Redeeming Relevance: Parsht Shelach: When Silence is not Golden
Yehoshua and Calev's mistake was what they could have done earlier: They must have known their colleagues’ negative inclination. The Torah’s silence on whether they tried to change the mind of the other spies speaks to their own silence as well.
Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Vayakhel: Dr. Frankenstein’s Melacha
Perhaps in the midst of the great uncertainties created by the Coronavirus pandemic, it is all too easy to remember that we are not God. But the temptation to think otherwise still exists. And once the pandemic will be over and man will continue to build better and better tools to control his fate and his environment, that temptation will regain its strength
Redeeming Relevance: All You Need is One Good Man
a different leader of the next generation steps up and takes action. That leader was Pinchas...True leaders like Pinchas don’t come out of leadership schools. When the time is ripe, they simply emerge.
Redeeming Relevance: A Bad Sin and a Good Drash
For an interpretation to qualify as a good drash, it must present an insightful idea that is somehow enhanced by the original text.
Redeeming Relevance: Did God set Avraham up for Failure?
In fact – at its core – there is no better argument than Avraham’s. For his petition is asking for nothing else than what is good for God. For when God executes strict justice, He often “sacrifices” His own reputation for the sake of the truth.
Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Vaera
Moshe viewed his speech impediment as part of his core identity and his intrinsic human imperfection
Redeeming Relevance on the Weekly Torah Portion: Ve’etchanan
The 10 Statements main point was not content but the encounter between G-d & His nation, Israel
Redeeming Relevance: Mishpatim: What’s So Special About Parents?
By first putting parents before "self" we learn to put the more abstract God before self.
Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Miketz: Yosef’s Descent
We generally assume that Yosef, as a victim of cruelty and not its perpetrator, had nothing to regret. Yet a careful reading shows he had a significant role in creating the tension with his brothers
Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Tzav: A Misplaced Parsha?
Vayikra, unlike Shemot, is not really about revelation. It's about the daily struggle to raise man above his own physicality.
Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Behaalotecha: Just Trying to Improve Things
In this week's parsha, there is an unusually insightful process of how a little complaint can undermine a gigantic and noble enterprise:
Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Vayikra: Ownership, Chametz and the Sacrificial Conundrum
There is likely some connection between the prohibition of chametz on the altar and the chametz which is more likely on our minds as we rid our homes of this most challenging foodstuff.
Redeeming Relevance: Parshas Bo: What is a Jewish New Year?
Shifting the year's start from Tishrei to Nissan symbolizes a shift in perceiving the natural world.
Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Ki Tavo
The bikkurim declaration praises Gd & distills the Egyptian experience down to its spiritual essence
Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Shemot: Of Faith and Flexibility
While Moshe may have eventually become even greater than the avos, we must always strive for the faith of his predecessors and for the inner flexibility that such true faith brings with it.
Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Shoftim: Of Witnesses, Keruvim and Clones
The Torah's standard for convicting a criminal is set much higher than many contemporary systems of law, that accept one witness. In practice, that means the Torah prefers to let criminals off, rather than punish the innocent
IS HIS NAME YA’AKOV, YISRAEL OR BOTH?
People have 1 name because it supposedly reflects identity. What if a person has a double identity?
Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Vayechi: Like Reuven and Shimon?!?
Ya’akov’s mistake instructs us to understand that even if something appears to be good, that does not mean there isn’t a different way that might be even better
Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Lech Lecha: Avoiding Too Much Virtue
While we read of tests of Avraham, it is clear that Sarah endured tests of her own. According to Ramban, she failed her test in her treatment of Hagar
Redeeming Relevance: When a Brother is Not
Understanding relationships leading to understanding the parsha
Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Matot: Menashe — The Odd Man Out
Why did Moshe include part of Menashe together with Gad and Reuven in the Transjordanian settlement?
Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Kedoshim: The Ten Commandments’ New Spin
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.
Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Ki Tetzhe: Yehoshua the Conqueror
Battling Amalek presents an important warning to any Jewish military leader that there is a need to maintain a basic respect for what it means to be human, even when dealing with mortal enemies.
Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Vayakhel: A Surprise Leader
From the beginning of the building project, the financial and physical contribution of all Jews was sought. There was a need to show that the Torah’s tabernacle was where all Jews stand equal before God
Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Behar: The Torah’s First Ending
Had the Jews not sinned with the spies, they would have gone into the land led by Moshe at the end of Parshat Shelach. Hence the end of Vayikra would have basically been the end of the Torah
Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Shemot: To Help is Noble, to Give a Sign is Divine
We are sorely lacking signs from God today. They are lacking, since our courage and resourcefulness often end when we have no indication of what God wants from us. This is the tragic situation of God’s hiding Himself
Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Vayeira: No Questions Asked
Isn't it surprising that Avraham who prayed for Sodom's salvation did not protest God commanding him to kill his own son? For the Netziv, this was actually exactly what God wanted from Avraham. Why?
Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Bechukotai: What is Your Net Worth?
Hoe the Torah establishes the value of the individual--and how that ensures humility.
Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Veyechi: The Subversive Forefather and his Conformist Son
Ya’akov decides to prioritize the younger son, Ephraim, over the older Menashe
Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Kedoshim: We Need to Choose
In this week’s parsha, the Torah further develops the statement that opens Parshat Kedsohim, the need to be 'Kadosh.'