Weekly Parsha Thoughts

The beginning of this Parsha speaks about the mitzvah of Bikurim. The Mishna teaches that rich people would bring their Bikurim in beautiful silver and gold baskets while the poor people would bring their Bikurim in baskets of arava (willow) wood, which... Read More

One of the mitzvos in this parsha warns about plowing with an ox and donkey together. The Ba’al HaTurim writes that the reason for this is because an ox which is a kosher animal, chews its cud; however, the donkey, a non-kosher... Read More

This parsha speaks about the mitzvah of appointing a king. The Torah states, “and it will be when he shall sit on his throne he should write for himself ‘Mishneh Torah’ on a sefer…and it shall be with him and he shall... Read More

This parsha speaks about an ir hanidachas, a city in which most of the people worship avodah zarah. The Torah states that they all get the death-penalty by the sword, and their belongings must be burned. The following passuk states, “v’nasan lecha... Read More

The passuk states, “מה ה’ אלקיך שואל מעמך כי אם ליראה את ה’ אלקיך, what does Hashem ask from you – Bnei Yisrael – only to fear Hashem your G-d.” The Gemara wonders, is yirah something small that the Torah states about... Read More

The Gemara states: Rabban Gamliel, Rabi Eliezer ben Azariah, Rabi Yehoshua and Rabi Akiva were ascending to Yerushalayim. When they reached a distance where they could see Yerushalayim, they ripped their clothes. When they reached the Har HaBayis they saw a fox... Read More