250 Plagues by the Sea

250 Plagues by the Sea

In the Passover Haggadah, we read the Ten Plagues, and Rebbe Yehudah’s acronym, and then learn that in reality, the Egyptians experienced much more than “only” ten plagues. Rebbe Yossi teaches that there were ten plagues in Egypt, but 50 at the sea. Rebbe Eliezer says...
It’s Not So Simple

It’s Not So Simple

Along with Elevation Offerings, Guilt Offerings, Flour Offerings and others, this week Aharon and his sons, the Kohanim, learn how to offer the Sin Offering. Last week we discussed, with regards to this offering, an exception to the rule: when one gave an offering for...
The Crime of Indifference

The Crime of Indifference

In this week’s reading, we learn about sin and guilt offerings in the Temple. One was called the “higher or lower” offering, as this offering depended upon a person’s financial situation. If a person entered the Temple without being in a pure state, or swore falsely...
First Things First

First Things First

After returning from atop Mt. Sinai, after Yom Kippur, Moshe calls the people to congregate. He is about to tell them to collect donations: gold, silver, and copper, colored cloths and skins, oil and spices. They were all to be used to construct the Tabernacle for...
Why did Moshe Smash the Tablets?

Why did Moshe Smash the Tablets?

In this week’s reading, we learn that Moshe received the entire Torah during 40 days on top of Mount Sinai, and received two Tablets that were miracles unto themselves (the Medrash tells us that letters engraved all the way through, similar to O, Q, B, etc. in...