Musings from Students of the Pardes Institute of Jewish Studies in Jerusalem
Posted on February 24, 2012 by Barer
This week’s parsha is chalk-full of measurement details for the building of the Mishkan (Tabernacle), which leaves little room for inspirational lessons. Fortunately for me, the Rashbam took this opportunity to answer one of my long-standing questions – when does the Rashbam feel it necessary to add his own commentary and when is he happy Continue Reading »
Posted on February 17, 2012 by Barer
On this week’s podcast, Meesh discusses one of the more controversial laws introduced in Mishpatim, that of “an eye for an eye” Mishpatim 5772
Posted on February 17, 2012 by Barer
In a parsha full of laws, a mere few verses of which are the basis of years worth of Gemarah study (Seder Nezikin), I came across an episode having nothing to do with the minutiae of laws that I do not remember reading before. Near the end of the parsha, there is a scene described where Continue Reading »
Posted on February 10, 2012 by Barer
In this week’s podcast, Michael Hattin talks about the central event of the parsha, the giving and receiving of the Torah. Yitro 5772
Posted on February 10, 2012 by Barer
This week’s parsha, among a few other things that regularly and justifiably receive less attention, contains the עשרת הדברות (never called any title in the text itself), somewhat loosely translated as the Ten Commandments (more literal would be the Ten Utterances). What stood out to me reading them this year was the conditional nature of Continue Reading »
Posted on February 3, 2012 by Barer
On this week’s podcast, Rav Meir discusses the parsha describing Bnei Yisrael‘s journey from being slaves to a free nation. Beshalach 5772
Posted on February 3, 2012 by Barer
In this week’s parsha the Israelites truly become free, as they finally and unmistakably escape from the Egyptians, singing jubilantly after seeing the Egyptians drown in the Red Sea. Immediately after the Song of the Sea, we are introduced to one of the motifs of the time in the midbar (while traditionally translated desert, there Continue Reading »
Posted on January 30, 2012 by Andrea Wiese
Tovah Leah, my teacher for Personalizing Prayer, and Relationships class, cites Rav Kook nearly everyday! I finally realized that I loved almost every quote that she brought from him. So last week I bought a book that compiles Rav Kook’s thoughts on the Parshiot, the weekly Torah portions. Abraham Isaac Kook (1865–1935) was the first Ashkenazi chief rabbi of the Continue Reading »
Posted on January 27, 2012 by Barer
In this week’s podcast, Neima Novetsky discusses the notion of Bnei Yisrael ‘borrowing’ goods from the Egyptians as they leave Egypt. Bo 5772
Posted on January 27, 2012 by Barer
In this week’s parsha, the story of the ten plagues ends, and Bnei Yisrael (the Children of Israel) finally leave Egypt. One source of potential moral consternation is the collecting of all sorts of goods on the part of the Israelites from their (former) Egyptian slave-masters. Hashem gives the instructions for the fulfillment of a Continue Reading »
