What Is a Brit? A Precise Definition The word brit is usually translated “covenant” — but that English word is nearly as opaque as the Hebrew. To understand what a brit is, we first need to clear away three things…
Categorization of Mitzos In total, there are 613 mitzvot, or commandments, in the Torah. They encompass much of our daily living; from which animals can pull a plow together, to which foods we eat on varied days. We have different…
Introduction This week’s parsha, Korach, details the only major attempt at challenging Moshe’s position as G-d’s chosen leader and prophet of the Jewish people. Rashi tells us that this rebellion was rooted in jealousy, as Korach felt he should have…
B”H marrying off our oldest daughter, Orah, in a week from Sunday, and we’d like to invite you to join in our simcha, which will be on June 21, 2026, at 6:30PM at the Fountain Ballroom, 725 Vassar Ave, Lakewood,…
When a Mission Stops Being a Shlichus The primary narrative of our parsha is the story of the spies. Before we delve into it in depth, here is a quick synopsis of what transpired. Moshe sent twelve distinguished men, one…
The essay at the beginning of this Shabbos email is a reprint from the Shabbos email sent exactly this Shabbos, Parshas Behaloscha, but in 2019. The message is unfortunately even more relevant today, in a time when the faith in…
Introduction We tend to think of emunah — faith, or more precisely, faithfulness: a deep, abiding trust and orientation toward G-d — as a light switch. Either it is on or it is off. Either you believe in G-d or…