Category: Oneg Shabbos

At the beginning of Vayakhel, Moshe Rabbeinu gathers together the entire Jewish People and informs them of Hashem’s instruction for the Mishkan to be built. Donations are requested to be brought from everyone “whose heart motivates him”.

The age-old question of Theodicy is raised by Moshe Rabbenu in our Parsha. He pleads ‘Please show me Your Glory’, which the Gemara (Brachos 7) understands to mean that when Moshe realised that it was a propitious time (an עת רצון ), he made three requests of Hashem, one of which was that Hashem should explain why “tzadik v’tov lo, tzadik v’ra lo, rasha v’tov lo, rasha v’ra lo.” Why is it that there are some righteous people who prosper and others who suffer; additionally, why is it that there are wicked people who are successful and others who suffer?

We all know the importance of knowing your enemy. Without understanding the source of their hatred and animosity, it is very difficult, if not impossible to defeat them.

This is the terumah that you should take from them. Gold, silver and copper”. (Shemos 25:3)

Just one week after reading the account of the majestic and magnificent revelation at Har Sinai, we read today Parshas Mishpatim.

As we lead up to the parsha of matan Torah there couldn’t be a greater contrast between the end of last week’s sedra and the beginning of this week’s.

Tu B’Shvat is the ‘New Year for trees’ (Rosh Hashanah, 2a). What does this mean?

It is the custom, on the Shabbos preceding Rosh Chodesh, to recite a special tefilla, based on that which Rav was wont to conclude his shemoneh esrei.1

In this week’s parsha, moments after Aharon turns his staff into a serpent, Pharaoh’s magicians follow suit. Is this the same trick that Moshe performed in front of the Jewish people in last week’s parsha?

The Misconception: Your opinions are the result of years of rational, objective analysis. The Truth: Your opinions are the result of years of paying attention to information which confirmed what you already believe, while ignoring information which challenges your preconceived notions.