March 10, 2010 | Vayakhel-Pekudei

Mishpatim

The Shabbat Experience

Posted by Rabbi Avi Heller | Tags: Mishpatim

The idea of Shabbat is one of the most important Jewish contributions to the world. The Talmud says (Yerushalmi, Berachot 1) that Shabbat is equivalent to (lit. measures up against) all the other commandments in the whole Torah[1]. The Torah begins (Genesis 1) with the seven days of creation leading...

Read Dvar Torah | February 10, 2010

My Weekly Drash (a mini D'var Torah) - Mishpatim

Posted by Daniel M. Kimmel | Tags: Mishpatim

The Israelites have experienced the revelation at Sinai and now it’s time to get down to the nitty gritty of spelling out the laws. Where to begin? Amazingly, Parshah Mishpatim begins with the law dealing with Hebrew slaves. Given that the Israelites themselves had just been freed, why start...

Read Dvar Torah | January 30, 2008

About Vayakhel-Pekudei

My Weekly Drash (a mini D'var Torah) - Vayakhel

Posted by Daniel M. Kimmel, February 28, 2008

In Parashah Vayakhel we’re told, “You shall kindle no fire throughout your settlements on the Sabbath day.” (Exod. 35:3). For many Jews today, it is a struggle to make Shabbat a separate day as it was intended. Although many Conservative Jews do not consider turning on electric lights to be...read more

About Daniel M. Kimmel
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Joined: 10/02/2007

Daniel M. Kimmel is a Boston area film critic,...

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My Weekly Drash (a mini D'var Torah) - Pekudei

Posted by Daniel M. Kimmel, March 19, 2009

The double portion of VaYakhel/P'Keudei is not the most exciting of material. P'Keudei begins with Moses's expense account, "These are the records of the Tabernacle, the Tabernacle of the Pact, which were drawn up at Moses' bidding..." (Exo. 38:21) Why should we care? While only the most obsessive...read more

About Daniel M. Kimmel
9908_profile

Joined: 10/02/2007

Daniel M. Kimmel is a Boston area film critic,...

Divrei Torah (117)
  

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Shoshana Michael Zucker

Joined: September 27, 2007

A professional translator, wife and mother of three, I more a self-educated than a formally educated Jew. Most of my divrei torah are given in Hebrew but when I have time I do translate some.

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Rabbi Avi Heller

Joined: July 27, 2007

Originally from Denver CO, Rav Avi received a BA from BU and Rabbinic ordination and an MA in Bible from YU. Before joining MJE, he was Director of Jewish Education at BU Hillel, co-directed the BU Jewish Learning Initiative on Campus and was an Associate University Chaplain. He has been the...

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yaelshor

Joined: February 8, 2008

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