Parshat Matot – Masei It is difficult for us to appreciate the power of speech. We live in a materialistic world, and, therefore, actions, which we can see and evaluate, take on greater importance than speech, which seems to be…
The Three Weeks This past Sunday, July 21st, we observed the fast of the 17th of Tammuz, and, on Sunday, August 11, we will observe “Tisha b’Av” the fast on the 9th day of the month of Av. These fasts…
Parshat Balak תשע"ט Imagine you are driving along in your car one day, and you are a bit apprehensive about the meeting you are about to have, so you are gripping the steering wheel very tightly. Suddenly, out of the…
Chukat תשע"ט In this week’s portion, the Jewish nation loses two of its three great leaders, Miriam and Aharon. Each one’s passing brought an immediate reaction. After Miriam’s demise, the Jewish people begin thirsting for water, and after Aharon’s passing…
Parshat Korach תשע"ח This week’s portion details the events of Korach’s rebellion, along with his 253 compatriots, against Moshe and Aharon (Numbers 16:1,2): ספר במדבר פרק טז א) וַיִּקַּח קֹרַח בֶּן יִצְהָר בֶּן קְהָת בֶּן לֵוִי וְדָתָן וַאֲבִירָם בְּנֵי…
Parshas Shelach The last paragraph of this week’s Torah portion, contains the commandment to put tzizit on any four-cornered garment that we wear. We fulfill this mitzvah by wearing a Talit when we pray shacharit the morning prayer, and by…
Parshat BeHaalotcha This week’s Torah reading begins by instructing Aharon the High Priest on how to light the Menorah as part of the daily Tabernacle service: When lighting the wicks of the menorah, the three on the right and the…
Parshat Naso תשע"ט Maimonides writes (Ishus 1:1): א) קודם מתן תורה היה אדם פוגע אשה בשוק אם רצה הוא והיא לישא אותה מכניסה לביתו ובועלה בינו לבין עצמו ותהיה לו לאשה כיון שנתנה תורה נצטוו ישראל שאם ירצה האיש לישא…
Shavuot Upset because the JCC was closed on all Jewish holidays, including Shavuot, an angry board member once confronted the local JCC’s president at a meeting, asserting, “I understand the JCC being closed on the High Holidays and Passover,” he…
Mesorah Partners On the 4th of Sivan in the year 2448 (3,331 years ago), two days before Moshe ascended Mount Sinai to receive the Ten Commandments, he wrote a Torah scroll containing the information from Genesis up to that point…