Shabbat Vayikra Readings and Video Commentary...

Leviticus 1:1-5:26; Iesaiah 43:21 – 44:23 Video Commentary by Rabbi Chaim Richman, The Temple Institute, Jerusalem: “From the moment of creation it has been leading up to this: The “face to face” reunion of man and G-d in the intimacy of the Tabernacle. But, jaded by lifetimes of exile and wandering, we are required to re-attain the purity and guileless innocence of untainted youth. If you are brave...

Shabbat PEKUDAJ Readings and Video Commentary...

Shabbat Pekudei (Amount of): Exodus 38:21-40:38; Haftorah: Kings II 12:1-17 Video Commentary by Rabbi Chaim Richman, The Temple Institute, Jerusalem: “Welcoming G-d into our neighborhood and making this world a better place – this is the simple yet profound reason Israel has been commanded to build for G-d a Sanctuary on this earth. Israel is a nation whose destiny is to live and act in G-d consciousness,...

Parashat Shabbat Vayakhel Readings and Video Comme...

Exodus 35:1 – 38:20; Kings I 7:40-50 Video Commentary by Rabbi Chaim Richman, Temple Institute, Jerusalem: “Within two days only Israel brought to Moshe all the gold and silver and copper and blue techelet and purple argaman and crimson shani and goat skins and tachash skins and precious stones needed to make the Tabernacle, all its vessels and the priestly garments. Giving hearts brought all this to the wise...

Paraschat Ki Tissa Readings and Video Commentary...

Exodus 30:11 – 34:35; Kings I 18:1-39 Video Commentary by Rabbi Chaim Richman, Temple Institute, Jerusalem: “Why a golden calf? What were the children of Israel really searching for? Why did Moses ask to see G-d’s glory, and what question concerning G-d’s justice was he seeking an answer to?”: Shabbat Shalom

Parashat Tetzaveh Readings and Video Commentary...

TETZAWEH: Exodus 27:20 – 30:10; Ezekiel 43:10 – 27 Commentary by Rabbi Chaim Richman, The Temple Institute, Jerusalem: “And you shall command the children of Israel to kindle the lamps continually.” (Exodus 27:20) The light of the golden menora symbolizes the light of G-d in this world. If so, then why are we instructed to “kindle the lamps?” By actively lighting the menora, we are making G-ds...

Parashat Terumah – Our Temple’s Missio...

Exodus 25:1 – 27:19; Isaiah 66:1 – 66:24 Commentary by Rabbi Chaim Richman, The Temple Institute, Jerusalem: “Egypt is now behind us – it’s time to get down to business . . .” G-d says essentially: We’ve been through enough together; after all He says: I created the world for a purpose: That you should know who I am! So Israel is commanded to build the tabernacle in the middle of the desert, it’s a...

Parashat Shabbat Mishpatim Readings and Video Comm...

Exodus 21:1 – 24:18 | | Jeremiah 34:8-22; 33:25-26 Commentary by Rabbi Chaim Richman, The Temple Institute, Jerusalem, Israel “Circle around G-d: Celebrate, honor and sanctify life by making Him your center. This is the message of Torah from Sinai, from the simplest of commandments to the joyful observance of the three pilgrimage festivals:” Shabbat Shalom

Parashat Shabbat YITRO Readings and Video Commenta...

Exodus 18:1 – 20:23; Isaiah 6:1-7; 7:1-6; 9:5-6 Commentary by Rabbi Chaim Richman, The Temple Institute, Jerusalem, Israel “Who was Moshe, the “man of G-d?” Agitator for justice, freedom fighter, radical activist who led his people out of Egypt, Moshe is called to the mountain to “ascend to G-d.” He attained a level of G-d awareness unattained by any other before or since, and at...

Parashat Beshalach Readings and Video Commentary...

Exodus 13:17 – 17:16; Judges 4:4 – 5:31 Commentary by Rabbi Chaim Richman, The Temple Institute, Jerusalem, Israel “Bread from heaven: What a beautiful way for G-d to show His people how much He loves them! The manna which sustained Israel for forty years in the desert was replaced upon entering the land by bread which sprouts from the earth, a process no less miraculous than manna, and an expression no...

Parashat Shabbat Bo Readings and Video Commentary...

Exodus 10:1–13:16; Jeremiah 46:13-26 Commentary by Rabbi Chaim Richman, The Temple Institute, Jerusalem, Israel “Are you afraid of the dark? Take comfort, fear of darkness afflicts many. But what if you are afraid of the light? The darkness that enveloped Pharaoh and his Egyptian subjects in the penultimate of the ten plagues was nothing more nor less than their all-consuming fear of the light of G-d’s...