The saintly and venerated R’ Chatzkel Levenstein served for a time as Mashgiach Ruchani (spiritual overseer) for the Mirrer Yeshivah in Brooklyn, NY. However, while he delivered discourses to the students, he did so in his own home, which was some distance from the yeshivah. Actually, there were two ways to get there – the short way and the long way. The issue was that the more direct route was [...]
Parshas Terumah ushers in the subject that is the basic running theme for the remainder of Sefer Shemos: namely, the construction of the Mishkan and all of its accoutrements. It would be somewhat of a shame for one to remain with just a superficial picture of this otherwise massive topic. Such a picture he may have acquired from childhood, a time when the rich and profound meanings [...]
וַיִּקַּח סֵפֶר הַבְּרִית וַיִּקְרָא בְּאָזְנֵי הָעָם וַיֹּאמְרוּ כֹּל אֲשֶׁר־דִּבֶּר ד' נַעֲשֶׂה וְנִשְׁמָע – “And (Moshe) took the book of the covenant, and he read it to the ears of the people, and they said: ‘All that Hashem has spoken – we will do and we will listen!’” (Shemos 24:7). A Word of Difference This legendary declaration made in this week’s parshah represents what very well might be the apex of Klal Yisrael’s history. Chazal are effusive in their treatment of this [...]
In last year’s article on this parshah, we explored the matter of the names Moshe conferred upon his children. The passuk states: שֵׁם הָאֶחָד גֵּרְשֹׁם כִּי אָמַר גֵּר הָיִיתִי בְּאֶרֶץ נָכְרִיָּה, וְשֵׁם הָאֶחָד אֱלִיעֶזֶר כִּי־אֱלֹקֵי אָבִי בְּעֶזְרִי וַיַּצִּלֵנִי מֵחֶרֶב פַּרְעֹה – “The name of the one of them was Gershom, for (Moshe) said: ‘I was a stranger (ger) in a foreign land.’ And the name of the other was Eliezer – ‘For the [...]
Did you ever notice how parents react to the exploits of their toddlers? Let us say, for example, that on the way to the babysitter, the young child – of his own accord – picks up his coat and even puts it on. Most likely, his parents will be beside themselves with joy. “Hooray!” they might exclaim, and clap enthusiastically over the little one’s display of prowess [...]
There appears to be a discrepancy regarding the timing of the climactic plague, Makkas Bechoros (Plague of the Firstborn). When Moshe announces the upcoming event in this week’s parshah, he avoids pinpointing a specific time, merely stating instead that it would occurכַּחֲצֹת הַלַּיְלָה – “around midnight” (Shemos 11:4). When relating the actual execution, however, the Torah does employ exactitude in the matter, as it states: וַיְהִי בַּחֲצִי הַלַּיְלָה וַד' הִכָּה כָל־בְּכוֹר בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרַיִם – “And [...]
Powerful Words of Inspiration
From Rabbi Yissocher Frand
VISIT BETTER THAN A SEGULAH
A division of Chevrah Lomdei Mishnah
All contributions are tax deductible.
Chevrah Lomdei Mishnah / The Society for Mishnah Study is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
We are members of The Donors Fund and Achisomoch.
Your tax-deductible donation will enable our
network of Torah scholars to continue their
fundamental mission of providing eternal merit for
the Jewish nation.
Become a partner in the vital work of Chevrah Lomdei Mishnah and earn the invaluable merit of Torah study
for yourself as well.
