The High Priest atones for all those who enter the Temple in a state of impurity. But what about the people who violated the sanctity of the Temple on purpose? Why should the offering atone for them…
The lessons of the mysterious affliction known as Tzaraat pertain to us all, whether or not we know it. Lev. 13:45 with Ibn Ezra, Arakhin 16a, Num. 12:12, Nedarim 64b, Lev. 1411, Teshuva 7:2.
The king of the Khazars has a disturbing dream, one that just happens to explain what exactly went wrong with Nadav and Avihu.
Moshe made his brother Kohen, doing all that he was commanded. Yet, for just a moment, he hesitated.Sources: Lev. 8:1-4, 22-23. Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, The Music of Ambivalence
The Sages teach that we can force someone to "get to yes" when it comes to bringing an Olah offering. How in the world does this work? Lev. 1:3, Sifra there, Arakhin 5:6, Rashi to Lev. 1:3, MT…
We do not usually value or like being bossed around. Yet, we might just be missing out on something essential.
The people of Israel cannot look Moshe in the face; they need some distance from him. Moshe, however, is prepared to see God. What is the difference between them and what does it have to do with the…
For uniquely painful reasons, Moshe Rabbenu is not mentioned in our Parsha. This is all part of God's hiring and firing process.
Fain suddenly came to, jumped up, grabbed a pistol from within his pocket. Suprisingly, there is a connection between how Rashi sees a "terumah" and how we see Mr. Fain.Sources:Ex. 25:1-2 with…
Does anything beyond good intentions matter?Ex. 21:12 with Rashi, Doris Kearns Goodwin, Leadership in Turbulent Times
