There is much to learn from the poetic imagery in Parshat Ha’azinu. The image that particularly stands out is that of the nesher, eagle. The eagle which is one of the toughest of birds shows its more gentle side while parenting its young. In Dvarim 32:11 it says: “Like an eagle who rouses his nest, […]
The Book of Jonah is a book that hovers between fantasy and reality. Even if the string of events described within it are possible, it is still unrealistic to believe that the main message of the book is the actual storyline and the incidents it describes. A story about a fish that swallows a man […]
This week’s Parsha marks the culmination of the covenant between Hashem and Bnei Yisrael, before they enter the land of Israel. The covenant focuses on the communal responsibility to prevent idol worship, and ends with the following pasuk: הנסתרת לה’ א-להינו והנגלת לנו ולבנינו עד עולם לעשות את כל דברי התורה הזאת Secrets are for […]
Parshat “Ki Tavo”, describes our obligations concerning the mitzvah of Bikkurim – the presentation of the first fruits of the harvest, which only comes into effect after we conquer and settle the promised land (Deuteronomy: 26): 1And it shall be, when thou art come in unto the land which HaShem giveth thee for an inheritance, […]
A fascinating, yet little-known explanation ties the famous Mishpat Shlomo – King Shlomo’s most famous judgement – to this week’s Torah portion. The explanation the Meiri[i] offers to the story of Mishpat Shlomo [ii] reveals the “behind-the-scenes” manipulations and strategy of the two litigants and King Shlomo’s brilliant method of uncovering the truth. The story […]
Reish Lakish said: “Great is תשובה (repentance) because it transforms זדונות (premeditated sins) into שגגות (inadvertent transgressions)”. Oh Really? Didn’t he also say? “Great is תשובה (repentance) because it transforms premeditated sins into זכויות (merits)”? There is no contradiction. The first one refers to “Teshuva Meyir’ah” (out of fear of G-d), the other refers to “Teshuva Me’ahava” […]
Deuteronomy, Sefer Devarim, presents Moses’ speech that reviews the historical memory of God’s contact with Israel in Exodus, Leviticus, and Numbers. In the Torah’s three middle books, God is the speaker; Deuteronomy opens with the Johnny Carson-like introduction: “here’s Moses!” At his career’s beginning, Moses tries to avoid the divine call, arguing “I am not […]
In the Talmud, Brachot 21a Rav Yehuda states: From where in the Torah do we derive the obligation to recite Birkat HaMazon (Grace after meals)? From the verse (Parshat Ekev, Dvarim 8:10): “Veachalta vesavata uveirachta et Hashem Elokecha al haaretz hatova asher natan lach”, “You shall eat and be satisfied and bless your God for […]
In his “Varieties of Religious Experience,” William James identifies the “sad discordancy” of religious experiences in the secular world. “But they come seldom, and they do not come to everyone; and the rest of life makes no connection with them, or tends to contradict them than it confirms them.” This sentiment is succinctly captured by […]
In Massechet Gittin we find a series of “Aggadot HaChurban”- stories about Jerusalem in the period leading up to the destruction of the Temple. These stories describe the hunger and difficult conditions in Jerusalem during the siege, but more than that, they are meant to be a moral lesson as to the actions which brought […]
Israel finds itself under constant scrutiny. Allegations of Human Rights infringements are brandished against us and we are condemned in international fora for our failure to make peace. The dilemmas are huge and the discomfort for all Jews is enormous. Israel dares not ignore enemies who seek our destruction, but nor do we want to […]
Inheritance has always been a sensitive topic. Family ties frequently fray at the edges, as frustrations and expectations run headlong into the instability of a time of transition. As we approach the end of the Torah’s narratives, the issue of transition and inheritance rises to the forefront. We read of Tzelofchod’s daughters, who approach Moshe […]
This week, Israel was challenged again by another “Freedom Flotilla,” attempting to reach the Gaza strip. Internationally, Israel is often portrayed as the ‘Goliath’ – the side that has and makes use of its military power. In sharp contrast to this picture, throughout our long history, the Jewish people were associated with the lack of […]
In the beginning of this week’s parsha, we read rules that guide people who have encountered death. For example: In Bamidbar 19:14 we read how all the persons who were in the home when someone died, or who came into the home of the dead before the funeral – classically the family of the deceased […]
My mother often asked me, “how might the uninformed layperson know which rabbi’s opinion is correct?” One rabbi rules that “ mixed gender seating at weddings is fine,” but others disagree. After hearing all sides, we remain beside ourselves. How might we measure who is correct? What can we cull from the Korach/Moses conflict? There […]
