28 Tisrei – 13 October 2023 G-d formed man of dust from the ground (adamah) Genesis 2:7. This is why the human is called Adam. But this verse concludes by telling us that G-d blew into his nostrils the breath of life. Breath in Hebrew is neshima – this refers… Read More »GENESIS 2:7 – MAN IS DUST AND POTENTIAL
26 Tisrei – 11 October 2023 G-d had made it very clear that the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil was not to be eaten, and that “on the day you eat of it you will surely become subject to death” (Genesis 2:17). If that was the case, how… Read More »GIVE ME CLARITY OR GIVE ME DEATH!
5 Tisrei – 20 September 2023 “For with You there is forgiveness, so that You may be feared .” (Psalm 130:4) Why should we be fearful if Hashem is forgiving? The Baal Shem Tov explained that the potential for forgiveness exists if we grab the opportunity of teshuvah/repentance. It’s not… Read More »PSALM 130:4 – WHY SHOULD WE BE FEARFUL IF HASHEM IS FORGIVING?
22 Elul – 8 September 2023 “Gather together the nation, the men, the women, and the small children and your stranger who is in your gates so that they will hear and so that they will learn and they will fear Hashem your God, and they will be careful to… Read More »DEUTERONOMY 31:12 – IN YOUR GATES
20 Elul – 6 September 2023 “You saw their abominations and their detestable idols of wood and stone, of silver and gold that were with them” If these idols are so repulsive, how could anyone even think of going after them to worship them? Why does Moses have to warn… Read More »DEUTERONOMY 29:16 – WOOD AND SILVER?
18 Elul – 4 September 2023 “…and you will be only on top and you will not on the bottom when you obey the commandments of Hashem your G-d” . It’s clearly impossible to be on the top and bottom at the same time, so why does the Torah have… Read More »DEUTERONOMY 28:13 – TOP AND BOTTUM
15 Elul – 1 September 2023 “And all the nations of the earth will see that the Name of Hashem is called upon you and they will revere you” According to the Talmud, the Name of Hashem that is called upon you is referring to the tefillin (phylacteries) of the… Read More »DEUTERONOMY 28:10 – TEFILLIN IN THE HEAD
14 Elul – 31 August 2023 Deuteronomy 28 contains G-d’s foreboding admonition of what will happen to the people of Israel if we stray from Him and His instructions. Verse 47 lays out the bottom line about why we may suffer these curses: “Because you did not serve Hashem, your… Read More »DEUTERONOMY 28:47 – WRONG GLADNESS OF HEART
13 Elul 5783 – 30 August 2023 “Cursed is the one who strikes his fellow in secret…” What is meant by striking someone in secret? People know if you have hit them. Rashi explains that striking one’s fellow secretly means to slander him. The Baal HaTurim points out that this… Read More »DEUTERONOMY 27:24 – IN SECRET = WITH SLANDER
8 Elul 5783 – 25 August 2023 “When you go out to war against your enemies, and Hashem your G-d delivers them into your hand, and you take their captives”. On a personal level, this refers to our war against our Yetzer Hara (inner adversary) – the urges and base… Read More »DEUTERONOMY 21:10 – SINS TRANSFORMING TO MERITS
