Rabbi Levin's Blog

After the Mishkan (the portable Sanctuary in the desert) was completed, the Torah tells us in this week’s Parsha, the builders brought it to Moshe.  The beams, the bases, the poles, the hooks and everything else.  Moshe then set the Mishkan up single-handedly.  This was a miracle because it is not possible for one person to lift an entire wall of wood beams, approximately 35 feet long.  In fact, during the seven day period when the Kohanim (priests), Aharon and his sons, were being trained to do the service by Moshe, the Mishkan was set up each day by a team.  It was only on the eighth day, the day that the Kohanim took over the full service, that Moshe himself set up the Mishkan.  There must have been a reason for this miracle. Another verse that ties into this subject states that after the Mishkan was set up, Moshe blessed the people: “Moses saw that they had indeed done all the work exactly as G-d had commanded, and Moses blessed them.” (Shemot 39:43.)...

Of the four special Parshas that we read related to Adar and Nissan, the third is called Parshat Parah - the "Parsha of the Cow." This Shabbat we use two Torahs. In the first we read the regular Parsha of the annual cycle, Vayakhel, and in the second we read Parshat Parah. ”The Cow” is referring to the red cow, usually referred to as the Red Heifer, that was slaughtered outside of the City of Jerusalem and then burned. The ashes were then used for a special ritual purification service.  Next Shabbat, the day before Nissan, we will read the special Parsha which details the practice of the Pesach offering. We therefore read Parshat Parah the Shabbat before, because this purification was a prerequisite to the Pesach offering.  We are not permitted to enter the grounds of the Holy Temple after having come in contact with a corpse, whether physically touching it or being under the same roof. This law still applies today. Other prohibitions for anyone who is “Tamei” - ritually impu...

It was a comfortable time for the Jews under Achashverosh’s rule.  Yes, the first Temple had been destroyed and they were living outside of the Holy Land of Israel, but their political position in Persia was secure.  King Achashverosh had invited the Jews as equal guests to his feast, and even dropped his requirement that everyone drink a full goblet of wine, knowing that the Jews would be uncomfortable with non-kosher wine.  He had even allowed the Jews to begin rebuilding the Temple. One of the most prominent and respected officers in the government was Mordechai, the leader of the Jews.  The new queen Achashverosh chose was a Jewish woman, and the Jewish position in the country was secured.   And then at the drop of a hat all of that ended and there was a rude awakening.  The building of the Temple was stopped with Haman’s advice, and then they were threatened with genocide - the complete annihilation of all Jews.  The Talmud says that Achashve...

Amalek.  The word evokes many emotions.  Hatred, fear, disgust, memories of Haman and all the vicious enemies through the generations, and in the words of our sages, Chutzpah.  They were the ones who attacked just after we left Egypt and were on the way to Sinai to receive the Torah.  They had no reason.  We were not taking their land, we had no intention of attacking or hurting them.  They were just filled with hatred.   The same with Haman, and Hitler, and all the others.  The best way to describe that is baseless hatred and Chutzpah. We would love to forget about all the pain they have inflicted, but the Torah tells us: Zachor!  Remember what Amalek did to you.  We are obligated to remember Amalek every single day.  It is embedded in our daily prayers.  And once a year, we are all required to attend the synagogue and listen to the Torah reading of Parshat Zachor - Remember.  This is happening this Shabbat, the Shabbat b...

It’s that time of year.  Adar, the month of joy, begins tomorrow night, and along with the lead up to Purim in two weeks, we are reminded to start preparing for Pesach.  The first day of Adar is special in many ways.  First of all, the Talmud (Taanit 29a) says: When Adar comes in, we increase our joy.  While it is true that we are facing challenging times, throughout the ages we have set aside our fears and sorrows to celebrate the great miracle of Purim.  We also look forward to the spirit of Adar, when the existential threat to the entire Jewish nation was transformed to a miraculous victory, and anticipate similar miracles in our times.   Another historic event related to the first day of Adar is a Talmudic statement (Mishnah Shekalim 1:1) that in ancient Israel, they would “announce about the Shekalim and the Kilayim.”  To explain:  Shekalim refers to the half shekel that every head of household would give annually for his family to the Holy T...

Today, 22 Shevat, marks the opening of the International Kinus Hashluchos, the international conference of Chabad emissaries for the women. It is always held on or around this date the Yartzeit of our Rebbetzin, the Rebbe’s wife, Rebbetzin Chaya Mushka Schneerson. Women from literally all over the world will be coming together to discuss current issues facing the global Jewish community, to share ideas, successes and challenges, and to enjoy each other’s company. Many of these unsung heroes live in far-flung corners of the world, on islands and in deserts without any local peers, and they dedicate their days and nights to serving the communities and to bringing redemption to the world. They often have large families whom they raise without typical schools and without similarly observant friends. They are raising these children to be Jewish leaders, aware of all the secular world has to offer and recognizing the beauty and deep meaning of a Torah life. When the Rebbe sent emissaries to ...