Category Archives: Uncategorized

Make a Sanctuary for G-d With Your Contributions. G-d tells Moshe to tell the Israelites to set aside a portion of their money to contribute as an appeasement to G-d. The word “portion” is written three times (in verses 2 and 3) in relation to three different contributions which were made: G-d commands that theContinue reading “Terumah, 1st Aliyah”

Obey G-d. Moshe and Others Pre and Post the Giving of the Torah If you carry out the will of G-d: The Israelites are not to make a covenant with these other nations nor with their deities. These other nations should not reside in this land so as not to cause the Israelites to harmContinue reading “Mishpatim, 7th Aliyah”

G-d Will Send a Protective Angel G-d says that He will send an angel* before them to protect them as they are fated to sin in constructing the golden calf. *The angel G-d sent was the angel Metatron, who’s numerical value is the same as G-d’s name Sha-dai (314). He continues and says that HeContinue reading “Mishpatim, 6th Aliyah”

How to Judge, The Sabbatical Year, Idolatry, Holidays and Kosher Laws. Do not skew the judgement of someone in court on account of them being poor. If a person is sentenced to death and upon leaving court someone says that they can prove their innocence, the court is to be resumed and the verdict reevaluated.Continue reading “Mishpatim, 5th Aliyah”

Some Laws Related to Agriculture, Courts of Law and Helping Travelers You shall not blaspheme G-d’s name nor curse a judge. You shall not change the order of the mitzvos related to the separation of your crops. The proper order is: Bikurim, Terumah, Maaser Rishon and Maaser Sheni. Here is a brief definition of eachContinue reading “Mishpatim, 4th Aliyah”

Laws Concerning Damages Incurred to Others’ Property and Possessions If a person lets their cattle loose and as a result the cattle damages another’s property via trampling on it or grazing from it, the owner of this cattle must pay the owner of the field for the damages. If they pay in land, the ownerContinue reading “Mishpatim, 3rd Aliyah”

Damages Relating to People and Animals If a person hits their Canaanite slave or maidservant with an object* (like a rod or a stone) that can cause death when striking a certain part of a person’s body, and the slave or maidservant dies as a result, the master shall be put to death. *Side note:Continue reading “Mishpatim, 2nd Aliyah”

Laws Concerning Slavery, Murder, Parents, Kidnapping and Damages for Injuries The Chumash now outlines a series of more specific laws. This Parsha directly follows the previous Parsha to educate us that just as the Ten Commandments were given directly from G-d at Mount Sinai, so were these laws. Also, these more legalistic laws were placedContinue reading “Mishpatim, 1st Aliyah”

The Mount Sinai Experience Continues The Talmud Yerushalmi teaches that one should not gaze at the Cohanim while they give the priestly blessing lest they be blinded by the revelation. The revelation at Mount Sinai was far more intense, yet no one was blinded by it and everyone saw it all. Nor was anyone mute,Continue reading “Yitro, 7th Aliyah”

The Ten Commandments G-d bends the upper and lower heavens and spread them across Mount Sinai. In this way, in “descending” to the mountain to speak with Moshe, He was able to remain in heaven whilst simultaneously being on the mountain. Moshe ascends the mountain towards G-d. G-d tells Moshe to descend back to theContinue reading “Yitro, 6th Aliyah”