Our parasha relates (Shemot 24,10): And they “saw” the God of Israel. Under his feet was like a sapir (the gemstone lapis lazuli) as bright blue as the sky The Yerushalmi (Berachot chapter 1 ...

As in this week’s Torah portion Shemot, this self-sacrifice is also an educational act. Where did Moses draw the strength to go out and see his brothers in their distress? From the behavior of ...

Hence, the first of the commandments [Shemot 20’ 2] —“I Hashem am your God who brought you out of the land of Egypt, the house of bondage”---parallels the opening sequence of this week’s ...

The Ramban questions what the second half of Shemot that deals with the Mishkan, has to do with exile and redemption? The answer is that the redemption of Am Yisrael was not complete until they ...

Parshat Vayakhel picks up on themes that have ... a day of complete rest to the Lord (Shemot/Exodus 35:2). I have already belabored the point elsewhere and often, but it is worth mentioning ...

So, on the surface, the parasha of Shemot is about the initiation into leadership of one remarkable man, but just beneath the surface is a counter-narrative of six extraordinary women without whom ...

In the aftermath of this ordeal, Moshe seems to struggle with his understanding of the omnipotence of Hashem and the instantiation of His will in the affairs of men.