Mishnas Chayim Parshah Posts

Fascinating weekly parshah posts

Time to Make Amends-Parshas Vayikra

By |2021-06-23T13:35:37-04:00March 6, 2022|

What is the theme of parshas Vayikra? That might seem like a “no-brainer” of a question. After all, from even a cursory glance it is hard not to notice the extensive treatment of korbanos (offerings), in all of their various forms, contained therein. A “Clean” Sacrifice Actually, while korbanos does seem to be the prevailing theme, a closer look reveals yet another thread. The opening directive regarding the bringing of offerings [...]

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Coin of Fire: An Elucidation of the Machtzis Hashekel (Half-Shekel)-Parshas Pekudei

By |2021-06-23T13:35:57-04:00February 23, 2022|

This is the first in a series of Shabbosos that garner a specially designated Torah reading (in addition to the standard weekly parshah). The section detailing the mitzvah of the machtzis hashekel contribution is read this week. The relevance of this particular section to the current time period is apparent from the Mishnah in Shekalim (1:1):  בְּאֶחָד בַּאֲדָר מַשְׁמִיעִין עַל הַשְּׁקָלִים. “On the first of Adar, an announcement was made [...]

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The Mikdash (Sanctuary) – A Lively Place-Parshas Vayakhel

By |2021-06-18T10:45:07-04:00February 20, 2022|

Extra Words In preparation for the building of the Mishkan (Tabernacle), an appeal was made to B’nei Yisrael to donate the necessary materials (gold, silver, etc.) from which the portable sanctuary would be fashioned. The response was so generous and overwhelming that a call was issued to desist from any further donations. Referring to the outpouring of plenty, the passuk in this week’s parshah states: וְהַמְּלָאכָה הָיְתָה דַיָּם... וְהוֹתֵר. “And the task (of [...]

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A Cow for a Calf-Parshas Ki Sisa

By |2021-06-18T10:39:22-04:00February 13, 2022|

During the time-period corresponding (basically) to the month of Adar, four special sections are appended to the weekly Torah reading. The Mishnah lays out the order (Megillah 3:4): רֹאשׁ חֹדֶשׁ אֲדָר שֶׁחָל לִהְיוֹת בְּשַׁבָּת, קוֹרִין בְּפָרָשַׁת שְׁקָלִים... בַּשְּׁנִיָּה זָכוֹר, בַּשְּׁלִישִׁית פָּרָה... בָּרְבִיעִית הַחֹדֶשׁ... “When Rosh Chodesh Adar falls out on Shabbos, we read the section of ‘Shekalim’ (featuring the giving of the half-shekel coin [in addition to [...]

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The Last Hurrah-Parshas Tetzaveh

By |2021-06-18T10:36:36-04:00February 6, 2022|

R’ Moshe Aharon Stern, venerated Mashgiach of the Kaminetz Yeshivah, related the following account, which serves as a powerful lesson in patience. The story involves an individual who, unfortunately, was notorious for just the opposite. He was an elderly man, somewhat (or significantly so) on the cranky side, with a penchant for making his displeasure known. Gragger Grief Purim would roll around, and this would present a serious [...]

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The Give-and-Take of Donations-Parshas Terumah

By |2021-06-18T10:34:05-04:00January 30, 2022|

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” [...]

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