בס”ד The eleventh of the 13 principles of faith as articulated by Maimonides, states that G-d rewards those who keep His commandments and punishes those who transgress them. This concept is often used to misconstrue G-d as “vengeful” by other religions. But nothing could be further from the truth. Imagine… Read More »THE OPPORTUNITY OF YOM KIPPUR
בס”ד See, I have set before you this day life and good, and death and evil (Deuteronomy 30:15) …therefore choose life, that you may live, you and your seed (ibid., verse 19) At some point, there was a trend of people wearing large, white t-shirts with the words “CHOOSE LIFE”… Read More »PARSHAT NITZAVIM – VAYELECH: CHOOSE LIFE
בס”ד “This day, the L-rd your G-d commands you to perform these statutes and these decrees, and you shall observe and perform them with all of your heart and all of your soul” (Deuteronomy 26:16) Since the Torah was given at Mount Sinai, what is meant by “this day the… Read More »PARSHAT KI TAVO – TODAY
בס”ד 22 And if a man has committed a sin worthy of death, and he be put to death, and you hang him on a tree; 23 his body shall not remain all night upon the tree, but you shall surely bury him the same day; for he that is… Read More »PARSHAT KI TEITZEI – IN THE IMAGE OF G-D
בס”ד 19 When you shall besiege a city a long time, in making war against it to take it, you shall not destroy the trees thereof by wielding an axe against them; for you may eat of them, but you shall not cut them down; for is the tree of… Read More »PARSHAT SHOFTIM – HUG TREES
בס”ד 26 Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse: 27 the blessing, if you shall hearken unto the commandments of the L-rd your G-d, which I command you this day; 28 and the curse, if you shall not hearken unto the commandments of the L-rd… Read More »PARSHAT RE’EH – EVERDAY PEOPLE
בס”ד 12 And now, Israel, what does the L-rd your G-d require of you, but to fear the L-rd your G-d, to walk in all His ways, and to love Him, and to serve the L-rd your G-d with all your heart and with all your soul (Devarim 10:12) … Read More »PARSHAT EIKEV – FEAR
בס”ד 23 And I besought the L-rd at that time, saying: 24 ‘O L-rd G-d, Thou hast begun to show Thy servant Thy greatness, and Thy strong hand; for what god is there in heaven or on earth, that can do according to Thy works, and according to Thy mighty… Read More »PARSHAT VA’ETCHANAN – NEVER GIVE UP
בס”ד 1 These are the words which Moses spoke unto all Israel beyond the Jordan; in the wilderness, in the Arabah, over against Suph, between Paran and Tophel, and Laban, and Hazeroth, and Di-zahab. (Devarim 1:1) Most of the content of this week’s Torah portion is comprised of Moshe’s recount… Read More »PARSHAT DEVARIM – WORDS
בס”ד 25 and the congregation shall deliver the manslaughterer out of the hand of the avenger of blood, and the congregation shall restore him to his city of refuge, whither he had fled; and he shall dwell therein until the death of the high priest, who was anointed with the… Read More »PARSHAT MATOT-MAASEI: EXILE AND REDEMPTIONS
