Prague is the new Paris. A bustling metropolis in the heart of the Continent, a rich history spanning two millennia of prominence, dozens of notable landmarks, and friendly warm natives, combine to give Prague a greater overall tourist experience than…
Ki Tavo תשעט In the glorious days of the Holy Temple, every week, in cities all over the Land of Israel, one of the 24 families of Cohanim, and the Levites assigned to them, would meet to travel together to Jerusalem.…
Ki Tetzei תשפא The Torah teaches us in this week’s parsha Deuteronomy (22:6,7): (ו) כִּי יִקָּרֵא קַן צִפּוֹר לְפָנֶיךָ בַּדֶּרֶךְ בְּכָל עֵץ אוֹ עַל הָאָרֶץ אֶפְרֹחִים אוֹ בֵיצִים וְהָאֵם רֹבֶצֶת עַל הָאֶפְרֹחִים אוֹ עַל הַבֵּיצִים לֹא תִקַּח הָאֵם עַל הַבָּנִים: (ז)…
The Month of Elul Rosh Hashanah, which falls on the 1st day of the month of Tishrei (this year, Monday night, September 6th), marks the beginning of the new year 5782. This counts the years since the world’s creation, which happened on…
Reeh תשפא A student recently asked me, “There are two major types of social systems, democracy and socialism. What social system does the Torah recommend?” I answered him that the Torah’s social system is neither, as it operates on a different…
The beast lumbering by my van’s window had a face as large as a pizza pie, and a body that weighed as much as a small car. Its gait was clumsy and graceful all at once, massive muscular haunches dutifully…
Parshat Ekev This week’s portion contains, according to all opinions, the only Torah-mandated ברכה - blessing, namely, the ברכת המזון - Birkat Hamazon, the Grace after meals, which is derived from the verse in (Deuteronomy 8:10): ספר דברים פרק ח י) וְאָכַלְתָּ וְשָׂבָעְתָּ וּבֵרַכְתָּ אֶת יְדֹוָד…
ma·chine: noun, often attributive \mə-ˈshēn\ A: a constructed thing whether material or immaterial B : an assemblage of parts that transmit forces, motion, and energy one to another in a predetermined manner (2) : an instrument designed to transmit or modify…