By Rabbi Ariel Ovadia Parashat VaYakhel opens with the reiteration of the Mitzva of Shabbat. Although the concept of Shabbat was just mentioned in the previous Parasha, there is a special significance to its mention in VaYakhel, following the sin of the golden calf. The Hid”a, in his work D’vash L’Fi[1], cites the Gemara in Shabbat[2] that states that one who observes the … [Read more...]
Food for Thought
As the Jewish people trek further away from Mitzraim, they start complaining to Moshe and Aharon about the lack of food. Hashem promises to shower them with “bread from the heavens” – the Man, and the verse adds: למען אנסנו הילך בתורתי אם לא – "and thus I will test [the nation], will it follow my Torah or not…” How does the Man, a heavenly delicacy, test the Jewish people’s … [Read more...]