Judaism


Tsav: The challenge of a depleted pocket

The word "tsav" is found only concerning the Korban Tamid. Why?

Tsav: The challenge of a depleted pocket

Tzav: Here is a riddle for you:

What it says on the tin should be what you find within it.

Tzav: Here is a riddle for you:

Tzav: Fighting evil

How do we continue to trust in G-d when He allows us to be rocketed by so much evil and darkness?

Tzav: Fighting evil

Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch on the parsha: Tethered to the past

Our mission and our ancestors’ mission are one and the same.

Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch on the parsha: Tethered to the past

Rabbi Kook on Psalm 100: Recognizing God's kindness

Israel's first chief rabbi: "Our world is inherently imperfect, and God’s kindness is not always readily apparent."

Rabbi Kook on Psalm 100: Recognizing God's kindness

Stop the March Madness now!

March Madness involves basketball. This March, our beloved Israel, and World Jewry, are suffering a different and far-more insidious madness, called antisemitism. Op-ed.

Stop the March Madness now!

The haredim are our secret weapon

The rest of the world is also beginning to recognize the unique value of Israel’s religiously committed population.

The haredim are our secret weapon

Can Gedolim err?

When the Rebbe of Belz came on aliyah, he said, ‘We realize now that we erred in our estrangement from Eretz Yisrael.’

Can Gedolim err?

A nation united

Because Mordechai gathered all the Jews, the Jewish people were saved. Unity is the key to redemption.

A nation united

I wish I had wings...

It is the month of Adar, the month of rebirth, of hopefulness. And yet, a white cloud of disbelief lends an atmosphere of disbelief, to the lovely scene. We ask, When? For how long?

I wish I had wings...

The Yetzer Hara and Purim

“Brief” encounters can lead to devastation.

The Yetzer Hara and Purim

Purim Torah: UN condemns Jews for genocide against Haman

UN demands cessation of all gragger spinning. Ahashveros confused again - cannot seem to tell the difference between Haman and Mordechai.

Purim Torah: UN condemns Jews for genocide against Haman

The inside story of Megillat Esther

To present an example that is happening right before our eyes; Why is the entire world focused, and even obsessed with Israel?

The inside story of Megillat Esther

A Purim Spiel

Dramatic announcement of the DOA.

A Purim Spiel

Purim: Why do they hate us?

Every nation, every culture which ever felt threatened by the knowledge of G-d was determined to exterminate, to kill, and to destroy all the Jews, from young to old, babies and women.

Purim: Why do they hate us?

What did Hashem say to Moshe from the Ohel Moed?

Our Sages expound the word ‘Saying’ in the first pasuk in several ways, feeling that it is superfluous, as immediately after it - in the second pasuk - the Torah again says:’Speak to Bnei Israel, and say to them.’

What did Hashem say to Moshe from the Ohel Moed?

The Joy of spending Purim with Rabbi Kook

Israel's first Chief Rabbi had a unique tradition for Purim festivities and his students took part. In the middle of his speech, Rav Kook suddenly stood up and began to sing with great elation, “Do not fear, My servant Jacob! Do not fear, do not fear!”

The Joy of spending Purim with Rabbi Kook

Vayikra:

How to hear the calling

R’ Moshe Feinstein asks the obvious – if G-d’s voice was to be heard by Moshe alone, why does the Torah allude to the might and majesty of G-d’s communications? What purpose was served by this miracle?

How to hear the calling

Eretz Yisrael in the parsha: Peace offerings

Young religious Zionist Torah scholars connect the parasha and the Holy Land.

Eretz Yisrael in the parsha: Peace offerings

Talking Parsha - Vayikra & Zachor: Why 'call' Moshe??

How does the small 'aleph' in the first work of Vayikra - a minor nuance - contribute to the deeper meaning? And why is the book named after its first word? Join us as we uncover the connection between Vayikra, Shabbat Zachor, and Purim.

Talking Parsha - Vayikra & Zachor: Why 'call' Moshe??

Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch on the parsha: Do you care?

Animosity is often better than indifference.

Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch on the parsha: Do you care?

Wait until G-d calls you

Torah Mitzion for Shabbat Zachor and Purim.

Wait until G-d calls you

The truth about Antisemitism is hard for Jews to accept

October 7th demonstrates the cause of Jew-hatred.

The truth about Antisemitism is hard for Jews to accept

The Mitzvah to eradicate Amalek in our generation

In our generation, when there is no known Amalek, we must uphold the root of the mitzvah, which is to eradicate evil and wage uncompromising war, even when our merciful nature seeks peace

The Mitzvah to eradicate Amalek in our generation

Go and gather all the Jews

One of the most startling and heartwarming outcomes of this war has been the assembly of the Jewish people in battle and in support of one another.

Go and gather all the Jews

Shabbat Zachor: Perverted compassion

Refusing to kill Amalek, keeping Amalek alive, isn’t a surfeit of compassion. It’s the opposite: it is a perversion of compassion. Exterminating evil is the truest compassion.

Shabbat Zachor: Perverted compassion

Tanya video/lecture: The Holy Epistle

The Tanya compacts four millennia of Jewish wisdom to answer the great personal and existential questions of life. It has revolutionized the way we think about G -d the human soul, the world and our place in it.

Tanya video/lecture: The Holy Epistle

Bridge of Faith

The Rabbi tells Islamic scholars: "According to Judaism, the faith of Islam is not fundamentally excluded."

Bridge of Faith

'Kitvuni' - short essays for Purim

'Esther's Wisdom' - A collection of essays for Purim by the Matan Kitvuni Fellows, women scholars and educators.

