Jewish Texts
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Understanding “Love Your Neighbor”
I have to write an essay on a few of the famous quotes in Leviticus. I am having a particularly troubling time on chapter 19, verse 18 and understanding the meaning of the different commentaries by Rashi and Rambam and…
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Leprosy in the Bible
Where is leprosy mentioned in the Bible? Answer: “Leprosy” is mentioned in the Bible in many places. The principal place in the Torah is Lev.13-14, but see also Ex.4:6, Num.5:2 and 12:10, and 2 Kings 5:1, 7:3 and 15:5. The…
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Tzaraas, the Biblical Skin Blemish
Is the Torah’s description of Tzaraas, skin blemishes, related to our own negative impurities, pertaining to our character and behavior, in which we need to purge from our soul, in preparation for following the Torah? Answer: It’s an interesting thought.…
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Humility vs. Responsibility
Two Jewish values are humility on the one hand, and taking responsibility on the other. While it may be important to shy away from honors and the limelight, it’s also important to take responsibility when duty calls. Moses is known…
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Urim and Tumim of the High Priest
What is the Urim & Tumim on the Ephod? How were they used by the priest? And the big question – what happened to them? Answer: Inside the Breastplate was placed God’s sacred names. Ramban (Exod. 28:30) states that Moses…
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Moses in the Tabernacle
Genesis Chapter 40 beginning at verse 17 – Did Moses set up the tabernacle by himself? Of course G-d would have been advising along the way but no one else including Aaron would have been allowed in at this point.…
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The Golden Calf and the Tabernacle
Can you please explain why the story of the sin of the Golden Calf is right in the middle of the description of the Mishkan (Tabernacle)? Answer: I’ll tell you a few thoughts that I have, and maybe you can…
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Asnas, Shimon and Dinah
In the last part of Genesis we find that Asnas married Yosef HaTzadik and our Rabbai told us that she was a jewish and Dinah’s daughter. How did Asnas come to Egypt? Wasn’t Dinah married to Shechem? We find inVayigash that…
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The Evolution of Jewish Law
Can I have an introduction to the great works of Halachah (Jewish Law) and their authors. For example Mishneh Torah, Tur, Shulchan Aruch, and Mishnah Berurah? Answer: Moshe received the Torah at Sinai, both the Written Law and the Oral…