We will be lighting Ner Rishon of Hanukah, the first light, next week. Two of the most prominent and famous Tanaim were the renowned Hilel and Shamai. In their discussion Shamai is often described as the stricter one and Hilel as the more lenient one. Although statistically correct, it is an oversimplification of the matter. …
Shabbat Toldot – How much is a lentil stew worth ?
We read in this Parsha how Esau is "selling" his firstborn rights to his junior brother - in exchange for a portion of Lentil stew. We know from our sages that this was not a deal meant to transfer any material goods from Esau to Yaakov, but rather an agreement that Yaakov will have the spiritual rights, and …
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Jogging the Neshama
Pre Rosh Hashana reflections on Shabbat Thirty years ago, when we saw someone jogging in the street near our home, we would assume this individual is most likely a professional sports person. Today, it is rare to walk and not see people running. Millions of people are much more aware of our need to maintain …
“My home is my castle” – Shabbat Ki Tetze
One would think that the phrase "my home is my castle" - (originally and correctly: „For a man´s house is his castle“, a preserved dictum from Sir Edward Coke 1552 – 1634, English barrister, judge, and politician who is often considered the greatest jurist of the Elizabethan and Jacobean eras) - is a proverb which reflects …
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Does the Torah endorse “self-pity”? Shabbat Kodesh Parshat Shoftim
We read in Parshat Shoftim (Devarim Chapter 20): כִּֽי־תֵצֵ֨א לַמִּלְחָמָ֜ה עַל־אֹיְבֶ֗ךָ וְֽרָאִ֜יתָ ס֤וּס וָרֶ֙כֶב֙ עַ֚ם רַ֣ב מִמְּךָ֔ לֹ֥א תִירָ֖א מֵהֶ֑ם כִּֽי־יְהֹוָ֤ה אֱלֹהֶ֙יךָ֙ עִמָּ֔ךְ הַמַּֽעַלְךָ֖ מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרָֽיִם׃ „When you [an Israelite warrior] take the field against your enemies, and see horses and chariots—forces larger than yours—have no fear of them, for your G'd, who brought you …
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Post Tishaa beAv thoughts
The main reason for the loss of the 2nd Beit Hamikdash as mentioned in numerous traditional sources, was שנאת חינם or - baseless hatred. Acrimony between people - for no (good...) reason. I have heard many times the term "אהבת חינם" ("Baseless love") as a "suggested cure" for the sin of besaless animosity. Easy to say. …
Let’s talk – Shabbat Kodesh Parashat Chukkat
In this week's Parsha - Moshe Rabeinu lost his entry visa to the holy land, to which he aspired throughout his life, especially having led his people for the difficult forty years in the desert. We read on Shabbat: וַיֹּ֣אמֶר יְהֹוָה֮ אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֣ה וְאֶֽל־אַהֲרֹן֒ יַ֚עַן לֹא־הֶאֱמַנְתֶּ֣ם בִּ֔י לְהַ֨קְדִּישֵׁ֔נִי לְעֵינֵ֖י בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל לָכֵ֗ן לֹ֤א תָבִ֙יאוּ֙ אֶת־הַקָּהָ֣ל הַזֶּ֔ה אֶל־הָאָ֖רֶץ …
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Forty years delay… Shabbat Kodesh Parashat Shelach
We will read this Shabbat about one of (if not the biggest) mishap of our forefathers on their voyage from Egypt to the Land of Israel. The expedition of the twelve "spies" went terribly wrong. They came back from "tour de Israel" and ten of the twelve agents dissuaded the nation from moving on to the …
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Raise them high… Shabbat Kodesh Parashat Behaalotcha
We will read on Shabbos at the start of the Parsha: וידבר ה' אל־משה לאמר דַּבֵּר֙ אֶֽל־אַהֲרֹ֔ן וְאָמַרְתָּ֖ אֵלָ֑יו בְּהַעֲלֹֽתְךָ֙ אֶת־הַנֵּרֹ֔ת אֶל־מוּל֙ פְּנֵ֣י הַמְּנוֹרָ֔ה יָאִ֖ירוּ שִׁבְעַ֥ת הַנֵּרֽוֹת Traditionally, this verse is translated : Speak to Aaron and say to him, “When you light the candles, let the seven candles give light towards the middle of the lampstand.” …
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Closeness to G’d
Shabbat Kodesh Parshat Bechukotai We read in the beginning of Parshat Bechukotai : אִם־בְּחֻקֹּתַ֖י תֵּלֵ֑כוּ וְאֶת־מִצְוֺתַ֣י תִּשְׁמְר֔וּ וַעֲשִׂיתֶ֖ם אֹתָֽם׃ "If you follow My laws and faithfully observe My commandments" (Vayikra 26,1) Then - וְנָתַתִּ֥י מִשְׁכָּנִ֖י בְּתוֹכְכֶ֑ם וְלֹֽא־תִגְעַ֥ל נַפְשִׁ֖י אֶתְכֶֽם׃ - "I will dwell in your midst, and I will not reject you". Vayikra 26,11). The simple question is, why …