golden calf
Ki Sisa – Receiving the 7th in the 6th
Why is the concept of Shabbos the introduction to the story of the Golden Calf? Why does Moshe study the Torah for forty days diligently, only to forget it and then receive it as a gift in the end? Why do the Jewish people use the Manna in their idolatrous worship of the Golden Calf?…
Read MoreTetzaveh – Moshe and Aharon
Why does the parsha of the menorah, which is lit by Aharon, as well as the clothing of the Kohen Gadol and Kohanim, immediately precede the parsha of Ki Sisa which speaks about the sin of the Golden Calf? If Aharon was involved in that sin, why was he allowed to serve in the mishkan?…
Read MoreDovid, Yosef, the sixth hour and the seventh hour
I thought that title would get your attention. And, to boot, this is post number 607. Cool. Someone recently left a comment on the blog that they miss my moshiach messages. I wrote back that the messages are still there, you just have to know how to hear them. I don’t need to say too…
Read MoreTzav – Purity of Intent
Why is Aharon’s name not mentioned in the commands to the Kohanim until the olah sacrifice is commanded? Why does Hashem specifically desire Aharon’s service despite his involvement in the sin of the Golden Calf? Why does one midrash seem to imply that Aharon must be forgiven, while the other seems to imply that Hashem…
Read MoreKi Sisa – Unbreakable Love
What is the significance of the fact that Hashem does not allow Moshe to see his ‘face?’ What is the depth of Moshe being able to see the back of God, as it were? What is represented by the tefillin? What is the inner aspect of Hashem’s interaction with us? Why does Hashem forget about…
Read MoreTetzaveh – Mishkan and Purim
Why do we have two Parshios that speak of the construction of the Mishkan before and after the sin of the Golden Calf? What is the depth of the concept of Purim, where Hashem brings an aspect of the light of redemption into the beginning of the story – a cure before the sickness? What…
Read MoreShelach vort 2 – Deeper truth
I had two thoughts this week on the parsha. The first was the official ‘studio’ recording podcast. This is the second which I presented in my parsha shiur this morning in Beis Medrash Ahavas Shalom. Presented is the very beautiful and deep concept of R’ Nachman, as expounded by R’ Nosson, which is the concept…
Read MoreNaso – Love and Respect
Why does the Torah place the concept of the encampments next to the idea of Metzora? The midrash tells us that the Jewish people were cured of this type of ailment at Mount Sinai, and that it returned after the sin of the Golden Calf – Why is this only significant now, almost a year…
Read MoreKi Sisa – Rebuilding relationships
How could Aharon Hakohen be involved in the making of the Golden calf? If he was the one who pursued peace and was concerned with relationships, how could he be a party to this violation of the Jewish people’s relationship with Hashem? What is the connection to the story of Purim? What is the significance…
Read MoreVayakhel-Pekudei – Hashem's Unconditional Love
Why is the parsha of the sin of the golden calf found right in the middle of the account of the building of the mishkan? Has anything changed in the relationship between the Jewish people and Hashem before and after the sin? What is the secret of the thirteen attributes of divine mercy? What is…
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