ISSUE 1613
ב"ה
United We Stand Parallel Paths?
MIDEI Faculty, OU Isra Rabbi ShmuelCHODESH Goldin Page 20 B'CHODSHO Rabbi Emeritus
Torah, Englewo
MAY 24TH 2025 ▪ כ״ו אייר תשפ"ה בחקתי-פרשת בהר
The Song of Yerushalayim
Ricka Razel Page 70
Is This Any Way to Introduce a Hero?
PARSHAT BEHAR-BECHUKOTAI
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With the month of Nissan upon us, we return to the story of our nation’s birth, as Moshe rises to leadership and the exodus again unfolds. Moshe’s yearly introduction in the text, however, is cause for pause. For some reason, the Torah chooses to introduce the birth of the greatest leader we have ever knownin the most innocuous way possible. “And a man went from the House of Levi and he took a daughter of Levi. And the woman conceived and gave birth to a son.” Questions abound: Why does the Torah depart from its usual mode of describing an individual’s birth? What does the seemingly superfluous phrase “and a man went…” indicate? Why does the Torah omit any mention of Moshe’s lineage- to the point where even the names of his parents are deliberately omitted? Above all, is this any way to introduce a hero? Compounding these questions is the fact that the omitted information concerning Moshe’s lineage is ultimately included in the
Parsha that follows ( given at that particu of another article). If the information eage is eventually sh the first place? Numerous comme sues before us… Working within t Ibn Ezra suggests tha birth, the Israelites Egypt. Through the went,” the Torah is s Amram “went” from other in order to mar Perhaps the Ibn Ez that Yosef’s plan for h Egypt has, by this po inally meant to rem Egyptians in the lan ites are assimilating i The Ramban, howe Ibn Ezra’s interpretat rah would have no r cerning a journey tak city to another. Instead, maintain lalachet, “to go,” is when a new and di be taken. By stating man went,” the To ram’s courageous w spite of Pharaoh’s h The Ramban’s ap
שּבּ חי ירוש͏ל͏ים את־ה׳
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SHABBAT MEVARCHIM & CHAZAK PIRKEI AVOT 5
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BY RABBI S
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TORAH TIDBITS 1509 / VAYAKHEL - PEKUDEI 5783
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