Tazria-Metzora (5780)Sefer Vayikra is about holiness from the top down: Kedusha (Korbanos) then Tahara (laws of Kashrus and all Tumos) then Zeraim [Tzedaka in Eretz Yisroel] (Terumos Maasros etc).The 6 orders of Mishna are different levels of “down-to-earth”.The most down to earth is Nezikim, then Nashim, then Moed, then Zeraim, then Taharos and highest is…

Korbanos in Vayikra Korbanos in Tzav (5780 Yeshiva)Korbanos are explicitly in the Torah גופי תורה.Korbanos are Mitzvos but they retain certain aspects of קודם מתן תורה (similar to what Rambam says about marriage etc) the quality of Mesiras Nefesh.The Korbanos in Tzav are “זאת תורת הקרבנות” while in Vayikra it is different (and higher).

Tetzaveh- the Miluim, the Chinuch of the Mishkan (Yeshiva 5780)1) Moshe’s name is missing (only) from this Parsha, 7 Adar.2) Miluim, the idea of Chinuch, superficial and noisy, but very important and from some points of view it is the highest idea,

Parshas Teruma: Mishkan and Mikdash (Yeshiva 5780)Why the two words, two levels, Schechina (manifest) and Kedusha (hovering), משכן דאקרי מקדש ומקדש דאקרי משכןWhy is Moshe’s house called (primarily) Schechina and the subsequent houses are called (primarily) Mikdash.Several explanations. משכן is lowerמשכן is more permanent (He goes into Galus גלות השכינה) while קדושה departs (קוב”ה סליק…

25-10. The Keruvim (and the Aron). (5766)TERUMAH 2006 – A TOUR OF THE ARON HAKODESH. This class is a gem. Rabbi Paltiel walks you through the layers of commentary on the Aron Hakodesh (the Holy Ark) from the simple to the complex. This is an unusual opportunity to see the differences between Philosophy, Kabbala, and…

Mishpatim, everything in the life of the Yid is holy (Yeshiva 5780).The leap from the event at Sinai to the most parochial laws in Torah seems disorderly and disproportionate. But there is a good reason for this: it underscores that everything for Jews is from Sinai.Modern day examples: The אגודת ישראל and the “State” of…

18-01. Parshas Yisro, (Yeshiva 5780) without Yisro there is no Torah!The Zohar says Yisro’s coming and conceding, needed to happen before Sinai. What makes this outstanding is the fact that Mattan Torah at Sinai is considered a unilateral event, yet Yisro’s concession is a pre-requisite to the giving of Torah.Pharoah, Bila’am and Yisro.So smart, from…

Bishalach, tests of faith and the three gifts, (Yeshiva 5780/ 2020).Yidden leave Mitzrayim and keep complaining in light of great miracles. The point (of course) is that in spite of the miracles there are real tests here, as they are moving very rapidly towards being His servants and they find the pace reason enough to…

Va’aira, is about “Knowing Hashem” (Yeshiva 5780).1) The Makkos aren’t (by any means) just to get us out of Egypt, there are much easier ways to accomplish that.They are to educate Yidden, the Mitzriim and the entire world about Havaya (G-d above nature).The miracles in the Parsha are there for all of history, as far…

Shmos 05-02. The Pharaoh’s struggle with Havaya.Pharaoh will let his land virtually be destroyed just to show that what Hashem (Havaya) does he can do also, which makes it “logical” and therefore worldly, but he loses, eventually.