"Eleh Hadevarim, these are the words that Moshe spoke to all of Israel" (Devarim 1:1). In Biblical…
Sukkah 2: Looking Skyward
“A sukkah that is taller than 20 amot, cubits (approximately 30 feet), is invalid; and Rabbi Yehuda…
Mattot-Massei: The Journey Continues
The Torah is full of repetition. Whether it is law or narrative, much of the Torah seems to deal…
Yoma 86: Time for a Cheeseburger?
One of the fundamental mitzvot of the Torah, one we acknowledge at least twice a day, is the…
Pirkei Avot: A Broken Transmission
“Moshe received the Torah at Sinai and transmitted it to Yehoshua, Yehoshua to the Elders, and the…
Pinchas: Not Fit for Leadership
“Pinchas, the son of Elazar, the son of Aaron the priest was the one who so zealously took up My…
Balak: Missed Opportunities
What a waste of talent. “No other prophet like Moses has arisen in Israel who knew G-d face to face…
Yoma 69: Who is Great
It is hard to imagine Jewish life without davening or brachot. They are amongst the most important…
Chukat: It's Tough To Be A Leader
People have a natural tendency to avoid talking about death. People "pass away" or are "no longer…
Reflections on a Yahrzeit
The thought below is written in honour my father z”l, Rabbi Joseph Kelman, Rav Chaim Yosef ben…
Korach: Don't Blame Me
What does it take to convince somebody that they are wrong? Humans have an unbelievable ability to…
Pirkei Avot: Let's Start at the Beginning
In our introductory post to Pirkei Avot we wondered why Rebbe, in editing the Mishna, did not begin…
An Introduction to Pirkei Avot
Last year and this, I have had the pleasure of learning and teaching Pirkei Avot. There is no…
Shelach Lecha: Blame Game
Who should get the blame for the meraglim fiasco? Was it the report of the spies, or the lack of…
Behaalotcha: Silence is Golden
After reading through Sefer Breisheet and the sibling rivalry we encounter in generation after…
Yoma 38: The Printing Press
“Talmud Torah k’neged kulam, Torah study equals them all”. And in our tradition, learning equates…
Bamidbar: Names and Numbers
Parshat Bamidbar is, on its surface, little more that names and numbers. The bulk of the parsha…
Yoma 23: Misplaced Priorities
In our last post, we discussed the tragic murder carried out in the Temple by a religious zealot…