Join our weekly Peninim on the Torah list!

Category

5757

YEARS

5751
5752
5753
5754
5755
5756
5757
5758
5759
5760
5761
5762
5763
5764
5765
5766
5767
5768
5769
5770
5771
5772
5773
5774
5775
5776
5777
5778

These shall stand to bless the people on Har Gerizim…And these shall stand for the curse on Har Eival…and Zevulun… (27:12,13)

Prior to entering Eretz Yisrael, the Jews were to assemble at two mountains.  Hashem would enumerate twelve specific commandments, and Klal Yisrael would acknowledge the blessings to be provided for those who upheld these mitzvos, and the curses to befall those who spurned them.  Six shevatim, tribes, stood on Har Gerizim, the mountain selected for blessing, while six other tribes stood on Har Eival to acknowledge the curses.  The commentators explain why these twelve subjects were selected as the vehicles for the public affirmation of blessing and curse.  The consensus of opinon is that these are unique commandments that the…

Continue Reading

Then you shall call out and say….”An Arami tried to destroy my forefather…He descended to Egypt and sojourned there. (26:5,6)

The text of the pasuk implies that there is an integral relationship between the fact that Lavan attempted to destroy Yaakov and Yaakov’s subsequent descent to Egypt.  This does not seem to be consistent with the historical perspective as suggested in the Torah and commentaries.  Lavan the Arami was one tzarah, tormentor of Yaakov, and Pharaoh was another of Klal Yisrael’s persecutors.  The two do not seem however, to have any relationship. The Netziv offers a striking explanation.  Originally Klal Yisrael were to have remained in Aram with Lavan and his descendants for the duration of their four hundred year…

Continue Reading

And you shall take of the first of every fruit of the ground….and you shall put it in a basket…and you shall come to the Kohen. (26:2,3)

The Torah begins the parsha with the details of the Bikkurim offering.  The Jew brought the first of his fruits to the Kohen, symbolically stating that he dedicated all that he had to the service of Hashem.  In the Mishnah Bikkurim 3:6, Chazal describe the pomp and joy that accompanied this offering.  “The wealthy would bring their fruits in baskets made of gold; the poor in baskets made of cane.”  The Kohen took not only the fruits, but also the baskets.  The Yerushalmi explains that the basket served an interesting function.  In the event the fruits became tamei, ritually unclean,…

Continue Reading

Subscribe To Our Newsletter

Join our weekly Peninim on the Torah list!

You have Successfully Subscribed!