Chevrah Lomdei Mishnah

This week’s parshah begins with something of a linguistic twist. The call is issued to donate materials for the construction of the Mishkan (Tabernacle). One would have expected the directive to be worded in terms of giving, along the lines of: וְיִתְּנוּ־לִי תְּרוּמָה – And they shall give Me a donation.” Instead, the passuk employs the very opposite term; as it states: דַּבֵּר אֶל־בְּנֵי יִשְֹרָאֵל וְיִקְחוּ־לִי תְּרוּמָה – “Speak to B’nei Yisrael, and they shall take for Me a donation” [...]

It happened one Yom Tov that the Sfas Emes, venerated leader of the Gerrer Chassidic dynasty, shared an observation with his followers about Hallel, an important aspect of the day’s observance. He singled out a particular supplication, stating that by reciting “Ana” properly, one can catalyze wondrous effects in the Upper Realms. However, an issue arose the next morning during the time of Hallel’s recital. For there [...]