'Kitvuni' - short essays for Purim

A call to prayer on the Fast of Esther

The call for active participation in tefillah and fasting on the Fast of Esther (March 21) on behalf of the many acute needs of our people has come from across the spectrum, including rabbinic leaders, the Hostages Forum, and the President of Israel.

A call to prayer on the Fast of Esther

To all the “As a Jew” Jews

As a Jew myself, I have some questions for you, Charles Schumer and Jonathan Glazer.

To all the “As a Jew” Jews

Makhtub (Arabic)- divinely ordained

The Prophet Amos describes the punishment of Gaza for its sins. May we be privileged to see the fire that devours Gaza.

Makhtub (Arabic)- divinely ordained

In Memory of Reb Tuvia Katz z”l

As a youth in Argentina, my father-in-law Reb Tuvia Katz z”l stood out because of his leadership qualities. Upon immigrating to Israel, he drew dozens of young people in his wake.

In Memory of Reb Tuvia Katz z”l

It’s just the beginning

Rabbi Kook sought to explain how an enlightened, industrialized, and cultured Europe could unleash such destructive barbaric forces that brought the world to a cataclysmic and death-filled war. Nothing has changed.

It’s just the beginning

Important themes of Rav Yitzchok Hutner's teachings

Part 4: Shabbos as the source of all holiness.

Important themes of Rav Yitzchok Hutner's teachings

Eretz Yisrael Yomi: Pekudei

Young Religious Zionist Torah scholars connect the parasha to Eretz Yisrael.

Eretz Yisrael Yomi: Pekudei

The Real Value of the Mishkan

Gur Aryeh [a supercommentary on Rashi written circa. 1550] asks the obvious–the Torah has just spent hundreds of Pesukim describing the building of the Mishkan, and all that went in to it, and finally, at the culmination of the process, when the last details and accountings are being presented to the Jews–the Torah chooses to allude to the eventual destruction of it all.

The Real Value of the Mishkan

Transparency & Gratitude

The whole process of building the tabernacle is only a stage in reaching the real thing, building the Temple.

Transparency & Gratitude

Talking Parsha:

Pekudei: Why "Set up" the Mishkan??

As we conclude the book of Shemot and the construction of the Mishkan, Hashem instructs Moshe to set it up. A notable emphasis is placed on the verb "setting up" (קום) in the Torah.

Pekudei: Why "Set up" the Mishkan??

Our relationship with money

The day Moses became a bookkeeper.

Our relationship with money

The largest ever recruitment of Yeshiva students

Where do these people come from? From a great perception of Torah, which we call "the Torah of the Land of Israel" in the way of Rabbi Kook.

The largest ever recruitment of Yeshiva students

Shmot: The book of human judgment

The book of Shemot ends on a triumphant note.

Shmot: The book of human judgment

Moshe could not enter the Tent of Assemby

At the end of the Book of Shmot, Moshe cannot enter the Tent of Assembly and the shechina has not yet spoken with him!

Moshe could not enter the Tent of Assemby

The Parsha and Current Events: The King’s scepter

The best of all choices is to thank Hashem for returning us to Eretz Yisrael, a holy home that we can love and defend in all circumstances.

The Parsha and Current Events: The King’s scepter

Tanya video/lecture: The Holy Epistle

An in depth study of the ancient works of of the Alter Rebbe, Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi.

Tanya video/lecture: The Holy Epistle

Rabbi Hirsch on the parsha: Enmeshed in darkness

Why couldn’t the Jews erect the Mishkan at night?

Rabbi Hirsch on the parsha: Enmeshed in darkness

A powerful Brit Milah

We cried over the fact that Yehonatan was not there but also celebrated Aviyah and his family’s resolve to continue raising their children with the timeless traditions of the Jewish people.

A powerful Brit Milah

What would Moses think of us today?

What would he say about the abysmal lack of knowledge about Judaism of so many Jews?

What would Moses think of us today?

Who should we fear more, Biden or God?

With all respect to you, Joe Biden, who are you to tell us not to route out evil? With all respect to you, Netanyahu, who do you fear more, Biden or God?

Who should we fear more, Biden or God?

Rosh Chodesh Essay: This year, we are all Esther

Esther teaches us that when the nation faces an existential threat, the rules of pikuach nefesh change. Megillat Esther helps us understand how Jewish law views the sacrifice of our soldiers.

Rosh Chodesh Essay: This year, we are all Esther

The bombshell

Rabbi Yitschak Yossef's statements must be understood in the context of how the issue of haredi draft is being used for politial ends. In truth, for the IDF, the enlistment of ten-thousand Haredim would be more of a headache than a salvation.

The bombshell

Sanctifying time

In human behavior and thought, time is as important as wealth or location or the accomplishment of any human deeds.

Sanctifying time

If you have skills, use them

Whatever skill we might have, we must ask ourselves, how we can use it for G-d?

If you have skills, use them

Vayakhel: Stars in the Tabernacle

Israel's first Chief Rabbi: The structure of the Tabernacle corresponded to the entire universe.

Vayakhel: Stars in the Tabernacle

Shabbat:

Building the Temple, keeping the flame of hope alive

After thousands of years of no homeland, no Beit Hamikdash, exile and persecution, our National Identity in the metaphysical sense has been the mitzvah of Shabbat – it warms the heart and soul of the Jewish people like no other.

Building the Temple, keeping the flame of hope alive

A cover-up of Biblical proportions

A tribute to my dear student Nadiv.

A cover-up of Biblical proportions




























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