"For Instruction shall come forth from Zion, The word of the L-rd from Jerusalem." -- Isaiah 2:3

Jerusalem

Torah Verses

Excerpt Sources

Complete List of Source Books

Navigate the Excerpts Browser

Before accessing the excerpts, please review a word about copyright.

Are you more of an "I'll dive right in and figure it out" person, or a "Show Me How This Thing Works" person?  If the former, go right ahead and try the excerpts browers on the right side of this page and/or scroll through the excerpts that start below the following information -- although we still suggest reading the information first.  If you are the latter, click here for a video demonstrating the Excerpts Browser. Either way (or both), enjoy! 

This page is recommended for searches limited to specific Torah books, weekly portions (parshiot), chapters, verses, and/or sources (authors). For keyword and/or for exact phrase (including verse and source) searches of the entire excerpts database, we recommend using the Search Engine page.  For broadest results, use both pages and alternative search strategies. 

This page displays the full text of all or "sorted" (filtered) excerpts in the database.  Use the "Torah Verses" and/or "Excerpt Sources" browsers at the right to locate the excerpts associated with your desired Torah book, portion, chapter. verse, or author.  Or, simply scroll through the excerpts, using the "boxes" at the bottom of any page displaying excerpts to "jump" ahead or back. 

Also note that immediately below the chapter, verse, and keyword of each excerpt is a highlighted line comprised of multiple links.  Clicking on any of the links will limit (filter) the excerpts display to the selected category.  

Transcription of excerpts is incomplete.  For current status, please see "Transcribed Sources" on the Search Engine page.  To assist with completion, please see "Contributors" page. 

LEVITICUS — 18:7 mother

LEV233 One shall not uncover the nakedness of one's mother. The Rambam explained that the Torah prohibits murder relations with relatives because the male regularly finds himself in close proximity to these women so the danger that he will stumble is increased. Another reason why the Torah forbids a man his female relatives is in order that he will not have the audacity to even think of having relations with a woman that he is expected to respect. At the basis of these prohibitions, adds the Ramban, are the deep secrets of Creation.

SHOW FULL EXCERPT

LEVITICUS — 18:8 nakedness

LEV234 One shall not uncover the nakedness of one's father's wife, despite that she is not one's mother. As explained in [See [[LEV233]] Leviticus 18:7 nakedness CHINUCH 131], regarding forbidden relations with close relatives. In addition, in this instance, the son shames and disgraces his father, whom the son is obligated to honor. Benefits of honoring one's father have already been noted (See [[EXOD421]] Exodus 20:12 honor CHINUCH 26-7).

SHOW FULL EXCERPT

LEVITICUS — 18:16 nakedness

LEV236 In a number of statements, the Talmud demonstrates how important having children is in Jewish thought. Without children, a person is considered dead (Nedarim 64b). The reason for this, according to Eliyahu Kitov (The Jew and His Home, trans. Nathan Bulman (New York: Shengold Publishers, 1963), pp. 200-201) is that a person can continue to live on even after physical life has ended through his or her children, if they continue the values and life-style of the parent (see the chapter "Purpose of Life"). One may never sell a Torah except in two instances: to obtain money in order to learn Torah (an equivalent mitzvah to having or writing a Torah] and to marry, that is, in order to eventually have children (Megillah 27a). [Compiler's note: Also, see Bava Batra 8b and later commentaries thereon regarding selling a Torah to redeem captives in order to save lives]. There is no other mitzvah that merits the importance of having children. One who does not have children is equated to a murderer one who diminishes the image of God (Yevamot 63b). This comparison may be understood since refusal to create life maybe compared to destroying (potential) life, and since each person is born in the image of God (Gen. 1:27), denying children to come into the world denies more of the image of God in the world. Of course, ultimately, all successful births of children are due to the help of God. Sometimes, for reasons unknown, parents who want children cannot do so, but if they try and are unsuccessful in their attempt to have children, they are blameless both in the eyes of Judaism and of God. Despite this lack of culpability, nevertheless, the inability to have children is grounds for divorce in Jewish law after ten years (Maimonides, Hilchot Ishut 15:10), in order to allow the spouses to remarry and bring children into the world. The Torah itself reverses one of the most stringent prohibitions of adultery in order to allow children to come into the world. Normally, he brother-in-law is forbidden to marry a sister-in-law and this is considered an act of adultery, even after the death of the spouse [this verse]. However, if the husband dies and a couple was childless, the Torah says (Deuteronomy 25:5-6) that it is mandatory for the brother-in-law to married the widow. This is one of the 613 commandments of the Torah--all for the purpose of having a child (See Sefer Hachinuch, Mitzvah #598). Having children is so important in Jewish life that immediately after death, when a person is judged in heaven, one of the first questions that person will be asked is "Did you involve yourself with having children?" (Shabbat 31a). This demonstrates the prominence that this act plays in Jewish belief.

SHOW FULL EXCERPT

LEVITICUS — 18:18 nakedness

LEV237 One shall not have had two sisters as his wife if both are living. Key concept: [See [[LEV233]] Leviticus 18:7 nakedness CHINUCH 131]. In addition, the Torah prohibits a man to marry two sisters because Hashem, the Master of Peace, wants His creations to live in peace, especially those who logically should enjoy a peaceful relationship with one another. Nothing should be done to cause sisters to always be competing and quarreling with one another.

SHOW FULL EXCERPT

LEVITICUS — 18:18 sister

LEV238 … both sibling and wifely rivalry permeated the relationship of two matriarchs, Leah and Rachel. The two women were married to Jacob. Rachel, who was having trouble conceiving, was jealous of her sister Leah, who already had four children (Genesis 30:1). ... Although later Torah law permitted polygamy, it forbade two sisters from marrying the same man, unless one of them had died [this verse].

SHOW FULL EXCERPT

RSS
First283284285286287288289290291293295296297298299300301302Last
Back To Top