Shechinah
Bamidbar – Raise Your Flag
What is the concept of the flags and the encampment of the tribes in the wilderness? What does it mean that their encampment corresponds to the Heavenly Angels who surround Hashem’s throne? Why did the Jewish people desire to have flags when they saw the angels surrounding Hashem’s throne also had flags at the revelation…
Read MoreTerumah – Receving Torah, Receiving God
Why is the story of the revelation at Sinai placed immediately before the command to build a Tabernacle for Hashem’s presence? Why is the center of the Tabernacle the place that houses the Ark of the Covenant and the Torah that is within it? Why does the Midrash introduce the command of building the Tabernacle…
Read MoreVayigash – Tears, Silence and Shechina
What is the difference between the crying Yosef does with Benjamin, as opposed to his crying with his other brothers? Why does Benjamin merit to have the Divine Presence in his portion? What is the secret of the silence of Benjamin, Yosef, Rochel and Esther? Why do Yosef and Benjamin cry about the destruction of…
Read MoreMasei – Coverings and Contrasts
What is the concept of the Succah? How does it remind us of the Divine Presence? Why does the same force of protection of the Jordan river have the potential to destroy us? Why must we remove the nations of Canaan? What is the root of the word and concept of idolatry? How does that…
Read MoreShmini – Simcha and sadness
What is the connection between the joy of the first of Nissan and Hashem’s joy with the creation of the world? Why was the joy of the mishkan marred with a remembrance of the Golden Calf with Aharon’s offering? Why did they have a sacrifice at this point that atoned for the sale of Yosef?…
Read MoreTerumah – Spiritual gravity
Why does the Torah go straight from the story of Moshe going up on Har Sinai into the commandment to build the mishkan? What do chazal mean when they say that “ויקחו לי” means that it should be taken “לשמי” – for My name’s sake? Why is the Aron the first of the kelim mentioned…
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