One of the most famous of Biblical stories is that of Yaakov being tricked into marrying Leah by his uncle Lavan. It is so familiar that we often do…
Toldot: Turning 40
“And Yitzchak was forty years old when he took Rivka, the daughter of Betuel the Aramean of Paddan-Aram, the sister of Laban the Aramean” (Breisheet…
Chayei Sarah: More than a Story
"The discussions of the servants of our patriarchs are more beloved than the Torah of their children” (Rashi, Breisheet, 24:22). This enigmatic…
Vayeira: The Sounds of Silence
The Abraham story begins with G-d’s command to leave “his land, his birthplace and his family” (Breisheet 12:1) to go to some unknown land that G-d…
Lech Lecha: On the Move
Sefer Breisheet might be described as the book of movement. Beginning with the heavenly spheres and moving to birds, fish, animals and humans sefer…
Noach - Beauty with Torah
“And Noach begot three children, Shem, Cham and Yefet” (Breisheet 6:9). Unlike the many other brothers we meet in Breisheet, there is no tension…
Nitzavim-Vayelech: Standing Still and Moving Forward
It is the rare year in which none of the parshiot of the year are doubled. Being that a lunar year is 11 days shorter than a solar one, and…
Ki Tavo: Thank you
We are meant to observe mitzvot without fanfare, to do so because it is the right thing to do. Mitzvot are cheapened when they are used to display…
Ki Teizei: Put it in Context
When trying to properly understand something context is crucial. Torah is no different. A proper understanding of Torah requires a proper analysis of…
Shoftim: It is Your Responsibility
“Then all the elders of the town nearest to the corpse shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the wadi. And they shall make…
Re'eh: Conflicting Emotions
It is difficult to feel two contradictory emotions at the same time. Conflicting, if not contradictory, emotions such as joy and sadness,…
Eikev: Thank You!
We all like to take credit for success, but failure we tend to blame on others. Such is human nature. Judaism, in trying to elevate our base…
Va'etchanan: A Smart Torah
What is the role of the Jewish people? To give some insight to this most complex question we must first analyze why G-d created man in the first…
Devarim: Straight Talk
Some of the most stirring and beautiful Biblical words – or any words – are those spoken by the prophet Yishayahu. “Nation shall not lift up sword…
Mattot: To Speak or Not to Speak
“In ten utterances did G-d create the world” (Avot 5:1). It is thus not surprising that many see man’s ability to speak as the…
Pinchas: Three Types of Leaders
Parshat Pinchas presents us with at least three distinct models of leadership. Our parsha gets its name from the zealotry of Pinchas who,…
Balak: Hope over Dispair
As I noted in my last post I had the honour of speaking at the Beit Yehudah synagogue in Budapest last shabbat. Below is a summary of…
Chukat: From One Generation to the Next
The transition point from the generation that left Egypt to the one that entered the Land of Israel is never mentioned in the Torah. The Torah does…