In this week Torah portion we find a detailed description of priestly vestments, the ephod, how the altar should be built, characteristics of the sacrifice offerings and various technical details of the temple worship. However, the question that may arise in the mind of the modern is: where is the place for prayer in all […]

SERMON FOR BEIT WARSZAWA Our portion for this Shabbat comes from the second part of the Book of Shemot, of Exodus – the part which is largely formed of an instruction book for making the ritual objects which God commanded to be made as a consequence of the catastrophic incident of the people worshipping an […]

[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]Adonai, enthroned on cherubim, is king, peoples tremble, the earth quakes. (Ps 99:1.)[/perfectpullquote] We recite these words every week during Kabbalat Shabbat. They refer to the vision of the Eternal sitting on the cherubim in the Tabernacle, whose construction is being described in this week’s Torah portion Terumah. […]

Thoughts on Parashat Mishpatim

This week’s Torah portion starts in the 21st chapter of Exodus, that is from the chapter which follows right after the one which contains the Ten Commandments. The four chapters of our Parashat contain a series of moral and ritual laws, as well as rules relating to family, civil and criminal law.

In the opening words of this week’s Torah portion Yitro we find out that the news of the Israelites’ exodus from Egypt and their victory over Amalek has reached Yitro, Moses’ father-in-law. Upon hearing such good tidings Yitro decides that his daughter Tzipora, Moses’ wife, and her two sons will no longer face any danger […]

Thoughts on Parashat Beshalach. This week Torah portion contains stories that are famous and widespread in the entire western culture. It tells us about Pharaoh chasing after Israelites, to force their return to Egypt, splitting the Sea of Reeds; Israelites experiencing their first thirst and hunger in the desert, Moses bringing forth water from a […]