Weekly Parsha Thoughts

This Parsha and haftarah contain the topic of a nazir.  A nazir is one who may not eat grapes or drink wine.  He also may not be metamay to meisim or shave his hair. The pesukim in the haftarah bring a story... Read More

On Shavous we lein Megillas Rus. The pessukim tell us Naomi tried convincing Rus and Orpah to go back to their mother’s house. Orpah left whereas Rus stayed together with Naomi. Again Naomi said “go back” and Rus responded, “don’t urge me... Read More

The passuk says איש על דגלו באותות, a man by his flag “”באותות. What is the meaning of באותות? Rashi explains every shevet had a flag with the colors of their stone which was on the choshen. This way each and every... Read More

In Parshas Bechukosai and Parshas Ki Savo there are pesukim of tochacha called klalos. The Gemara explains that in Bechukosai the tochacha was said in lashon rabim, whereas in Ki Savo it was said in lashon yachid. For example, in Bechukosai the... Read More

The passuk says concerning shmitta ושבתה הארץ שבת לה’.  The Toras Kohanim brings: just as by Shabbos it says שבת לה’ so too by shmitta  it says שבת לה’. What does the passuk want to teach us with שבת לה’? The Meshech... Read More

The passuk says “ויצא בן אשה ישראלית …. ויקב… את השם ויקלל” “And he went out… and cursed Hashem…”  The Gemara brings that one who curses Hashem is as though he denies Hashem. Rav Chaim Shmuelevitz asks: how can a person who... Read More