In this Sidra the Torah relates the events that took place in Jacob’s life on his way from MACHANAYIM to SHECHEM. Machanayim, which is a last word in the Sidra Vayetze, means ‘two camps’. Jacob gave this name because he saw two camps of angels accompanying him as he was arriving back in the land […]
In the first part of this week’s Sidra, the Torah relates that our father Jacob left his home in Beer Sheva and arrived at the place which he thought was safe and appropriate to settle down and to go to sleep. Some commentators have remarked that it is most interesting that he went to sleep, […]
The Sidra of Chayye Sarah can be divided into three distinct sections. The first section deals with Sarah’s death. The second very long section tells us the interesting and detailed story of the search and process of selection of a wife for Isaac, which was entrusted to Abraham’s loyal servant. The third section of the […]
The first story in today’s Sidra describes the visit of three angels to Abraham. They appeared to him as three idolatrous Arab men. Despite their unfamiliar appearance, Abraham invited them into his tent, most warmly and gave them a delicious meal. Abraham’s amazing kindness towards them has become a most important story in our religion, […]
The name of this Sidra has attracted the attention of our commentators because it is open to a number of interpretations. The most straightforward, and literal meaning of the word EKEV is ‘the impression we make in the sand with our steps as we walk”. Therefore, this sentence means ‘as consequence of your obedience’. Consequently, […]
Today we begin the last book of the Torah. The Rabbis, who fixed the Sedarot, planned the order of reading very carefully, so that this Sidra always falls before Tisha Be’av. This is most appropriate, since it contains the verse which begins with the word , Eichah. This is the opening word of the Scroll […]
Today we read the last two Sidrot in the Book of Numbers. These two Sidrot, which are called Mattot and Massei, are read together in all normal years. They are only read separately in leap years. Together they are one of the longest annual Torah readings. They are connected by their theme. Both of them […]
Biblical names have interesting meanings. Very often the name of a hero ties in with the content or intention of the story. But the name Pinchas is an exception. His name does not seem to have any meaning in any known Semitic languages, nor does there seem to be any connection between the name Pinchas […]
The Sidra is named after Balak, the king of Moab, who was the ruler of that country at the time that the Israelites reached the Eastern bank of the Jordan in the plains of Moab, opposite Jericho. It was the 40th year since the Exodus. The Israelites were almost ready to cross over the Jordan. […]
The meaning of the name of today’s Sidra is LAW. Our Rabbis interpreted the Hebrew concept of Chok to refer to a law whose reason has not been revealed to us. The Sidra begins with the law of the Red Heifer, which has always been regarded as mysterious. It simply very difficult to understand why […]