“Do not follow the ways of Egypt, where you once lived” (Vayikra 18:2). The Jewish people's formative years were those spent in the land of Egypt,…
Metzora: Home Sweet Home
The home plays a critical—if not the critical—role in the development of Jewish life. The efforts of schools, shuls, camps, Israel trips, and the…
Tazria: The Cycles of Life
During Jewish leap years, Parshat HaChodesh, the special maftir portion we read on the Shabbat before Rosh Chodesh Nissan, generally…
Shmini: A Tale of Two Stories
"Moshe said to Aharon: This is what G-d meant when He said I will be sanctified amongst those who are nearest to me” (Vayikra 10:3). So we…
Tzav: Sacrifices and the Spoken Word
If one were to survey 100 Jews and ask them their least favourite book of Torah it is likely that the vast majority of them would say sefer…
Vayikra: Time to Remember
One of the fiercest debates amongst Biblical commentators of the medieval period was to what extent, if at all, parts of the Torah may be seen as…
Pekudei: Back to the Future
Often it is the crises of life that strengthen us. By confronting the challenges that surround us, we emerge more resilient and wiser from the…
Vayakhel: Talking Torah
"There is no man on earth of such righteousness that does good and is free from sin" (Kohelet 7:20). Being human means to sin, and since G-d created…
Ki Tisa: Talking Torah
“G-d said to Moses, ‘Write these words for yourself, ki al pi hadevarim, since it is through these words that I have made a covenant with you…
Tetzaveh: A New Wardrobe
The billions of dollars spent by the fashion industry, not to mention the celebrity status of fashion gurus, testify to the importance attached to…
Terumah: Working Together
The Torah is a description of the relationship between G-d and man, and between G-d and the Jewish people. The Torah begins with G-d’s creation of…
Mishpatim: Serving Man, Serving G-d
How does one come close to G-d? How can one hold on to great religious experiences as we go through the daily routine of life? This was the problem…
Yitro: Man and G-d
In his categorization of mitzvot, the Rambam lists as the first mitzvah belief in G-d. He begins his monumental code by telling us that “…
Beshalach: All Are Welcome
The book of Shemot details the emergence of the Jewish people as a nation. Though descending from spiritual giants, the nascent nation displayed…
Bo: My Dear Enemy
One of the great difficulties we often have is making a clear distinction between people and the ideas that they espouse. While one might reject an…
Vaera: Let My Leader Lead
One often hears people bemoaning the dearth of leadership that seems to surround us. Whether it is in politics, religious life or in the sphere of…
Shemot: A Friend in Need
After years of tranquility in Egypt the inevitable happens and the plague of anti-Jewish decrees rears its ugly head. The accomplishments of Yosef…
Vayechi: Family Ties
One of the recurring and unfortunate themes of the book of Breisheet is that of sibling rivalry and even hatred: Cain and Hevel, Yitzchak and…