We read in Parshat Mishpatim that if a person is causing a personal injury to another, he will be penalised as follows : (כב) וְכִֽי־יִנָּצ֣וּ אֲנָשִׁ֗ים וְנָ֨גְפ֜וּ אִשָּׁ֤ה הָרָה֙ וְיָצְא֣וּ יְלָדֶ֔יהָ וְלֹ֥א יִהְיֶ֖ה אָס֑וֹן עָנ֣וֹשׁ יֵעָנֵ֗שׁ כַּֽאֲשֶׁ֨ר יָשִׁ֤ית עָלָיו֙ בַּ֣עַל הָֽאִשָּׁ֔ה וְנָתַ֖ן בִּפְלִלִֽים׃ (כג) וְאִם־אָס֖וֹן יִהְיֶ֑ה וְנָתַתָּ֥ה נֶ֖פֶשׁ תַּ֥חַת נָֽפֶשׁ׃ (כד) עַ֚יִן תַּ֣חַת עַ֔יִן שֵׁ֖ן …
Did G’d need a rest?
We read in Parshat Yitro: כִּ֣י שֵֽׁשֶׁת־יָמִים֩ עָשָׂ֨ה' ה אֶת־הַשָּׁמַ֣יִם וְאֶת־הָאָ֗רֶץ אֶת־הַיָּם֙ וְאֶת־כׇּל־אֲשֶׁר־בָּ֔ם וַיָּ֖נַח בַּיּ֣וֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִ֑י עַל־כֵּ֗ן בֵּרַ֧ךְ ה' אֶת־י֥וֹם הַשַּׁבָּ֖ת וַֽיְקַדְּשֵֽׁהוּ׃ "For in six days 'ה made heaven and earth and sea—and all that is in them—and then rested on the seventh day; therefore G-d blessed the sabbath day and hallowed it". It is patently obvious …
We all “make” the Concert… Shabbat Kodesh Parshat Shemot
We read on Shabbat Shemot the following two verses: ה֥וּא אַהֲרֹ֖ן וּמֹשֶׁ֑ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר אָמַ֤ר יְהֹוָה֙ לָהֶ֔ם הוֹצִ֜יאוּ אֶת־בְּנֵ֧י יִשְׂרָאֵ֛ל מֵאֶ֥רֶץ מִצְרַ֖יִם עַל־צִבְאֹתָֽם׃ It is the same Aaron and Moses to whom G'd said, “Bring forth the Israelites from the land of Egypt, troop by troop.” הֵ֗ם הַֽמְדַבְּרִים֙ אֶל־פַּרְעֹ֣ה מֶֽלֶךְ־מִצְרַ֔יִם לְהוֹצִ֥יא אֶת־בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל מִמִּצְרָ֑יִם ה֥וּא מֹשֶׁ֖ה וְאַהֲרֹֽן׃ …
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The simple Chanukah candle.…
When the first Rebbi of Slonim passed away, he left a few descendants. All of them were learned and pious. The Chasidim had to make a difficult decision on who would be best suited to replace their Rebbe as the next leader of this great movement. The final decision was based on the following story: …
Increasing the light…
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. …