promised land. One Midrash speaks of there actually being seven pillars. One that was in front of the people, four that were in each of the cardinal points, one that was above them that…
This Midrash adds another miracle to the final plagues in this parsha. On the night of the last destructive plague, not only were the Hebrews protected by Hashem’s hand from the minister of death they were also transported on clouds to celebrate the first Pesach in the Holy Land, for there was the only place…
There is a midrash about the second plague: that it began with only one frog. A very big one! But just one. The Egyptians attacked it and with each hit burst out the multitudes of frogs that then smothered the country. One commentary is this is what happens when you get angered and go on…
This is a well-known Midrash about the young Moses being a threat in the future to Pharaoh. So, to test this danger, they set before Moses objects. There are varying opinions on what these were – a gold rock, or an onyx which also varies in color. The one thing agreed on was there was…
Familial tensions. We all have them. They had them. Particularly the sons of Jacob. Brothers. And we all know the story of how, jealous of the favorite, Joseph (a parent should avoid favoritism as the consequences are problematic!), his brothers were willing to kill him, but on the recommendation of Judah (in blue) they agreed…
Who are we? Maybe we are defined by how we relate to each other. Here was a confrontation between Joseph and his brother Judah. Joseph had been sold by his brothers and after many misfortunes including imprisonment, he was released to interpret pharaoh’s dreams warning him of an impending environmental disaster. Joseph became viceroy assigned to…