Danny Ginsbourg

And Moshe saw all that Israel did - and he blessed them

Selected commentators explain what it means for Israel to have done all they were commanded when actually the artisans did the work.

The power of priestly clothes

Read the Netivot Shalom, Rav Zalman Sorotzkin, Rav Avigdor Nebenzahl,The Ra’ma, Maharal and more on the power of priestly clothes to atone..

These ordinances could only have been given at Sinai

Selected commentators explain the reasons ordinances between man and his fellow man had to be given at Sinai.

Were the Children of Israel deprived of Free Will at Sinai?

Delving into the events surrounding this seminal and unconditional acceptance of Torah by Bnei Israel.

The staff which was taken, not to be used

Why did Moshe take his staff with him to the top of the hill in the Amalek battle, as seemingly he did not perform any act with it?’

Why did Hashem make a mockery of Egypt?

What purpose does making a mockery of those who mock Hashem and mistreat His people?

Vaeira: Aaron's wondrous staff-swallowing staff

An eye-opening review of the commentators' explanations on the purpose of the staff and the miracle involved.

Yaakov Avinu: God is my shepherd

Ohr Hachaim Hakadosh,Alshich Hakadosh, Malbim and others on the double clause in Yaakov's blessing to his beloved Yosef.

Why does descending to Egypt frighten Jacob?

A selection of commentators whoweigh in on this troubling question and their psychologically enlightening answers.

Help us to learn from our enemies

Learn from them but not from their evil deeds, as Jacob testified about himself. But what could he learn from the wicked Laban?.

Behold it was Leah!

As Jacob's first marriage was based on ‘mistaken belief’, should it not have been deemed invalid?

Who was the batlan (idler), Jacob or Esau?

A surprising Rashi on the two sons of Rivka and Isaac leads us to wonder if it is the hunter or the tent-dweller who is of no consequence?

Chayei Sarah: All her years were equally good

This is the only instance in the whole of Tanach, that the number of years of the life of a woman, is written.

Thou shalt not steal - from God

Is stealing from one another really the reason for The Flood?

Tishrei's festivals culminate with Ashrei

By reading the two parshiot on Simchat Torah, we allude to the crux of the Shma prayer - that Torah should be inscribed on our hearts. How?

On the third day, schach was created!

Had it not been for the seeming ‘failure’ of the earth to comply with Hashem’s words when trees were created, we could not have had schach!

Heaven and Earth, eternal witnesses: What do the commentators say?

Our Parasha opens with the injunction:(32:1)’האזינו: Listen O Heavens, and I will speak; and may the earth hear the words of my mouth.’

The wondrous mitzva

Read what Torah luminaries say about Hakhel, the next to last mitzva in the Torah: the reasons for it, its timing and its effect

Choose life - for you and your offspring

A look at the commentaries on what it means to choose life for ourselves and future generations..

Ki Tavo: Serve Hashem with joy - it's a mitzva!

What do the commentators say about the Torah reprimanding or punishing us for not performing mitzvot joyfully?

Ki Teitse: Build a new home, so you can erect a guard rail - selected commentaries

Commentators on this mitzva, ‘It follows, that the guard rail is in reality the guardian of the house, that it should remain in his hands!.’

When the eyes of the congregation don't see

Of course we have seen a righteous man forsaken, so what do those words in Birkat Hamazon mean? The Chatam Sofer enlightens us.

A blessing and a curse

Torah Commentators expound on the way that the mitzvahs can be a blessing or a curse.

Fair and good in the eyes of Hashem

Rashi expounds:’Fair and good’: compromising, acting beyond the strict demands of the law. What do other commentators say?

Matot-Masei: The crossing of the River Jordan test

How could Bnei Israel show their appreciation of this priceless gift, of the Land Hashem gave them? The answer is easier for olim to do.

Pinchas: Why harass the Midianites and not the Moabites?

A selection of rabbinic commentaries on the question.

Chukat [Diaspora]: Why Moshe struck the rock not once, but twice

There are levels of dedication to Am Yisrael that only Moshe reached. His hitting the rock, say these commentators, is an example.

"And Korach took": What did he take?

See how seven Torah commentators elucidate this one phrase.in different, but non-contradictory ways.

Lessons for life from Mitzvat Challah

The ‘first’ is always the most precious in a person’s mind; by setting it aside for Hashem, it becomes especially beloved by Hashem.

Moses, the humblest person on earth

What is the real meaning of humility? Is it self-deprecation or something very different?

Do not behave casually with Hashem

Commentators from the Dubnow Maggid to Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv on what the sin of behaving casually with Hashem means.

Want to merit entering the Land of Israel? Refrain from charging interest!

Keeping the prohibition on taking interest from one's fellow Jew is relying on the God who took us out of Egypt to bring us sustenance.

Blasphemy

Why did the son of an Egyptian man blaspheme?

Omer conundrums

All you have to do is count until Shavuot, but it is not as simple as it seems.

What Pesach mitzva did the Brisker Rav find the most difficult?

A wondrous midrash provides a clarification and way of looking at a difficult mitzva that we must observe on Pesach but all year as well.

The awesome sanctification of the Sanctuary

A review of commentators on the deaths of Nadav and Avihu: "I will be sanctiified through those who are nearest to Me,..."

Which offering is the most beloved to Hashem?

Read what the Kli Yakar, Tanchuma, Rabbi Aryeh Leib Eiger, the Netivot Shalom and others say about this quesiton.

Words that conquer the heart

The words ‘and say to them’ were in honor of Bnei Israel who donated to and toiled to make the Mishkan, repenting for the golden calf.

In the merit of Yitzchak Avinu

Hashem intended that the Mishkan be erected in the month in which Yitzchak Avinu was born.Why?

See the names: Bezalel the son of Uri the son of Hur

How did Hashem choose the man to build the Tabernacle? After all, the Jews were slaves and did not engage in crafts while in Egypt.