PART I – There’s No Empty Word Of the 613 commands of the Torah, more than half have to do with the priests and the Sanctuary. If the Torah had only a “literal approach” – as Karaites say: “it’s clearly written in black and white” – we would have to agree that most of the Read More
13 Petals
Parashat Vayeishev – Messiah son of Yosef
NO TRANQUILITY FOR THE RIGHTEOUS In the opening verse of this week’s Parasha (Gn 37-40), after his so many struggles, Yakov intends to“settle down in tranquillity” (37:1). But right after this, “there pounced on him the troubles of Yosef”, his beloved son. “The Righteous wish to settle in tranquillity, but the Blessed Holy One says: Read More
Parashat Hayei Sarah – Three Periods in Sarah’s Life
REVIEW Let’s briefly review the relevant information we have been gathering to this point. It all began when we disclosed that Noah in symmetry becomes Khen (grace, favor or charm), as it is said: “Noah [was] found [as] Khen in the eyes of God”. Noah was 600 years old when the flood began. The two Read More
Parashat Vayeira – Isaac and the Akeida
THE THREE BEDOUINS The life of Isaac is the most enigmatic of the 4 forefathers of Israel. Unlike Abraham, Yakov and Yosef, the Torah doesn’t give too many details of Isaac’s life; yet, he was worthy to receive and pass the Blessing God gave to Abraham our father. The first account of Isaac is his Read More
Parashat Lekh Lekha – The Blessing and the Plants
“And Terah took Avram… and Lot… and Sarai… and they went forth with them from Ur Casdim to go to the land of Canaan” (Gn 11:31). Kasdim is the Hebrew name for the Chaldeans. What is Ur Kasdim? It can also be read as: “Ohr K’Shedim” – A Light that is like the one of Read More
Yeshu Hanged on Erev Pesakh
The Story Baraitha 1 – Sanhedrin 43a: “AND A HERALD PRECEDES HIM etc. This implies, only immediately before [the execution], but not previous thereto. [i.e. not 40 days before] [In contradiction to this] it was taught: On the eve of the Passover Yeshu was hanged. For forty days before the execution took place, a herald Read More
Gematria Index
“R. Elazar ben Chisma said, “…Astronomy and Gematria are desserts (parperaot) of wisdom.” Pirkei Avot 3:23 7 Dag (Fish) – דג 13 Ahavah (Love) – אהבה Echad (One) – אחד 13 Middot of HaShem 14 David – דוד Hand – יד 18 Chai (Life) – חי The Amidah has 18 Benedictions, hence it is called Shemoneh Esrei (18). 26 Read More