Thoughts on Parashat Vayikra 5785

Moshe was very bothered about the sin he committed, namely, that he didn’t wash his hands
and didn’t say a blessing before he ate. So he decided to see his rabbi, to confess the sin
hoping that it would make him feel better: “Rabbi, last week I didn’t wash my hands before I
ate, I didn’t say the blessing, and I am very upset about it.” – “Well, that’s not the most
severe sin in the world”, said the rabbi, “just remember to do it next time and every time
before you eat. But, out of pure curiosity, why did you not say the blessing?” asked the rabbi.
“Well the food itself wasn’t kosher, so I didn’t think it was appropriate” – “You ate non kosher
food? Hmmm… this is much more serious, Moshe.

Thoughts on Parashat Vayakhel 5785

In the parasha for this week, we see the culmination of weeks of careful instructions for constructing the Mishkan. We learned in the previous three parashot about what to do and how to do it, what to utilize and how much to utilize it with, and what specific specifications to utilize for each of the Tabernacle’s sections. Now that we get to read Parashat Vayakhel (and next week Pekudei, we often read together), it is time for action. Plans are useless unless implemented. The Torah presents us with a detailed account of what is done to construct it—because ultimately Judaism is always about action.

Thoughts on Parashat Tetzaveh 5785

One day, two old friends, Art and Joe, were sitting in a café, sipping their tea and arguing—like they had for the past 40 years—about when and how the Messiah would come.

“I’m telling you, Joe,” Art said, waving his spoon for emphasis, “the world is going to fall apart first. Total disaster! People will forget how to have a normal conversation, the price of everything will skyrocket, and absolute nonsense will be treated as wisdom. Then the Messiah will come to fix it all.”