Parashat VaYikra: Lessons from Beraishit 4 for Vayikra 1 by Yaakov Bieler

The letter as opposed to the spirit of the sacrifices. Although detailed laws governing sacrifices first appear in Shemot with regard to the  Pascal sacrifice (12:3 ff.), and then more comprehensively starting with the beginning of VaYikra (1:2 ff.), it is from the accounts of offerings in Beraishit[1] that we can discover the underlying motivations [...]

Parashat Vayakhel: 39 Chief Melachot by Yaakov Bieler

Associating the contents of Tora SheKtav with Tora SheB’Al Peh  One of the main preoccupations of the Jewish Oral Tradition is to identify textual bases for many of the laws that are detailed in the Mishna and Talmud, but which do not appear to be explicitly mentioned in the Written Tradition of the Tora. The [...]

Parashat Ki Tisa: Artistic Talents as Divine Gifts by Yaakov Bieler

The miracle inherent in the fabrication of the Tabernacle and the clothing of the Priests: The latter portion of the book of Shemot is almost entirely devoted to aspects of the construction of the Tabernacle as well as the fabrication of the clothing of the priests who are to enact the Divine Service within it. [...]

Remembering Amalek Constructively and Meaningfully by Yaakov Bieler

Another context for the struggle between Yaakov and Eisav According to Rabbinic tradition, the Purim festival marks not only an historical occasion when Jews overcame anti-Semitism[1] and assimilation[2] and asserted their religious and cultural identities,[3] but it also constitutes a manifestation of the eternal struggle between the paradigmatic forces of Yaakov and Eisav. The tug-of-war [...]