News and updates about Torah

Haredim and the Living Torah

In a perfect world, in my view, every Jew would spend time as a soldier and every soldier would spend time learning in a yeshiva – the former to teach us how to fight, the latter to teach us what we are fighting for.

Haredim and the Living Torah

Important themes of Rav Yitzchok Hutner's teachings

Part 3: Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, Founders and Pillars of the Jewish People.

Important themes of Rav Yitzchok Hutner's teachings

Ki Tisa: The real you Is perfect

Our sages taught that when we repent properly, even deliberate sins are turned into merits.

Ki Tisa: The real you Is perfect

Mishpatim: Accepting two Torahs

Israel's first Chief Rabbi: The Jewish people received two Torahs at Sinai.

Mishpatim: Accepting two Torahs

Mishpatim: Time for Torah

When I study the Torah and come to “know” G-d’s thinking as well as Adam knew Eve, G-d is present in my mind.

Mishpatim: Time for Torah

Yitro: A pure Revelation

Israel's first Chief Rabbi: The Torah given to Moses by Hashem at Sinai is exactly what he gave the Jewish people.

Yitro: A pure Revelation

The light keeper

There is only one source of light. There is no pluralism in the Torah. Our multiple opinions and traditions must align with the single source of the Torah’s light.

The light keeper

Rabbi Dr. Raymond Apple has passed away

Formerly the leading Jewish rabbinic spokesman in Australia, Rabbi and Mrs. Apple made aliya upon his retirement. His concise and well-chosen Divrei Torah were featured on Arutz Sheva for many years.

Rabbi Dr. Raymond Apple has passed away

Is there no Torah in Exile?

How can our Sages say that there is no Torah in the Diaspora? The Jews continued learning Torah all over the world.

Is there no Torah in Exile?

Jewish victory depends on Jewish unity

Torah Templates of the past predict future patterns of Jewish History and Destiny.

Jewish victory depends on Jewish unity

A time to study esoteric wisdom

Israel's first Chief Rabbi: At times, the soul grows weary of the confines of exact sciences, the limited aspirations of narrow disciplines.

A time to study esoteric wisdom

Which commandments are more important?

Commandments between man and G-d or man and his fellow man - which are more important?

Which commandments are more important?

A small, lonely and eternal people

Even the cursory reader senses that Avraham and Sarah are up to something great – that this is no ordinary tale of pioneering and struggle.

A small, lonely and eternal people

What we must do after the war

Israel must retake control of the entire Land of Israel and never withdraw again.

What we must do after the war

A tale of two Torahs: The timeless and the timely

If Judaism Is immutable, how can it be relevant?

A tale of two Torahs: The timeless and the timely

Eikev: Blessings over bread and Torah

Israel's first Chief Rabbi: Why is Birkat Hamazon recited after the meal, while the blessing for Torah study is recited before studying?

Eikev: Blessings over bread and Torah

Why Israel must reclaim its soul now

The Split In Israel: Hatikvah Vs. Bentching. What does one have that the other doesn't?

Why Israel must reclaim its soul now

Rabbi Shinshon Rafael Hirsch: Should we make the Torah easier?

Our ancestors found G-d’s law difficult to obey, but G-d never lowered His standards.

Rabbi Shinshon Rafael Hirsch: Should we make the Torah easier?

Report:

Sweden to change law related to burning of sacred texts

Swedish government reportedly informs Israel it is working to change local law following uproar over burning of Jewish Bible.

Sweden to change law related to burning of sacred texts

Naftali Bennett:

'Burning a Torah is not free speech, it's hatred and incitement'

Former PM interviewed on Swedish television, explains why Israel is against the Swedish decision to allow a Torah to be burned in public.

'Burning a Torah is not free speech, it's hatred and incitement'

Rabbi Dr. Shalom Gold has passed away

Leading rabbi, Torah lecturer and speaker Rabbi Dr. Shalom Gold, passed away on Shabbat.

Rabbi Dr. Shalom Gold has passed away

After Quran burning:

Stockholm authorities receive application to burn Torah

Police in Stockholm receive new applications to burn religious texts following burning of Quran that sparked outrage in the Muslim world.

Stockholm authorities receive application to burn Torah

Op-ed:

Israel can regain the world's respect by embracing its Heritage

Israel's attempts to gain the respect it deserves are not succeeding, and it’s worth considering why. Op-ed.

Israel can regain the world's respect by embracing its Heritage

Balak: An Eternal People

Israel's first Chief Rabbi: The Torah does not extol nationalism for its own sake. When the Jews became a people, they were given a mission.

 Balak: An Eternal People

The Torah of Eretz Yisrael vs. the Torah of Chutz la’Aretz

The natural environment in the Land of Israel supports the observance of Torah; it does not depend on miracles and overcoming nature.

The Torah of Eretz Yisrael vs. the Torah of Chutz la’Aretz

The Torah – a Global Moral Revolution

The Giving of the Torah to Israel rectified an entire world which was subject to slavery, incest, and injustice in law

The Torah – a Global Moral Revolution

Watch:

American yeshiva students visit Rabbi Gershon Edelstein

The senior haredi leader discussed the Torah's sweetness with the students, who came to visit ahead of the Shavuot holiday.

