Parsha

I look toward Shavuot as an opportunity to not only absorb the Torah's wisdom, but as a chance to apply its wisdom so well that God the Teacher will look at us say, "Yet more have I received from My students"

The Torah may be suggesting something different than we have ever expected: the way we ask God to treat us may also be the way we ourselves should treat our children.

One who teaches his friend's son Torah is analogous to the father himself.

The point is that they hold up a picture of that man. Not a picture of the Chasam Sofer.

Humility, as embodied by Hilel, should be among our community’s priorities as we develop the educational policies and personnel that will shape the next generation of halakhic leadership.

Revelation both Divine and self. Shabbat Shalom and Chag Sameach

The lush greens nourished by the healing rains of Iyar heighten our anticipation of the approaching Yom Tov that established us for all time as a holy nation, beholden to and beloved by our Creator.

True repentance requires a confession that enables the sinner to focus totally on his own errors.

This may sound myopic and cloistered, but it is based on a fundamental understanding of the human. To remain pure in an impure world, we need to create our own world.

In this week's video, we look at Pesach, Shmita and Yovel and ask, where do we see Shabbat, and why does it matter?

The laws of the Sabbatical year allow for some questioning even while demanding faith. How can one believe even while questioning?

Behar is primarily about ways to prevent Jews from descending into cycles of poverty; Bechukotai reinforces the laws of Vayikra by spelling out the consequences of following or not following the laws

Thoughts on Emor, Omer, and becoming a better you!

What is it that makes an ox special? In what way should we emulate it?

The lives of Jews in Mitzrayim were defined by misery and suffering. They had no rights. They had no life.

In this video, Rabbi Fohrman makes a fascinating argument about how Shabbat works and shows that there ARE Shabbatot in different realms.

This nameless man, born in scandal to a Jewish mother and Egyptian father not a member of any tribe, brought his claim to Moses who ruled against him. He was Jewish, but he had no place in camp or the world

Granting that bodies and souls are sometimes mismatched, are we comfortable saying in absolute terms that sheker hachein v’hevel hayofi (grace is falsehood and beauty is meaningless)? Are bodies and souls assigned to one another at random?

When we improve our shemiras Shabbos, we are taking steps to bring redemption and Moshiach closer.

Hashem imprinted into the essence of each animal all the instincts necessary for its survival as well as for the continuation of its species.

With the 10 Commandments, G-d is described as the One who took the Jews out of Egypt. In Parshat Kedoshim, He is described simply as being "holy." Both phrases set the tone for the list that follows.

Shabbat, when we separate ourselves from so much of our earthly concerns and focus on our highest aspirations, we find the holiness that allows our earth to rise so high as to kiss the heavens.

It was not enough for the Kohen to offer his ruling; he also had to instruct and guide.

As great as he was, and as much as he accepted every word of the Torah as completely true, on some level it wasn’t 100 percent real to him.

Use of the hall on Motzaei Shabbos is a separate rental that carries an additional $250 payment. You were supposed to notify me if you wanted to use the hall also on Motzaei Shabbos.

We approach Yom Ha'atzmaut, celebrating a generation that experienced absolute evil yet was still able to join together without distinctions and build a vibrant country, thriving because it welcomes others who live betwixt and between, politically, spiritually and religiously

. . Few texts seem less philosophically promising at first glance than a pasuk in this week's parsha “anything that a zav lies on becomes tamei” (Vayikra 15:4)

In this week's parsha, we are introduced to a strange set of laws related to the metzora, one afflicted with tzara'at. How do we relate to such laws?

Leaders have to make many difficult decisions - decisions that affect, often negatively, other people.

Commentators differ as to what exactly was the sin of Nadav and Avihu and why they deserved what on the surface appears to be a wildly disproportional punishment for their 'minor' infraction