As long as they were slaves, the Children of Israel could complain, “I, a stranger and afraid in a world I never made,” to quote Housman, a common complaint of children, and a frequent lament of many who feel displaced in the community. Perhaps as...
They arrived at Sinai in a state of repentance. (Rashi, Exodus 19:2) The Sages teach us that the Children of Israel went through a conversion process at Sinai: Acceptance of Mitzvot, Purification, etc. This mass of newly freed slaves had to repent for their constant...
“I have left to last the dynamic component of the city, without which it could not have continued to increase in size and scope and productivity: this is the first efficient means of mass transport, the waterway. That the first growth of cities should have...
If one did not do Teshuva immediately at the beginning of the Counting of the Omer, he should not say that he has lost the opportunity. “Until the morrow of the seventh Shabbat,” (Leviticus 23:16)
After Aaron offered the sacrifices, the Divine Presence did not appear [immediately]. Aaron was frightened. “Moses!” he said. “Perhaps the Holy One, Blessed is He, is not pleased with the service of my hands.” Thereupon the glory of Hashem
Said the Holy One, Blessed is He, to Moses, “Do a favor and tell Aaron of his death, for I am ashamed to tell him.” [As an honor to Aaron, God showed Himself, as it were, as if He was ashamed to tell Aaron of his death.] What did Moses do? He rose early in the morning and went to Aaron. “My brother
