Enemies of the Creator – Parshat Matot
By waging war on Israel, even if not consciously aware of its inner motivation, a person or group is declaring war against the Source of all Creation.
TORAH SHORTS: Parshat Matot-Masai: Levels of Control
Nothing is more dangerous than a friend without discretion; even a prudent enemy is preferable. -Jean de La Fontaine
Setting Boundaries
The Ran expounds that one who builds a personal altar could mistakenly believe that he is actually doing a mitzvah by being extraordinarily scrupulous in offering sacrifices to Hashem. He doesn’t realize, though, that he is in fact committing a grave sin.
Revitalizing Our Prayers – Part Sixteen
The Malbim defines Judges as those who govern the laws of jurisprudence between man and his fellow, while the Advisors are those who give us counsel to succeed in our relationship with Hashem.
The Complexity Of Human Rights
We should be free to live as we choose, worship as we choose, and identify as we choose.
The Mitzvah Of Settling The Land
According to Rashi, it is the will of Hashem that the nations residing in the land of Israel when the people of Israel cross the river be banished and eradicated.
Deeper Into The Journey
A worthwhile journey often includes a long winding path, twisting and turning in all directions, leading you on a seemingly endless quest. Then, at the very last moment, there can be a sudden revelation that retroactively changes your perspective on the entire journey!
Never Alone
One of the more painful components of having struggling children is that the families often feel judged and at a loss of how to properly relate to and with their precious child. The feeling that they are not alone and there are others who can listen and commiserate is invaluable.
More Is Less
At each stop the Jews learned another lesson about how to rid themselves of their Egyptian ways.
Should A Lawyer Defend Someone In Court Whom He Thinks Is Guilty?
Of course, having slick professional lawyers attempt to outwit one another in court is not the Torah way. Nevertheless, we still find a halachic mandate to seek to exonerate the accused if any doubt exists as to his or her guilt.
The Need To Knead
Although men are also obligated to do so, this mitzvah is primarily incumbent on women and they are given preference in performing it. Sarah was the first woman in history to perform this mitzvah.
Forget-Me-Nots
My mother always prayed they would get to their 50th anniversary. They were blessed to have celebrated their 60th anniversary, too. Their love was a perennial one, always there, year after year.
How Grit Builds Greatness
The better self-awareness we have, the better our relationship with others will be, and the stronger connection we will have to G-d.
Must Mrs. Singer’s Earnings Offset Mr. Singer’s Debt?
If the Singers share a single account, Mr. Cooper could certainly offset his obligation to Mrs. Singer with Mr. Singer's debt to him. It is pointless to pay $600 to the joint account, and then withdraw $600 from it.
Daf Yomi
In The Aftermath Of The Betar Massacre
‘Forty Se’ah Of Phylactery Casings Were Found…’
(Gittin 57b-58a)
Pure Hypocrisy – Parshat Pinchas
Sinning, while purporting to do something positive, is hypocrisy par excellence.
Bend Down And Hear The Cries Of A Child
Unconditional love means that you are my cherished neshamala. You are a gift to me from Above.
Q & A: Kaddish Recited Properly (Part IV)
Question: In the many shuls that I've attended, I observe that there are people who recite the Kaddish silently. Is this correct? I’ve also seen Kaddish recited by some at a cemetery without a minyan. Is there any reason to sanction this?
Charles Rosen
Via Email
Where W/He Takes Us
Each day we set and realize many goals. As these goals seem naturally within our grasp, we assume that we accomplish them on our own. We set our mind to something we are capable of accomplishing and we succeed in doing so.
A Visit To 770 In 1951 (Part II)
The atmosphere is completely different than the one out in the street. Everyone converses in Yiddish. They all understand Yiddish.
Healing Breached Walls
The Temple’s loss led to the development of rabbinic Judaism, which enabled Torah Judaism to transcend geographic boundaries and take root all over the planet.
The Divine Soul
In fact, our sages tell us that Pinchas did not concern himself at all with his physical needs. Rather he served Hashem with truth and sincerity, only heeding the spiritual benefit in his life.
TORAH SHORTS: Parshat Pinchas: Counter-productive Ambition
The very substance of the ambitious is merely the shadow of a dream. -William Shakespeare
Revitalizing Our Prayers – Part Fifteen
How surprised I was when he answered with a flourish that the most important blessing of the Shemoneh Esrei is T’kah b’shofar gadol l’cheiruseinu, our bracha that we beseech Hashem to initiate the final Redemption!
Moshe’s Disappointment
We are each, to some extent, who we chose to become. Neither genes nor upbringing can guarantee that we become the person our parents want us to be.
Legacy of a Zealot – Parshat Pinchas
A true pursuer of peace/completeness is one who identifies the obstacles to HaShem’s Ideal for this world and works passionately to remove them.
The Supreme Stamp Of Approval
The Korban Sotah in Marah removed all doubts from the minds of Bnei Yisrael regarding the integrity of their families.
The Power Of The Journey
This argument is rehashed year after year. CEO and homeless son, success and failure. But which is the success, and which is the failure?
What are the Three Weeks & Tisha B’Av?
The Jewish national period of mourning.