In Parshat Lech Lecha, we find Genesis 15:5, a great verse for astronomical commentaries and homiletics, for fairly obvious reasons: וַיּוֹצֵ֨א אֹת֜וֹ הַח֗וּצָה וַיֹּ֙אמֶר֙ הַבֶּט־נָ֣א הַשָּׁמַ֗יְמָה וּסְפֹר֙ הַכּ֣וֹכָבִ֔ים אִם־תּוּכַ֖ל לִסְפֹּ֣ר אֹתָ֑ם וַיֹּ֣אמֶר ל֔וֹ כֹּ֥ה יִהְיֶ֖ה זַרְעֶֽךָ׃ He took him outside and said, “Look toward heaven and count the stars, if you are able to count…
Tag: Rashi
Machar Chodesh: What’s Hiding in the Haftarah
“Machar Chodesh” is one of my favorite haftarot… but what’s hiding within this awesome haftarah episode from David’s adventures?
The First Mitzvah, The First Month
Astronomy is a prerequisite for the first mitzvah, which we read about in Parshat Hachodesh…
There’s a Bad Star on the Rise
In the course of the arguments of Moses and Aaron convincing Pharaoh to let the Israelites go, we find fascinating ideas that are illuminated by astronomy.