Search Results for: Parsha

Parsha Pekudei 5768: Paradigm Leadership, Accountability, Transparency vs the Revilers in the Camp

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by Moshe Burt

Our Parsha Pekudei begins; “These are the accounts of the Mishkan (the Sanctuary), the Mishkan of testimony, which were drawn up on Moshe’s orders …” (Shemos, Perek 38, posuk 21 — Metsudah Linear Chumash, page 579).

In short, Pekudei is the accountant’s parsha, the parsha of crunching the numbers.

The Sefer L’lmod U’Lamed (Parsha Pekudei, pages 97-98) asks what the primary reason was for Moshe’s detailed accounting of the costs of the construction of the Mishkan. The Sages tell that “there were apparently some who suspected that Moshe might have keep some … contributions for his own use.” (L’lmod U’Lamed, page 98). read more

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Parsha Vayakhel 5768: Betzalel, Hur and Their Modern-day Sequels

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by, Moshe Burt

Our Parsha Vayakhel discusses the appointment and role of Betzalel ben Uri, ben Hur in the building of the Mishkan.

The question is asked; why does Torah mention Betzalel’s lineage here?

This author discussed Betzalel in the context of Parsha Mishpatim our question of Yithro’s meriting to pronounce the concept of a Judiciary system to Moshe.

Betzalel, a Jew-from-birth, was instilled with the ability and insight to build the Mishkan.

After all, we learn Hashem imparted to Betzalel ben Uri the insight and ability to build the Mishkan. We learn that Betzalel was the grandson of Hur who was the son of Calev and that the Malchut was promised to Miriam — Moshe’s sister and Calev’s wife. Just as we learn that later the Malchut, under Dovid and Shlomo, built the Beit HaMikdash, so too Betzalel’s building of the Mishkan seems the fulfillment of the Divine promise to Miriam. read more

Parsha Ki Tisa 5768 — Principle vs Peer Group

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by Moshe Burt

For many years, since 1991 when Parsha Ki Tisa marked my son Philip’s Bar Mitzvah, I have spoken or written about a posuk in our Parsha which alludes to an event which took place 40 year later, in a subsequent Parsha.

The posuk being referred to (Sh’mos, Perek 30, posuk 30)says that while Moshe Rabbeinu was on Har Sinai being given Torah, Hashem said, “You shall anoint Aaron and his sons and sanctify them to minister (to serve) me.”

This seemingly obscure posuk which pops up in a couple of slightly different forms in both Parsha Tetzaveh and in our Parsha raises a challenging question which cuts to the chase of what we are facing today. The question is; what about that Pinchas Ben Elazar? Why was he not anointed as a Kohen with his brothers? read more

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Parsha Tetzaveh 5768 — The Urim U’Tummim and Divine Inspiration

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by Moshe Burt

In our Parsha Tetzaveh, the laws regarding the annointment, the vestments and the Avodah (service) of the Kohanim are enunciated for the Jewish people.

While preparing this Parsha HaShavua, this author came across a puzzling quote in Torah Gems by Aharon Yaakov Greenberg on our Parsha.

The quote which is cited (pg 192) relating to perek 28, parsha 15; “And you will make the breastplate of judgement with the work of an artisan…” and is attributable to someone called “Akeidah” reads; read more

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Parsha Terumah 5768: The Mishkan and the Eizer, Eizter Connection

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by, Moshe Burt

Back in Philadelphia, in the “old country”, R’ Moshe Ungar would speak about the Mizbeiyach in terms of both the Beit HaMikdash and in terms of the personal Mizbeiyach which burns eternally in our hearts. And there is the well-known wish to a Chosson and Kallah that the fire of the personal Mizbeiyach burn eternally.

In our Parsha, we begin learning about the construction and the contents of the Mishkan.

The Shem Mishmuel [Parsha Teruma, pg. 169-172) cites R’ Shimon who said; read more

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Parsha Terumah 5768: Distinguishing Man’s True Motivations

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By, Moshe Burt

It seems to this author that each Parsha in Torah carries with it a major theme, attribute or mido.

