Eliyahu Touger

Introduction In discussing the verse, Shmos 40:17. “It came to pass in the first month, in the second year, on the first day of the month, that the Sanctuary was erected,” the Midrash Midrash Tanchuma, Parshas Pekudei, sec. 11. – quoted also by Rashi Rash...

Introduction The sichah that follows is in many ways an archetype for the Rebbe’s approach to the study of Rashi’s commentary. Fundamental to this approach is that Rashi did not merely collect and present commentaries from our Sages on Scripture. Instead,...

Introduction Why does the Torah repeat all the details of the construction of the Sanctuary in Parshas Vayakhel and Parshas Pekudei? How to construct the Sanctuary and all its particulars was already specified in Parshas Terumah and Parshas Tetzaveh, so w...

Introduction Our Sages state, Berachos 12a. “Everything follows the conclusion.” In that vein, the description of the manifestation of G‑dliness in the Sanctuary at the end of this Torah reading serves as an apt conclusion to the Book of Shmos, whose focu...

Introduction In the sichah that follows, the Rebbe focuses on a difference of opinion between Rambam and Ramban regarding the purpose of the Sanctuary and the Beis HaMikdash. Rambam states, Sefer HaMitzvos, positive commandment 20. “[G‑d] commanded us to ...

Introduction It is a question yeshivah teachers commonly ask their students: “What is the only Torah reading in Shmos, Vayikra, and Bamidbar that does not mention Moshe’s name?” When the students look and discover that it is Parshas Tetzaveh, the teacher ...

Introduction Our Sages teach, Megillah 18a. “[Pay] a sela A coin of the Talmudic era. for a word, but [pay] two for silence.” As we grow and develop our characters, we learn the virtue of silence. We understand that it often says more than words and commu...

Introduction One of the principles of Torah study is to minimize the number of differences between the positions of the Sages. See Sdei Chemed, Vol. 10, Darchei Shalom, K’lallei HaShas, sec. 257. Accordingly, if possible, it is desirable to explain the Sa...

Introduction The Torah reading begins with the command to give a half-shekel, as it is written, Shmos 30:12-13. “Let each one give to G‑d an atonement for his soul…. This is what all... should give: a half-shekel.” Our Sages Bamidbar Rabbah 12:3, also cit...

Introduction This week’s Torah reading includes the commandment to make the Basin from which the kohanim would wash their hands and feet before beginning their service in the Sanctuary. There are several puzzling factors related to the Basin: Firstly, all...