Female LessonParashat HashavuaSeries'LibraryPiskei Din (Hebrew)Test YourselfIn our Sedra, Ahron's position as Kohen Gadol is challenged. G-d orders that each tribe take a staff with their name on it; the one that miraculously blossoms signifies that it is the choice of Hashem. Ahron's staff, that of Levi, blossoms first, with ripe almonds (this staff stayed in bloom for centuries & was kept in the Bet HaMikdash with a sample of the Mahn). Almonds - "shaked" in Hebrew - signify zeal, speed, & faithfulness. The almond tree is the first to bloom in Israel, in the midst of our rainy season, thus Chazal decided that the time they bloomed (Tu B'Shvat) would be the New Year for trees. When Yirmiyahu is shown an almond tree (1:11-12), it is a sign that Hashem carries out His word punctually. The cups on the Menora (some say the Menora itself!) were shaped like almonds. Israelis love & consume 7000 tons of almonds each year. Marzipan, made from almonds, has its own museum in Kfar Tavor, complete with a marzipan sculpture of Jewish (that’s right!) icon Elvis Presley!
Many have attempted to solve the question, what is THE difference which can find the common denominator between all 31 differences between the 2 versions of the Ten Commandment? This innovative article suggests that our sages already answered this with one sentence in a well-known Midrash, just most never noticed that seemingly innocent sentence. It deals with the basic difference between the masculine side of the Torah and the feminine.
Rav Kook makes some very interesting "diyukim" (deductions) from this passage in the Talmud about when to wash or moisterize (with oil) right before left, and regarding anointing one's entire body, and relates to small "timely" fixings, as opposed to general improvement.
"FREEDOM CAME WITH A FLAG”- The First Flag of Israel
The Ramban explains that the exodus from Egypt was led by the first flag of Israel. This short article brings many unknown historic and halachic proofs of the importance of the Israeli flag.
Rav Kook makes some very interesting "diyukim" (deductions) from this passage in the Talmud about when to wash or moisterize (with oil) right before left, and regarding anointing one's entire body, and relates to small "timely" fixings, as opposed to general improvement.