Close To Torah

With Purim right around the corner, stop what you are doing and quickly download this amazing, all new Purim Handbook from Ohr Somayach. It’s free, and now available in B/W and color!

To download it click here: www.ohr.edu/purimbook/

Best wishes for a Happy Purim!… Continue reading

Moadim / Tekufos, Purim

וזאת התרומה אשר תקחו מאתם זהב וכסף ונחשת (כה:ג).

“These are the materials (of the Mishkan)… gold, silver and copper” (25:3).
The word זהב, gold, is quite interesting. The commentators point out that this material hints to two other things.

Rabbeinu Bechaya states that  זהבis an acronym for the three primary blessings of Birchas HaMazone (the fourth blessing was added much later by the rabbis)… Continue reading

Parshas Terumah

Have you ever stopped to wonder what the Mishkan is all about? I think about this often as we get to these Parshiyos. I would like to share a thought with you.

In Sarah Imaynu’s tent there were three miracles present. The candles which she lit Friday night stayed lit for the entire week. The bread which she baked, stayed hot all week. A cloud, representing Hashem’s presence, was… Continue reading

Parshas Terumah

The gemara in Pesachim says a general ruling that “אין מוקדם ומאוחר בתורה”, there is no before and after in the Torah. This means that the order in which the pasukim are written in the Torah is not necessarily related to the sequential order. It is clear that the gemara has to say this rule because had it not been said it would not have been known. The intention of… Continue reading

Parshas Mishpatim, The Four Parshiyos Torah Min Shemyaim

ומכה אביו ואמו מות יומת. וגונב איש ומכרו ונמצא בידו מות יומת. ומקלל אביו ואמו מות יומת (כא:טו-יז).

“One who hits his parents will be put to death. One who kidnaps and sells the victim will be put to death. One who curses his parents will be put to death” (21:15-7).
The early commentators are perplexed by the order of these three verses. Why not just… Continue reading

Parshas Mishpatim Chinuch

The Talmud Yerushalmi (Megillah 25b) makes a cryptic statement: “The reading of Parshas Parah (3rd of the 4 Parshiyos) and HaChodesh (last of the 4) must be done two consecutive weeks in a row. The sign to hint to this is that it compares to the law that one is not allowed to interrupt (by drinking other wine) between the third and fourth cup at the Pesach Seder”.

What… Continue reading

The Four Parshiyos Arbah PArshiyos, Four Parshiyos, Purity

Talking Tefilla
Understanding Prayer through the lens of the weekly Parsha
Parshas Mishpatim
By Mrs. Miriam Spitz

One of the questions that is often asked about Tefilla relates to the idea that we have the challenge of connecting with Hashem through the medium of an established Prayer Service.

In other words, if it’s all about the relationship, then why can’t I daven in my own words, whenever I feel… Continue reading

Inspiration, Parshas Mishpatim, Women Inspired

Many people recall all of the great childhood memories related to snow. The fun, the feeling, the magic…. Was it just the school cancellation, or was it perhaps something more…..

The Hebrew word for snow is Sheleg (שלג). What is fascinating is the fact that the numerical value of this word is 333. The three letters that comprise it are the three letters which represent the number 3 in… Continue reading

Hashkafah, Inspiration Snow Lesson, Torah Perspective Snow

Parshas Yisro

ויקח יתרו חתן משה עולה וזבחים לאלקים ויבא אהרן וכל זקני ישראל לאכול לחם עם חתן משה לפני האלקים (יח:יב).

“Yisro offered sacrifices to Hashem; Aharon and the Elders came to eat with Yisro in front of Hashem ” (18:12).
Two questions. What does the beginning of the verse have to do with the end? There should be two separate verses, one describing Yisro’s offerings and… Continue reading

Parshas Yisro