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So far Chevrah Lomdei Mishnah has created 247 blog entries.

Craving for Critique-Parshas Tazria – Metzora

By |2021-09-06T15:16:44-04:00April 16, 2023|

The main feature of the two parshiyos of Tazria-Metzora is, of course, the topic of tzara’as – the skin condition which, if meeting certain specifications, renders the individual ritually impure. When one finds such a condition developing, he presents himself before a kohein, who determines whether the proper qualifications are met. If they are not, he retains his status of ritual purity; if, however, the kohein determines that he has bona fide tzara’as, he then declares the [...]

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A Dog’s Best Friend-Shemini

By |2021-09-06T15:18:36-04:00April 9, 2023|

The chazir/chazer/pig is perhaps the most familiar example that comes to mind when we consider non-kosher animals. In a sense, the chazer is a one-of-a-kind animal, standing out from the others listed in this week’s parshah as the representative of proscribed items. Two primary simanim (indicators) are required to render an animal permissible for consumption: their feet must be split, and they must chew their cud. A number of animals (e.g. camels, rabbits) are [...]

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Back to the Beginning-Parshas Tzav

By |2021-09-06T15:19:30-04:00March 26, 2023|

The main theme and purpose of the Pesach Haggadah, of course, is the recounting of the episode of Yetzi’yas Mitzrayim – the Exodus from Egypt. But a most intriguing aspect of this treasured and familiar document is the introduction, at a key point in the Haggadah, of a character who seems to bear little relation to the matter at hand. What can perhaps be considered the main [...]

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All the Way to Paris-Parshas Vayikra

By |2021-09-06T15:20:25-04:00March 19, 2023|

A curious shift occurs in the passuk that introduces the theme of sacrificial offerings at the beginning of this week’s parshah. The passuk states: אָדָם כִּי־יַקְרִיב מִכֶּם קָרְבָּן לַד' מִן־הַבְּהֵמָה מִן־הַבָּקָר וּמִן־הַצֹּאן תַּקְרִיבוּ אֶת־קָרְבַּנְכֶם – “When a man from amongst you shall bring a sacrifice to Hashem from the beasts – from cattle or sheep shall you bring your sacrifice” (Vayikra 1:2). The verse begins in the singular form: “Adam ki yakriv – when a [...]

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Vows, Bas Kols, and the Mishkan-Parshas Vayakhel Pekudei

By |2021-09-06T15:21:07-04:00March 12, 2023|

(The following exposition is based largely on the introductory section to the Amudei Ohr [§ 3], the volume of responsa of R’ Yechiel Heller, Av Beis Din of Suvalk.) With the reading of this week’s (double) parshah of Vayakhel-Pekudei, we conclude a unit granted substantial space and prominence by the Torah: the extensive treatment of the Mishkan (Tabernacle) and its accoutrements. At this point, then, it is worthwhile to reflect on [...]

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Heads Up-Parshas Ki Sisa

By |2021-09-06T00:15:55-04:00March 5, 2023|

It is usually with a tinge of sadness that we study this parshah, as it features the tragic downfall of Yisrael connected with the Cheit Ha’eigel, the Sin of the Golden Calf. The issue of what exactly occurred and what went wrong is dealt with at great length by a host of commentators; a complete treatment of the subject is well beyond the scope of this forum. Here, we [...]

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