The two previous Parshiyot; Yithro and Mishpatim speak about related attributes; intent and honesty and our Parsha, Terumah addresses motivation.

In previous years, this Parsha sheet for Parsha Terumah dealt with man’s motivations equating them with what drives the athlete in the beginning, or as we baseball fans say, in the “Big Inning”. And as has been done regarding other Parshiyot, once again this year another revisit of the motivation of men seems appropriate. read more

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Parsha Mishpatim 5768 — Yithro: Prototype of Jewish Honesty, Principle and Unity

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By, Moshe Burt

Parsha Yithro concludes with the high moment to date in world history; The Asseret HaDibrot (The 10 Statements) on the 6th day of the month of Sivan.

In our parsha Mishpatim, many basic laws of civilized existence are enunciated for B’nai Yisrael. The purpose of the Mishpatim, the civil laws, are to protect the moral fiber of society by regulating relationships between men, ecouraging truthfulness, sincerity and
kindness while condemning immorality and deceit.

Along about last Tuesday (of the week of Parsha Yithro), this author thought to question how it transpired, how it evolved that Yithro, Moshe Rabbeinu’s Father-in-Law, a former member of Pharoh’s ruling circle and one who had tried every avodah zora before finding Hashem; merited that the format for law enforcement and justice in the B’nai Yisrael would flow from him. read more

Parsha Yitro 5768: Toward a Paradigm Torah Judiciary

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by Moshe Burt

Our parsha has taught over the years about the mutual admiration, love and respect which existed between Moshe Rabbeinu and his father-in-law Yitro, the former advisor to Pharoh.

Shem Mishmuel writes on our parsha about Yitro’s journey to the camp of the B’nai Yisrael, his heartfelt desire to join the B’nai Yisrael and the meeting between Moshe and Yitro.

When Yitro arrived;

Moshe went out to greet his father-in-law, and he bowed and kissed him, and each man asked after the welfare of his friend, and the came into the tent. (Shemos Perek 18, posuk 7) read more

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Parsha Beshalach 5768: Learning From Moshe and Being As One With Our Brother’s Suffering

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by Moshe Burt

Near the end of our Parsha, we read “And the hands of Moshe were heavy and they took a rock and placed it under him and he sat on it.” (Sefer Sh’mos, Perek 17, posuk 12)

Rabbi Pliskin in Growth Through Torah cites a Rashi which states “that
Moshe did not sit on a comfortable pillow, but a rock. There was a battle going on with Amalek and Moshe wanted to feel the suffering of the people. This, said Rabbi Yeruchem Levovitz, is a lesson in feeling for another person’s suffering. Not only should we mentally feel their pain, but it is proper to do some action in order to feel some of the discomfort yourself when someone else experiences pain. This way [through empathy] you actually feel his pain.” (Growth Through Torah, Rabbi Zelig Pliskin, page 177, citing from Daas Torah, page 152) read more

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Parsha Bo: Finding the Emunah to Break Out of Apathy and Fear’s Box

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Moshe Burt

Parsha Bo is the one which, for me, annually relates to that crazy tune which played back “in the Old Country” a couple of decades ago, “Does Your Korbon Pesach Lose It’s Flavor Tied to the Bedpost Overnight?” (Actually, the real title to the song was “Does Your Chewing Gum Lose It’s Flavor on the Bedpost Overnight?”)

Over the years, this author has opened with this nutty parody of mine because it cuts right to the very heart of our Parsha. That is the Mitzvot of taking the Korbon Pesach, applying the da’am on Jewish doorposts, the going up from Mitzrayim (Egypt) to “…a land flowing with milk and honey …” and the first mitzvah commanded of the National entity (B’nai Yisrael), the Kiddush HaChodesh — the sanctification of the New Moon and the relevance today of these mitzvot which relate to emunah (belief in) and yirat (fear of)Hashem. read more

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