Redeeming Relevance in the Weekly Parsha: Yitro
Shemot relates the transition from the story of one family-Yaakov’s-to the story of a nation-Israel
Parshas Beshalach: The Price Of A Whistle
People often think that all they are missing is "just a little more" and then they can be truly happy.
A Double-Edged Staff
The Midrash is teaching a fundamental message of what it means to be a religious person.
Partnership Between Heaven And Earth
"Where is God?" asked the Kotzker Rebbe "God is not everywhere but only where you let Him enter"
For The Miracles That Occur Daily
When a miracle occurs that transcends nature, Hashem has broken the laws of nature to create the miracle.
When David Killed An Amalekite Boy
Rather than submit to this fate and suffer torture and humiliation, Shaul decided to fall on his sword.
The Reason And The Cause
How can the Da’as Zekeinim say this was Hashem’s plan to allow them to become the Torah Nation? We know it was actually a punishment.
Aleph Beta: Beshalach: Fruit Trees In the Sea?
A strange midrash of fruit trees surrounding the Nation of Israel as they walked to freedom
Redeeming Relevance in the Weekly Parsha: Beshalach
Leading by example must be visible, regarding where, when and how-like Nachshon entering the Red Sea
The Essence of Tradition
Rabbi Yaakov Nagen, a Ram at Yeshivat Otniel, notes that the verse is suggesting that retelling the story of the Exodus is so important that Hashem is performing ever-greater miracles specifically so that parents can tell their stories to future generations.
AlephBeta: Bo: God’s Justice in Action
Before performing the 10th plague God makes a fundamental argument about the ultimate nature of justice.
A Slave To Fashion
How is it possible that the clothing was more valuable to them than gold or silver?
Reclaiming Our National Dignity
Property ownership is an extremely important and fundamental right and principle according to the Torah.
The Role Of Probability In Halacha
And if a person can take steps to perform the mitzvah, he should do so (even if he won’t be held accountable for not performing it due to circumstances beyond his control).
Redeeming Relevance in the Weekly Parsha: Bo
Pesach is called "zikaron," a Biblical term used describing an object eliciting a certain memory
The True Nature Of Reparations
Recouping $ and assets from Germans and Swiss for their Holocaust actions is rooted in the Exodus
Parshat Va’eira
Three years of war and the loss of one-tenth of Britain's men is not too great a price to pay.
The Ten Plagues, The Four Prayers
"I put to death and I bring to life, I strike down and I will heal."
Being Like Hashem
It is exactly like that of an animal, with all of the passions and desires necessary to drive man though his daily existence.
Whom Did The Barad Kill?
The Brisker Rav suggests that the barad, in fact, only fell on people, animals, and vegetation.
Past, Present, Future
The American Jew has forgotten his history. Not the simple stories of life in Europe. Rather, he lost the ability to relive time as part of his own I-awareness, that the past is a relevant part of me.
The Divine Plan Of The Ten Plagues
The plagues don't reveal a God of vengeance but of compassion; after each triplet Egypt can repent
Aleph Beta: Va’era: Seeing God In Science
Rabbi Fohrman asks about an interesting name of God and leads a whirlwind tour of modern cosmology
Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Vaera
Moshe viewed his speech impediment as part of his core identity and his intrinsic human imperfection
The Irrelevance of the People
But a rally has no effect on the terrorists themselves. In truth, it validates what they have done.
