One of the fiercest debates amongst Biblical commentators of the medieval period was to what extent…
Pekudei: Back to the Future
Often it is the crises of life that strengthen us. By confronting the challenges that surround us,…
Vayakhel: Talking Torah
"There is no man on earth of such righteousness that does good and is free from sin" (Kohelet 7:20…
Ki Tisa: Talking Torah
“G-d said to Moses, ‘Write these words for yourself, ki al pi hadevarim, since it is through these…
Tetzaveh: A New Wardrobe
The billions of dollars spent by the fashion industry, not to mention the celebrity status of…
Terumah: Working Together
The Torah is a description of the relationship between G-d and man, and G-d and the Jewish people.…
Moed Katan 5: That's A Good Question
Isaac Rabi, winner of the 1944 Nobel Prize in physics for his discovery of nuclear magnetic…
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…
Some Opening Thoughts on Moed Katan
This past week, Daf Yomi began learning masechet Moed Katan, “the little holiday.” This signals…
Yitro: Man and G-d
In his categorization of mitzvot, the Rambam lists as the first mitzvah belief in G-d. He begins…
Tu Bishvat: Winter Warmth
I write these words as I sit looking out the window at the absolutely beautiful snow that adorns…
Beshalach: All Are Welcome
The book of Shemot details the emergence of the Jewish people as a nation. Though descending from…
Bo: My Dear Enemy
One of the great difficulties we often have is making a clear distinction between people and the…
Vaera: Let My Leader Lead
One often hears people bemoaning the dearth of leadership that seems to surround us. Whether it is…
Megillah 7: I'll Drink to That
One of the most well-known Talmudic passages of masechet Megillah is the teaching of Rava that “one…
Shemot: A Friend in Need
After years of tranquility in Egypt the inevitable happens and the plague of anti-Jewish decrees…
Megillah 4: Megillah, Take Two
“Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: One is obligated to read the Megillah at night and lishnota, repeat…
Vayechi: Family Ties
One of the recurring and unfortunate themes of the book of Breisheet is that of sibling rivalry and…