An exploration of the first mitzvah given to the Jewish people and its significance.
Read the notes on this shiur: outline, sources, and more from Rabbi Dovid Orlofsky →
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The opening of this shiur, in Rabbi Dovid Orlofsky’s own words — taken from the captions, so names and Hebrew terms may be approximate.
Some of the simplest things in Judaism are some of the deepest things. It's too hard for me to explain that and express that in full, but when a Jew says Shema Yisrael, it's such a simple thing. It's actually the deepest deepest words. When a little Jewish child sings Torah [clears throat] tziva lanu Moshe, it seems so simple, but it's so powerful. Right? Uh some of the like almost like the nursery nursery school uh s- uh melodies that little children learn in Jewish primary school. In my heart, th- they're they're not they're so much more they're so much bigger and and and and and and more poignant than than just that. I know what to say there. We sing Kaddish, Urchatz, Karpas, Yachatz, and it's just a list of things, but for me, it's very moving. Right? And there And there are many such There are many such principles. There are many such things. So, and reflecting upon this, I would like to introduce I would like to introduce the first message, the first mitzvah in Judaism. Ladies and gentlemen, get ready for this. We've arrived We're arriving at the first mitzvah in Judaism. The first mitzvah in Judaism is Exodus presented to the Jewish people in Exodus chapter 12 verse 1. Rashi, the opening Rashi in the Chumash, literally the father of all commentators Rashi, his opening comment in all of
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- 0:00Some of the simplest things in Judaism are some of the deepest things. It's too hard…
- 3:10That's just the world according to me. Okay? It was just a joke. The lunar calendar,…
- 6:23cuz we don't practice this today. But the way it works is when the new moon…
- 9:32My friend's daughter uh my dear friend's daughter is getting married on the fifth day of…
- 13:11uh Devarim uh The book of Bamidbar, perek tes, pasuk uh tes vav. Okay? Now, I…
- 16:23HE'S LIKE, "WHAT? IS THAT A JOKE? I JUST I just unpacked I just took me…
- 19:33Avram was like, "Uh Okay, where is that?" God's like, "I'll Don't worry. Go." So, he…
- 23:12food? I mean, what do Jews think about besides food? Jews don't go If there's one…
- 26:22charge. He knows that Hashem is running the show. Every Jew knows that that Hashem knows.…
- 29:30like, the poor guy's going in the opposite direction. Most people, you know, I'm like, "Hey,…
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