“Im Bryiah Yivrah, But if the Lord creates a creation, and the earth opens its mouth, patzta et piha, and swallows them and all that is theirs,…
Shelach Lecha: The Limits of Miracles
One of the most fascinating features of the Torah is the mixing of law and narrative. Nowhere is this more evident than in sefer Bamidbar.…
Beha'alotcha: The Challenge of Leadership
One can reasonably argue that the primary theme of sefer Bamidbar is that of leadership. How much responsibility must a leader take for the…
Naso: Seeing is Not Believing
It is amazing how two people can look at the exact same thing and yet see things very differently. This is likely the reason that the Torah often…
Bamidbar:The Challenge of Change
One of the hallmarks of a strong society is its ability to smoothly effect change. New leaders and policies, crises and confrontations are all dealt…
Emor: The Setting Sun
The major theme of sefer Vayikra is, arguably, that of tumah and taharah, purity and impurity. When one reads the Torah, one senses what seems almost…
Kedoshim: It's All About Man
“The majority of the essence of the Torah is dependant upon it”. So asserts Rashi as he begins his commentary to parshat kedoshim. It is because…
Tazria: Less Money, More Time
There is no aspect of our life that is beyond the purview of Torah. People need its rules and regulations in every area, to keep their natural…
Shmini: Comforting Cousins
At times of crisis, true leaders often emerge, be they political, military or religious. Their ability to effectively provide inspiration, motivation…
Tzav: City of Peace
“Do not eat any blood…any person who eats blood shall have his soul cut off from his people” (Vayikra 7:26-27). The prohibition against eating blood…
Vayikra: I Made A Mistake
One of the tragedies of the human condition is the inability to admit our mistakes. Even when faced with compelling arguments to the contrary man has…
Vayakhel-Pekudei: What's In a Name?
"Moshe said to the Jewish people: See that G-d called in the name of Bezalel, the son of Uri, the son of Chur, of the tribe of Judah" (Shemot 35:30…
Ki Tisa: No Dancing Allowed
Why did Moshe break the luchot habreet, the tablets of testimony, that were written by G-d himself? While one might be tempted to answer…
Tezaveh: Consistency and Excitement
For many, when the Torah reading reaches the parshiot of Terumah and Tezaveh interest in the parsha wanes just a bit (or maybe…
Terumah: A Giving Heart
In his introduction to Pirkei Avot, the Rambam distinguishes between those mitzvot which we are to observe because we want to and those we should…
Yitro: Justice and Judges
Famine, exile, dissent, descent, slavery, persecution, death and at last redemption. The Jewish people have crossed the sea – finally believing “in G…
Beshalach: A Proper Education
The story of the attack by Amalek upon the newly freed slaves from Egypt appears twice in the Torah, once in our parsha and once 40 years…
Bo: Torah Contradictions
The Torah is full contradictions[1]. So much so that interpreting these contradictions is one of the most fundamental principles of Biblical exegesis…