TORAH SHORTS: Parshat Masai: Nipping Evil in the Bud
In every phenomenon the beginning remains always the most notable moment. -Thomas Carlyle
Better To Not Have Been Born
Shlomo also said, I praised the dead who had already died (Kohelet 4:2). Because there is no understanding among the living.
What’s Wrong With My Learning
Let’s look with this eye at the backdrop of the scene for Kabbolos HaTorah. What was the background when Hashem gave the Torah to the Bnei Yisrael at Har Sinai?
It’s Not About The Sheep
So what then is this business about preceding their infants with the sheep? If the sheep were meaningless to them, why did they mention them first?
Five Facts About The Life Of Rabbi Chaim Ben Attar
Most of you never heard of Kurt Rothschild who passed away last week at the age of 101, but it is reasonable to assume that most of you benefited from him in some way.
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.
Generation Of The Wilderness
One thing worthy of note in our haftara is that the entirety of the first chapter is read, but the haftara continues three verses into the second.
Sheep, Bread, Fire And Wine: Persistence Is The Key – Parshat Pinchas
The korban hatamid was one of many – what makes it so special?
TORAH SHORTS: Parshat Matot: Three Divine Gifts
Take all that is given whether wealth, love or language, nothing comes by mistake and with good digestion all can be turned to health. -George Herbert
The Living Kiddush Hashem
When we gather in the batei medrash to daven and study Torah, and we perform acts of chesed to exalt the Name of Hashem . . . we are righteous and praiseworthy like those who actually gave up their lives sanctifying the Name of Hashem.
The Three Weeks And A Message Of Peace
The Three Weeks is not simply a time to ponder our loss. The Yerushalmi Tractate Peah (chapter 1) teaches us -Any generation in which the Temple was not rebuilt in its day, it is considered as if it were destroyed again in that era.
Torah Shorts: Parshat Pinchas: Deserved Rewards
Obedience of the law is demanded; not asked as a favor. -Theodore Roosevelt
The Daily Chase
Without a regular lesson, without a study partner (because of the schedule in the unit that changes constantly), Noam looked for a slot of free time every day.
When Torah Knowledge and Wisdom are Separated
The most outstanding Torah scholar may not be the greatest mentor and visa-versa. It is wonderful (and convenient) when we can find someone, who is “one-stop shopping.” Yet the story of Rav Kahana shows us that life is not always so tidy.
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.
Grabbing A Mitzvah
One who does not have that fervor and passion within him should nevertheless act with great enthusiasm and zeal to do the mitzvos, because the external arouses the internal.
Daf Yomi And Nine Lammeds In A Row
I would like to conjecture that in this fervent prayer where we beseech Hashem to listen and to understand, to learn and to teach His Torah, we remember the fact that each of us already learned the entire Torah from a malach during the nine months that we were in the womb.
The Remnant Of Yaakov
The salient point of the navi Micha – in contrast to the message of Bilaam – is that when the time comes for Hashem to redeem His people, all of the historical forces and all of the races and cultures of humanity will fall into line as part of the divine plan.
The Story Of Avraham, Lot, and Mashiach Ben David
Even when they part ways because of the tiffs over grazing land, Avraham promises to always be there for Lot in time of need. He makes good on that promise when he takes on the world “superpowers” and rescues Lot from captivity.
The Secret of Bilaam’s Prophecy – Parshat Balak
While Moav & Midian championed a separation of 'religion' & state, Israel’s mission demands that spiritual ideals be materialized on a national level so that our Torah’s values be fully expressed on earth.
Defense And Prosecution Hang Upon Mitzvos
Just as an advocate is created for each mitzvah, so too a prosecuting angel is created with the performance of every aveirah.
The Shallow Brook We Dare Not Cross
It would seem that the problem was not in the stream but in the people. The Children of Israel disparaged the Land of Israel through the negative report of the spies and they had still not rectified this sin.
What’s The Real Purpose Of Aleinu? (Part III)
When we bentch, one of the people we should have in mind to bless and to thank, besides Hashem of course, is our wife. She is the one who prepares our repast, cleans up after us, and creates the aura that makes the meal pleasant.
TORAH SHORTS: Parshat Balak: Enthusiastic Evil vs. Lethargic Good
Procrastination is opportunity's natural assassin. -Victor Kiam
Stranger Among Us
Unfortunately, Yiftach would become a key participant in perhaps the bloodiest and most infamous civil war in Israel: that between Menashe and Ephraim.
A Swig And A Smile – Parshat Chukat
Why did Hashem tell Moshe to take the staff if He wanted Moshe to speak to the rock? Why open a possibility for Moshe to sin?
Malachi’s Friends
In the Torah portions that we are currently reading, it is noted time and again that as soon as the people arrived at a new place, they immediately erected the Mishkan, the people's spiritual center and beating heart.
The Value of Effective Communication – Parshat Ḥukat
Communicating the Jewish people's deepest aspirations can often serve to raise morale & strengthen Israel’s position on the battlefield.
Results Will Always Follow
Any positive steps taken in matters of spirituality result in success – perhaps even in a different place or at a different time.
Wealth Is A Poor Prerequisite For Power
It is worth understanding why Korach’s argument against Moshe was found to be utterly without merit while Shmuel’s is held up as the apogee of righteousness.