Torah Portion

בס”ד By Rabbi Moshe Goodman, Kollel Ohr Shlomo, Hebron Hebron is mentioned for the first time in the Torah in this parsha. In the Hebron scene in this painting we see Maarat Hamachpela with six blue buildings within it. These six blue-white buildings may hint to the six hundred thousand of Israel, which Kabbalistically are … Read more

בס”ד By Rabbi Moshe Goodman, Kollel Ohr Shlomo, Hebron The end of this parsha describes Avraham’s attempt to ascend to the Holy Land, where he would bedestined to settle and later be buried in Hebron, Beacon of the Holy Land. This painting which depicts thebeautiful landscape of the Holy Land, along with settlement houses with … Read more

בס”ד By Rabbi Moshe Goodman, Kollel Ohr Shlomo, Hebron The Kabbalists attach importance to the 720 permutations of the word “breshit” that begins the Torah. One of these permuatations spells the words “ashrei bat,” literally meaning the “joyous daughter.” According to the Kabbalah this may hint to the Holy Presence called “a daughter,” “a bride,” … Read more

בס”ד By Rabbi Moshe Goodman, Kollel Ohr Shlomo, Hebron The central themes of this painting are both the joy of the festival and the union of Israel hinted by the numbertwelve seen here, meant to allude to the twelve tribes, found here in unison. The number twelve is seen in the twelve leaves within the … Read more

בס”ד By Rabbi Moshe Goodman, Kollel Ohr Shlomo, Hebron The joyous holiday of Sukkot, when we go from our roofed houses outside into the naturally covered Sukka, and when we take the four natural species, has much connection to the themes of joy and nature, central themes in this painting as well. Indeed, these themes … Read more

בס”ד By Rabbi Moshe Goodman, Kollel Ohr Shlomo, Hebron This parsha Haazinu, which means to listen, is always adjacent to Yom Kippur, the day we listen to oursouls, the day we listen to the internal call of Hashem unto our souls. Indeed, the central figure in thispainting is sounding the shofar, which calls the soul … Read more

בס”ד By Rabbi Moshe Goodman, Kollel Ohr Shlomo, Hebron Hebron is the cradle of the Davidic dynasty of which the Mashiach is a continuation. This kingshipreminds of the kingship of Hashem, a primary theme of Rosh Hashana. This painting exhibits primaryRosh Hashana themes such as the kingship of Hashem, symbolized by the crowns seen here, … Read more

בס”ד By Rabbi Moshe Goodman, Kollel Ohr Shlomo, Hebron This parsha has a section known as Parshat haTeshuva, for it deals with the return of Israel to Hashem and Hashem’s returning Israel to to the Holy Land. It is important to understand that this “returning” is cycle-based, I.e that through Israel’s return to Hashem they … Read more

בס”ד By Rabbi Moshe Goodman, Kollel Ohr Shlomo, Hebron This parsha opens with a passage that discusses the Bikurim/First Fruits ceremony. This painting depicts the pilgrimage to the Temple with these first fruits, as can be seen by the people carrying baskets of fruits and a large ox among them, as described in the mishna … Read more

בס”ד By Rabbi Moshe Goodman, Kollel Ohr Shlomo, Hebron In this painting we see a view from ancient Hebron located among the hills overlooking the MaaratHamachpela. It was in ancient Hebron where Avraham lived and also began the first Jewish battle, andalso where King David, “the fighter of the battles of Hashem,” (Shmuel I 25, … Read more