Parshat Bamidbar 5772: 600,000 Jewish Neshamot in Bamidbar — But What About the Levi’im?

by Moshe Burt Our Parsha Bamidbar deals with the numbers crunching of the census taken “on the first of the second month, in the second year after their exodus from… Mitzriyim.” (Sefer Bamidbar, Perek 1, posuk 1) This author addressed the transference of the Kehuna (priesthood) from the first-borns to the Kohanim in vorts on Parshat [...]

Parsha Bechukotai 5772: The Tochocha and Measuring a Jew’s Connection With His Home — Eretz Yisrael

by Moshe Burt Our Parsha Bechukotai is but another in the series of Parshiyot usually paired with the one it preceeds as a doubleheader, in this case Parsha Behar. Therefore, yet another opportunity exists to emphasize, in another way, the connection between the Jew and Eretz Yisrael. In Parshat Behar, Hashem instills in us to parallel the laws [...]

Sefer Torah Poster for Sponsorship of Parshat HaShevua

Sponsors of a Parshat HaShevua for $200 or more will receive a framable Sefer Torah Poster which they can hang in their home, or give as a gift. Contact this author at: olehchadash@yahoo.com for more details. Below is a 3-column sample of the Sefer Torah poster.

Parsha Behar 5772; Thoughts on Shemittoh, and Who Really Rules Eretz Yisrael?

by Moshe Burt Rashi asks a critical question on the very first posukim of our Parsha: “Hashem spoke to Moshe on Har Sinai, saying: Speak to the B’nai Yisrael, and say to them: When you come to the land which I give you, then shall the land keep a Shabbat to Hashem.” (Parsha Behar, Vayikra Perek [...]

Parshat Emor 5772: The Kohanim as a Paradigm of Chessed Purity

by Moshe Burt The positioning in Torah of our Parsha Emor, following last week’s Parsha Kedoshim gives rise to thought and contemplation. In the previous 2 twin Parshas; Acharei Mos and Kedoshim, and Tazria and Metzora before them, we learn about the Kohen as the only one Divinely invested with ruling as to Tumah or [...]

Parshiyot Acharei Mos/Kedoshim 5772: The Kohen Gadol’s Clothing of National Atonement and Paradigm

by Moshe Burt Parshiyot Acharei Mos and Kedoshim are normally what baseball fans refer to as another of the “doubleheader” parshiyot. And just as Parshiyot Tazria and Metzora are extensions of each other, visa vi Tumah and Ta’Hara regarding post-birth, regarding skin, hair, clothing or regarding one’s home or building; Acharei Mos and Kedoshim [...]

Parshiyot Tazria/Metzora 5772: Today’s Gauge of National Level Ta’amei/Tahara and Genuine Contrition

by Moshe Burt In learning about the laws of tzara’as, we find posukim which are a pelah, a wonderment. Torah relates in Parsha Tazria; “If the tzara’as will erupt on the skin, and … will cover the entire skin of the afflicted from his head to his feet, wherever the eyes of the Kohen can see — [...]

Parshat Shemini 5772: Discerning Kosher from Treif, and the Sincerity of One’s Service

by Moshe Burt After learning in Parsha Tzav that for seven days, Moshe taught Aaron HaKohen and his sons the laws of their Avodah (the Kohanic Service, i.e. in the Tabernacle and later in the Beit HaMikdash — ” The Temple”) in the Mishkan, our Parsha Shemini begins by relating that on the eighth day, Aaron [...]

Rav Hirsch z”l, the B’nai Yisrael and “Being There” at the Pesach Seder

Shalom and Chag Same’ach Friends; This Author has been very into R’ Shimson Rafael Hirsch z”l as is evident from citings from the new Hirsch Chumash (published by Feldheim in 2005 and translated to English by Rabbi Daniel Haberman) included my various Parshiyot HaShavua’s. Have also been learning R’ Hirsch’s “Nineteen Letters”, translated with [...]

Dayenu 5772: That “Being There” Feeling at the Pesach Seder

by, Moshe Burt This year will mark seventeen years, and my fourteenth Pesach in Eretz Yisrael, in which I have emailed, as it has become tradition with me from prior to my Aliyah, the rendition of Dayenu quoted from the book “Dear Brothers.” In each year, Dayenu holds a unique perspective, unlike the perspective of any [...]