Free To Serve Hashem
Hashem took us out of slavery because a slave can never truly give himself over to a higher cause as he is not the owner of the self to give.
Parshat Tzav – Freeing Humanity from Edom
Israel has dramatically returned to the world stage in what has so far been merely the introduction to a revolutionary process destined to free humankind from a global order that promotes injustice.
Opportunity Knocks At The Seder (Part I)
It was on the night of the Seder that Avraham was rescued from the four mighty kings. It was on this night that the Jewish people were saved from Sancherev and his 400 battalions. It was also on this night that Achashveirosh had difficulty in sleeping and the seeds of Haman’s downfall were sown.
Fire Safety
When we heard that he was arriving, we all went out past the city limits to greet him. When the Chofetz Chaim saw me he asked me to come into the carriage with him. I entered the carriage and found him crying bitterly.
Jewish Thanksgiving
Every year, Jews in America join the rest of the nation in celebrating national Thanksgiving, on the last Thursday in November. However, we Jews...
But What About The Current Situation?
After the presentation, I heard the latest news from Israel. But it seemed that in Italy tonight, we had somehow covered the current situation.
Torah Needs Confidence – Parshat Vayikra
In the midst of our annual bout with chametz, in this week's Parshat, the Torah forbids us from sacrificing any leaven (שאר), or honey on the holy altar.
The Meanings Of Sacrifice
Shabbat does not only last 25 hours; Shabbat reverberates throughout the entire week and is meant to favorably influence our six days of work and other activities.
Food Taken Out Of One’s Mouth
The laws of the korbanot open with a korban nedavah, an optional offering that was voluntarily brought by someone who wanted to show his appreciation of G-d.
Parshat Vayikra – Power of Korbanot
Korbanot in Jerusalem produce a spiritual ripple effect that adds incredible blessing to the world – curing diseases, alleviating suffering & influencing random acts of kindness across the globe.
Creating A Flame
If there was a fire already upon the altar that descended from heaven, we must ask why there is a commandment to add a flame of our own to it in the first place.
Sage Advice
The fact that Shlomo HaMelech was provided with a rationale for the Torah prohibitions actually contributed to his undoing.
Revitalizing Our Prayers (Part Five)
In Heaven, everyone is programmed to praise Hashem. Thus, it is not so special that everyone is singing Hashem’s praises.
The Season Of Our Freedom
In order for Hashem to defeat the power of Pharaoh and Mizrayim and take us out of our predicament, He had to both overthrow the audacity of Pharaoh and elevate the spiritual sanctity of Israel at once.
A Handful Of Flour
During the seven years of plenty in Egypt and before the seven years of famine, the pasuk says that Yosef divided the land up into Kematzim, which Rashi explains as – stockpiling grains Kometz on Kometz, handful on handful.
Shabbat Before Yomtov – Parshat Vayakhel-Pikudei
Despite the importance and holiness of Pesach and Mishkan, the weekly, sacred Shabbat should not, and cannot be ignored.
Making The Human Mishkan Complete
Every vessel or item is only prepared once it has its final piece, a concept we know well from the prohibition to complete labors on Shabbat.
Parshat Pekudei – The Supreme Value of Resistance
The mitzvot that the dominant nations are most fervently against, automatically require extra valor and self-sacrifice to fulfill. Observing these precepts takes on higher meaning as an expression of emuna.
Parshat Vayakhel – Real Hebrew Leadership
The melekh does not actually rule over Israel but rather embodies the mission and aspirations of his nation to the extent that he becomes a microcosm of the entire Jewish people and his personal identity is absorbed into Israel’s collective national identity.
Revitalizing Our Prayers (Part IV)
The Gemara teaches us in Masechtas Taanis that the day of rain is great like the day of the creation of Heaven and Earth.
TORAH SHORTS: Parshat Vayakel-Pekudei: Found in Translation
God employs several translators; some pieces are translated by age, some by sickness, some by war, some by justice. -John Donne
Evicted
At the time when a person opens his bundle to others, and shares his good fortune with others, he will merit blessing and his heart will be filled with joy.
Raising The Mishkan Before The Wooden Frame
There is a widespread custom to begin reading Shir HaShirim on the first of Nissan, in part because “the first shoots are seen in the land, the time of pruning has arrived, and the voice of the turtle dove can be heard in our land” (Shir HaShirim 2:12).
Unity vs. Disunity In The Mishkan
Hashem resorted to Plan B, which began by restoring unity within Am Yisrael, and only when that was in place directing the focus to where it was originally intended.
Natural Miracles
The Jews were doing well in Persia. Achashverosh afforded them equal rights and even invited them to his banquet. They did not need the Torah any longer to survive, and were doing just fine without it.
Count Me In- Parshat Ki Tisa
Why does Judaism consider counting people dangerous?
To Look Beneath The Surface
It would appear that we are hopelessly divided, especially at this time. But things are not always as they seem.
Purifying The Body So The Soul Can Serve Hashem
Following the victory over our physical enemies and the threat to our bodies, we must still overcome the spiritual obstacles placed in the physical world to dissuade us from achieving our destiny.
Revitalizing Our Prayers (Part III)
I believe the explanation for the front-seat positioning of Techias HaMeisim, the resurrection, is that it is the single greatest asset that a person has. Everything else is only temporal-for 120 years.
Parshat Ki Tisa – Israel’s Underlying Unity
Through a heightened awareness of Israel's true inner essence, we can see past the sharp ideological divisions and appreciate the intrinsic unity beneath and beyond our surface disputes.
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