This year my Hebrew birthday (28th of the month of Shvat) occurred on February 13. The Torah portion coinciding with my Hebrew birthday is “Terumah” Exodus 25:1–27:19. This was the Torah portion that I read from the Torah scroll in Synagogue for my Bar Mitzvah. After the exciting stories at Read more…
The issue of national leadership is grabbing headlines around the world – whether it’s who makes the best leader as President or Cabinet Secretary or Supreme Court Justice. What better time for learning the Torah’s view of leadership than this week’s Torah reading― which tells of Pharaoh and Moses leading Read more…
“And if you bring an a meal offering baked in the oven, it shall be unleavened cakes of fine flour mixed with olive oil, or unleavened wafers spread with olive oil.” Leviticus 2:4 Following the celebration of Hanukkah this past month, a unique opportunity opened to the public: the purchase Read more…
Everything in the world is a potential springboard for meaning. From the Torah portion — Vayishlach (Genesis 32:4-36:43) (This is a guest post from my dear friend and study partner, Rabbi Shraga Simmons. Originally published on Aish.com) This week’s parsha finds Jacob crossing the Jabbok River into Israel. Besides a Read more…
When King Solomon died, the ten northern tribes refused to submit to his son, Rehoboam, and they revolted. Jeroboam, a banished leader of Solomon’s court, led the rebellion and when Rehoboam refused to work out the grievances of the northern tribes, those tribes declared their independence and proclaimed Jeroboam King Read more…
The 17th day of Tammuz (July 24, 2016) is a sun-up to sun-down fast day in the Jewish Calendar. It is the day on which five major tragedies happened in our history. The Roman siege of Jerusalem began on this day which ultimately led to the destruction of the second Read more…
Rabbi Chanina said, “I have learned much from my teachers, more from my colleagues, and the most from my students” (Ta’anit 7a). I always try to teach my students to love the Land of Israel with all their heart and soul. Here are the wonderful words of one of my Read more…
Pharoah’s army is in a deadly pursuit of the Jewish people as they arrive at the sea. Moshe tells the people, “Don’t be afraid… stand by and watch … God will do battle for you and you will be still.” (Exodus 14: 13-14) God performs the miracle at the sea: Read more…
Why Did the Children of Israel have to Suffer as Slaves in Egypt? This week we begin the book of Shmot (Exodus) It begins with the enslavement of the Jews in Egypt and their ultimate redemption through the 10 plagues and the Exodus from Egypt under Moshe’s leadership. Since God Read more…
One of my seminary students shares a deep message from this week’s Torah Portion – Trumah The Parsha deals with the donations the Children of Israel gave in order to build the Tabernacle in the desert. Kailah is one of a group of young Jewish women who have chosen to Read more…
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