2023-03-17

"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…

2023-03-10

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 that it was…

2023-03-03

For many, when the Torah reading reaches the parshiot of Terumah and Tezaveh interest in the parsha wanes just a bit (or maybe more). It is hard to…

2023-02-24

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…

2023-02-10

Famine, exile, dissent, descent, slavery, persecution, death and at last redemption. The Jewish people have crossed the sea – finally believing “in G…

2023-02-03

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 later in …

2023-01-27

The Torah is full contradictions[1]. So much so that interpreting these contradictions is one of the most fundamental principles of Biblical exegesis…

2023-01-20

One of the amazing features of man is his ability to adapt to practically any and all situations. When facing tragedy, we often feel that we can no…

2023-01-13

“And a new king arose who did not know Yosef” (Shemot 1:6). What a difference a few years can make. In the 59 years between the death of Yosef and…

2022-03-04

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…

2022-02-25

"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…

2022-02-18

“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 and…

2022-02-11

The billions of dollars spent by the fashion industry, not to mention the celebrity status of fashion gurus, testify to the importance attached to…

2022-02-04

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…

2022-01-28

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…

2022-01-21

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 “the…

2022-01-14

The book of Shemot details the emergence of the Jewish people as a nation. Though descending from spiritual giants, the nascent nation displayed…

2022-01-07

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…

2021-12-31

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…

2021-12-24

After years of tranquility in Egypt the inevitable happens and the plague of anti-Jewish decrees rears its ugly head. The accomplishments of Yosef…

2021-03-05

The mark of a great leader is the ability to inspire others—even in their absence. A great company operates at peak efficiency even when the CEO is…

2021-02-26

One of the key ways by which groups self-identify is through the medium of clothes. Almost all religions have some form of dress code or …

2021-02-12

It is common after a major event to have difficulty getting back into our daily routine. Whether it is a child's wedding, an exotic vacation or a…

2021-02-04

In the Western world, the number ten represents perfection. Not surprisingly, this concept seems to be rooted in our biblical tradition. “In…