Skip to main content

Terumah (2025)

Shabbat Parshat Terumah


Dvar Torah
Terumah discusses inter alia the specifications for the vessels to be used in the Tabernacle. Of particular interest is the Arc which was the centerpiece of the Holy of Holies and contained the tablets from Sinai. While all the vessels of the Tabernacle had attachable poles for transport in the wilderness, curiously the poles of the Arc alone were commanded to remain permanently (resulting in a Mitzva prohibiting their removal) even in the Temple in Jerusalem. The Netziv suggests that this is to accentuate that the Torah is timeless, is inherently equipped to be moved in perpetuity, timeless and relevant for the Jewish People in every place and every generation

Trivia
This Shabbat we will take out 3 Torah Scrolls from the Arc: one for Teruma, another for the Rosh Chodesh reading as well as another for Parshat Shekalim - the first of the “Four Parshas” which are appended until Pesach

Shabbat in/out times
Yerushalayim 17:00/18:14
Kissufim 17:11/18:17
Frankfurt 17:47/18:56
NYC 17:28/18:29
Miami 18:04/18:57
Mexico City 18:23/19:15
More times here

Shabbat Shalom and Chodesh Tov!

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ki-Tavoh (2025)

Shabbat Parshat Ki-Tavoh Dvar Torah – Judaism’s Day 1 Culture As Moshe concludes his review of the commandments on the banks of the Jordan, he tells the people:  “On this day Hashem your G-d commands you to observe these laws.”  The wording is striking— why “on this day”?  Wasn’t this already commanded at Sinai? The classic commentator Rashi explains that the Torah is reminding us to approach it as if every day were “Day 1” —fresh, new, and full of energy. That’s not easy. But the way we can keep Torah alive is by making it personal. When we learn, reflect, and discover new insights, we’re not just repeating old lessons—we’re expanding them, renewing them, and incorporating them in our own lives today. At this point when Moshe concludes his own masterclass (see Ramban), he hands us the baton to keep learning, discovering, and letting that continual renewal be the source of ongoing excitement and purpose in Jewish life. Trivia Following Shabbat, Ashkenazim will ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Chayei Sarah (2025)

Shabbat Chayei-Sarah Dvar Torah – The Legacy of Lech-L’cha Abraham — like any Jewish father — is worried. Sarah has passed away, Isaac has come of age, and he needs to find his son a wife. What follows is the legendary narrative of Eliezer, Abraham’s trusted servant, journeying to Aram-Naharayim — Abraham’s homeland — where he miraculously encounters Rebecca. Her kindness and generosity shine through immediately, and she unhesitatingly says “yes.” But why did Isaac need a wife from abroad? The same question arises with Jacob — why were the women of Canaan unsuitable for the patriarchs? I once heard a beautiful insight from my sister (whose given name, incidentally, is Rebecca). The defining trait of our patriarchs was their willingness to venture into the unknown in response to God’s call. Abraham heard the command of “Lech Lecha” — to leave behind everything familiar — and he went on to the Promised Land. To join this family and become the mothers of the Jewish people, the mat...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ki-Teitzei (2025)

Shabbat Parshat Ki-Teitzei Dvar Torah - Cultivating a caring mindset This week’s parsha teaches the mitzvah of  Shichecha  (lit. “forgotten”) - that farmers must leave forgotten bundles in the field for the poor, adding a promise  “so that G-d will bless you in all your work”  ( Deu. 24:19 ). Normally, the Torah does not spell out the reward for mitzvot, but Rashi  explains  that here the Torah highlights this blessing to teach us that even an unintentional mitzvah – done simply by forgetting – still merits reward. But why should something unintentional merit reward? Perhaps an answer can be found in Rav Hirsch who explains that Shichecha is meant to change us as people, conditioning our state of mind away from our natural inclination to amass wealth, to one of largesse towards the poor. When we live our lives in a mindset of contribution and care, even deeds we do unintentionally are inspired by a sense of awareness for the needs of others and are sur...
Post a Comment
Read more