http://www.sefer-torah.com/blog The Implications and Consequences of Expulsion for the Jewish People Sat, 06 Mar 2010 19:49:17 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en by Moshe Burt The terms leadership, accountability and transparency have often been bandied about in contemporary Medinat Yisrael where dedication, diligence and overriding concern for the welfare of the Kahal have often been wanting as compared with the influence, enrichment, protexia and political agendization of the few, the privileged, the elitists. Our ... http://www.sefer-torah.com/blog/2010/03/06/parshiyot-vayakhelpekudei-5770-shabbos-the-mishkan-and-accountability-of-national-leadership/ By Moshe Burt For many years, this author has spoken or written about a posuk in Parsha Ki Tisa which alludes to an event which is recorded in Torah 40 years later, in a subsequent Parsha. The posuk being referred to (Sh’mos, Perek 30, posuk 30) says that while Moshe Rabbeinu was ... http://www.sefer-torah.com/blog/2010/02/28/parsha-ki-tisa-5770-torah-principle-and-standing-up-to-immoral-law/ by Moshe Burt In our Parsha Tetzaveh, the laws regarding the annointment, the vestments and the Avodah (service) of the Kohanim are enunciated for the Jewish people. While preparing this Parsha HaShavua, this author came across a puzzling quote in Torah Gems by Aharon Yaakov Greenberg on our Parsha. The quote, ... http://www.sefer-torah.com/blog/2010/02/20/parshat-tetzaveh-5770-the-urim-utumim-divine-inspiration-and-common-sense/ by, Moshe Burt Back in Philadelphia, in the “old country”, R’ Moshe Ungar would speak about the Mizbeiyach in terms of both the Beit HaMikdash and in terms of the personal Mizbeiyach which burns eternally in our hearts. And there is the well-known wish to a Chosson and Kallah that ... http://www.sefer-torah.com/blog/2010/02/13/parshat-terumah-5770-the-mishkan-terumah-and-the-crown-of-a-good-name/ by, Moshe Burt Parshat Yithro concludes with the high moment to date in world history; The Asseret HaDibrot (The 10 Statements) on the 6th day of the month of Sivan and Parshat Mishpatim begins teaching how The Asseret HaDibrot are the basis for a multitude of other laws, halachot designed ... http://www.sefer-torah.com/blog/2010/02/06/parshat-mishpatim-5770-the-making-of-jewish-standards-honesty-principle-and-unity/ by Moshe Burt This past Wednesday, this author bumped into a neighbor in the same building while going to pick up the mail in the neighborhood postal area box. This neighbor told that another neighbor in our building had just had a boy. So after saying Mazel Tov to the ... http://www.sefer-torah.com/blog/2010/02/06/parshat-yithro-5770-yithro-and-bris-mila/ by, Moshe Burt We learn that when Yithro had heard all that Hashem did for B’nai Yisrael, he left Midian with Tzippora and Moshe’s two sons and went to join with the Jews. We are not absolutely certain as to whether any one specific event Yithro heard boosted him to circumcize himself ... http://www.sefer-torah.com/blog/2010/01/30/parshat-yithro-5770-what-compelled-yithro-to-join-bnai-yisrael/ by Moshe Burt Near the end of our Parsha, we read “And the hands of Moshe were heavy and they took a rock and placed it under him and he sat on it.” (Sefer Sh’mos, Perek 17, posuk 12) Rabbi Pliskin in Growth Through Torah cites a Rashi which states; “that ... http://www.sefer-torah.com/blog/2010/01/23/parshat-beshalach-5770-moshes-paradigm-of-empathy-applied-today/ by Moshe Burt Parshat Bo is the one which, for me, annually relates to that crazy tune which played back “in the Old Country” a few decades ago, “Does Your Korbon Pesach Lose It’s Flavor Tied to the Bedpost Overnight?” (Actually, the real title to the song was “Does Your ... http://www.sefer-torah.com/blog/2010/01/16/parshat-bo-5770-tangible-darkness-supernal-light-and-jonathan-pollard-revisited/ by Moshe Burt At the conclusion of Parsha Shemos, Moshe and Aaron are confronted, upon exiting Pharoah’s Palace, by the B’nai Yisrael who are in deeper despair than before because of the increased workload, i.e. finding their own straw while the quotas remain the same, which resulted from Pharoah’s fury at ... http://www.sefer-torah.com/blog/2010/01/09/parsha-vaera-5770-reconnecting-the-jewish-soul/