Matrilineal Lives Matter
“Remove the blasphemer to outside the camp. All those who heard will rest their hands on his head. The entire congregation will pelt him.” I suggest that the blasphemer was not executed. Rather, he was taken to the scaffold and pelted with a single rock.
Are Tzaddikim Necessarily Role Models?
A healthy religious society has room for both chakhamim and chasidim, but knows that the latter are generally more to be admired than imitated.
Tefillah: A Meeting With Hashem – The Best Part Of Wakin’ Up
Why indeed should a person who lacks a Torah lifestyle want to get up in the morning?
Is Tzara’as Contagious?
Having an evil eye means that one has low tolerance for others, and especially for their success.
A Blessing Of Thanksgiving, A Blessing Of Relief
Hashem took us from under His throne of glory and put us into a body to give us a chance to grow, to accomplish and to change our essence. But, it wasn’t just us we were charged with perfecting.
Betwixt & Between
Chag Sameach-Happy Yom Ha'atzmaut and Shabbat Shalom
From The Archives… Parshat Shemini
Great leaders like Lincoln have the strength of character to overlook wrongs and see the broader picture.
The Fever-Pitched Battle Of Life
Why should a person be rewarded for not doing something he wouldn’t have done anyway?
Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Metzora: Flesh
That man is more than flesh is obvious to the Torah, but the Torah’s task is to make it obvious to man.
TORAH SHORTS: Tazria-Metzora:
why is gossiping worse than all three of the cardinal sins put together? Because a gossiper destroys all of these bonds, and more
PARSHAS SHEMINI: Seven Fatal Mistakes
This week's Torah portion contains the dramatic story of Nadav and Avihu, two of Aaron's sons, who bring a strange offering to God. This...
TORAH SHORTS: Parshat Shmini: Fatal Alcohol
Many commentators point at this command as the unspoken reason why Nadav and Avihu were killed: They entered the Tabernacle drunk.
Trusting Hashem
Even the merit of the entire Jewish people was stupendous. While not every member had remained on the highest level, as a nation they had remained loyal to Hashem.
Redeeming Relevance: The Art of Seeing God When We Don’t
The retelling of the exodus at Pesach is meant to deepen our faith; and the excerpt from the Mishnah towards the beginning of the Haggadah presents a model for how to do that. It teaches us to follow the example of R. Elazar
Protecting the Precious
Our Matzah is not Shmurah if we are unconcerned with those who have nothing to eat, or no Seder to join.
The Good Old Days
Our problem is that in the daily bustle of life we hardly ever stop to smell the flowers.
That’s Not My Suitcase!
We should never feel as if we are lugging around heavy suitcases of avodas Hashem.
Ours Is To Question Why
Of course, Aharon didn’t veer to the left or the right. This was the avodah in the Mishkan he was performing, and the directives came straight from Hashem!
Why Do We Bless The Children On Friday Night?
Judaism most certainly does not ascribe to the belief that there are powers other than Hashem who can stand in the way of His will.
Infectious Gratitude
Learning to give THANKS and preparing ourselves for Pesach.
Are Sacrifices Essential to Judaism?
Why is the act of sacrifice so powerful psychologically? Why do human beings naturally express themselves religiously through sacrifice, whether they are expressing fear or gratitude?
Answering The Call
We explore life through the lens of Torah through the entire year. Now that Pesach approaches, we pause and listen as this week we hear God's loving call as if For The First Time.
Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Vayikra: Happy Sins
Obviously, sin and happy are not words that go together well. But, says Rabbi Yochanan, when people admit to and atone for their sins, that is cause for happiness.
Parshiyot Vayakheil-Pikudei
No opportunity is too small to make a difference.
Mysterious Magic
The Tabernacle was more dangerous than the Red Heifer because absolutely everything about its construction and functioning seems so mysterious
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