Rabbi Nachman teaches, I still want and long for my friend to be a pure Jew and a Tzaddik even if I myself feel unable to achieve the same. Even when I find myself unable to serve G-d, I am happy when another Jew serves Him. I want, long and… Read More »EMBRACING THE ASPIRATION OF OTHERS
“And the people took off their gold rings which were in their ears, and brought them to Aaron” (Exodus 32:3). Come and see, Rabbi Yitzchak of Slonim used to say, how even the corrupt individuals among those who left Egypt were ready and willing to give up their silver and… Read More »EXODUS 32:3 GOLD AND SILVER
Ki Tisa (Exodus 30:11-34:35 ) Shemot, 30:23: “And you, take for yourself high spices, pure myrrh [mor dror]…”Targum Onkelot, Shemos, 30:23: “…mara dachya…”Talmud, Chullin, 139b: “Where is Mordechai [alluded to] in the Torah? As it says, ‘mor dror’ and it is translated [by the Targum] as mara dachya…” The Talmud asks where the name of Mordechai is alluded to… Read More »PARSHAT KI TISA – MORDECHAI: PURE FROM THE IMPURE
בס”ד PARSHAT KI TISA 5784 Exodus 31: 13 Speak to the Israelite people and say: Nevertheless, you must keep My sabbaths, for this is a sign between Me and you throughout the ages, that you may know that I Hashem have consecrated you. וְאַתָּ֞ה דַּבֵּ֨ר אֶל־בְּנֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ לֵאמֹ֔ר אַ֥ךְ… Read More »PARSHAT KI TISA 5784 5784 – EXPLORING THE SABBATH COVENANT AND THE PROMIS OF THE MESSIANIC AGE
“Offer one lamb in the morning and the second lamb in the afternoon” (Exodus 29:39). The Introduction to the Ein Yaakov compendium of Talmudic Aggadita (Midrash) cites a fascinating discussion about which verse best captures the essence of the entire Torah. Rabbi Akiva puts forward the famous verse in Leviticus… Read More »EXODUS 29:39 – OFFERING LAMBS
Torah Reflections: Conversations on the Weekly Parshah בס”ד Integrating Torah into one’s life through reflection and conversation can be an incredibly fun and engaging experience. It’s a journey of discovery, where ancient wisdom and timeless teachings come to life in our daily experiences. Through reflection, we have the opportunity to… Read More »PARSHAT TETZAVEH 5784 – THE BREATH OF JOY
בס”ד Your true place is one of light. Even if you find yourself in the midst of darkness and sorrow, you must remember that this is not your home.Your essential being consists of an unbreakable bond with the Source of Light. From there it extends a radiance of itself downwards… Read More »STAYING UP
בס”ד … And Western Hostility towards Israel Amalek is seen as the personification of anyone who is atheistic, particularly those who openly engage in conflict with those who are religious, and during the time of the Exodus from Egypt, was the embodiment of evil attacking Israel and thereby assaulting the… Read More »THE THEOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE OF AMALEK IN THE CONTEXT OF MODERN ATHEISM…
בס”ד The Triumph of Light over Darkness The story of Purim, as told in the Book of Esther, recounts the tale of a Jewish woman named Esther who, as queen of Persia, risks her life to save the Jewish people from the genocide plotted by the wicked Haman, an advisor… Read More »PURIM KATAN 5784 – ISRAELS STRUGGLE AGAINST HAMAS IN THE LIGHT OF PURIM
Rabbi Nachman teaches, There was once a very rich man who possessed countless wealth. He announced that anyone who needed to borrow money should come to him and he would give him a loan. Needless to say, large numbers of people were only too eager to take up his offer,… Read More »THE PARABLE OF THE RICH MAN’S LOANS: A LESSON IN GRATITUDE AND ENCOURAGEMENT