American yeshiva students visit Rabbi Gershon Edelstein

The gift from Esau and Ishmael: Naaseh veNishma

Ramban:’Had not Israel accepted the Torah, the world would have returned to nothingness, BY ITSELF...’.

The gift from Esau and Ishmael: Naaseh veNishma

Every Jew is a letter in the Torah

But - we sink or swim together, just as a kosher Torah needs all its letters to be kosher.

Every Jew is a letter in the Torah

Yitro: Torah demands integrity

No ego and no pretentiousness. Ego is an acronym for edging G-d out.

Yitro: Torah demands integrity

Yitro: The small things in life that build a healthy society

Why is there such an apparent emphasis on Yitro and his arrival when this week's parsha contains the Revelation at Mount Sinai?

Yitro: The small things in life that build a healthy society

May your Torah spring forth from you

The Sara Litton z”l Monthly Emunah Essay: You have undiscovered holy waters waiting to burst forth from within.

May your Torah spring forth from you

From the Torah Teachings of Rabbi Druckman ztz”l

The main point of greatness in the Torah is to understand the important things, as Rabbi Haim ztz”l did.

From the Torah Teachings of Rabbi Druckman ztz”l

Remembering a Gaon

I will never meet such a person again. But his memories push me to be a better person.

Remembering a Gaon

Rabbi Shimshon Refael Hirsch on Miketz: What was Yosef thinking?

Do righteous men play cruel games on other people?  How could Yosef terrify his brothers?

Rabbi Shimshon Refael Hirsch on Miketz: What was Yosef thinking?

Watch: The hidden theme of Hanukkah

The Rav talking about the hidden world and the revealed world.of Hanukkah.

Watch: The hidden theme of Hanukkah

The world hates the Jews because we are messengers of morality

The Torah is the epitome of morality, and we delivered the Torah to the world.Op-ed.

The world hates the Jews because we are messengers of morality

Your parents' sins

History and generations. When family history lays questionable baggage on your back.

Your parents' sins

The Changing of an Era, part VI: Rav Yitzchok Hutner's legacy

In a sense, Rav Hutner during his lifetime existed beyond time and place. Last of a series. Links to previous articles are below.

The Changing of an Era, part VI: Rav Yitzchok Hutner's legacy

24 Hours Left!

Grand Sefer Torah Experience! YOUR Sefer Torah!

Each ticket purchased is an investment into a vision of a world revolving totally around Torah and Mitzvos.

Grand Sefer Torah Experience! YOUR Sefer Torah!

Ekev: A life of seasons

There is plenty of room for individual expression in Judaism. Perhaps not in the days of our calendar, but in the choices of life.

Ekev: A life of seasons

Rabbi and his wife make aliyah with pre-WWII Torah from Poland

Rabbi Alvin and Esther Reinstein are moving from New Jersey to Efrat with a Torah scroll from pre-WWII Poland.

Rabbi and his wife make aliyah with pre-WWII Torah from Poland

No Torah in the Diaspora? How can it be?

When Am Yisrael is scattered and out of its place, then the Name of G-d, which is the Torah, cannot come to full expression in this world

No Torah in the Diaspora? How can it be?

A dose of reality

The Torah is not changing. Homosexual conduct is forbidden, and no parades or bullying will change that. It is a personal issue. Op-ed.

A dose of reality

The glow of humility

Zohar means "glow" in Hebrew - and humility, glowing and eternal, is diametrically opposed to pride.

The glow of humility

Shavuot and the Torah of Eretz Yisrael

The word “Morasha” (inheritance) is written only twice in the Torah. Once in reference to the Land and once in reference to the Torah

Shavuot and the Torah of Eretz Yisrael

What sort of Jewish State?

The world knows quite well that we are a Jewish and democratic State. Arab deeds leave no doubt that they know the facts. Do we? Op-ed.

What sort of Jewish State?

Omer conundrums

All you have to do is count until Shavuot, but it is not as simple as it seems.

Omer conundrums

Parent Principles: An introduction

Moses received the Torah from Sinai, and gave it to Joshua, and Joshua to the elders, and the elders to the prophets.

Parent Principles: An introduction

The Ishmaelites are living up to their name: Are we?

When you think of man, what comes to mind? How would you frame man? How would you label the first human, Adam HaRishon?

The Ishmaelites are living up to their name: Are we?

The true Torah Way

The greatest Sanctification of Hashem's Name is the return of the Jewish People to Israel, Last Shabbat's Haftorah tells us that succinctly

The true Torah Way

We lack Jewish Sovereignty

We may be called Israel, but we do not live up to the name in practice.Op-ed.

We lack Jewish Sovereignty

Word, letter and stone

Why do we need to enforce the Oral Torah and rely on the validity of the Written Torah? Why isn't it the other way around?

Word, letter and stone

The Id, the Yid, and the Super-Ego

The three layers of self.

The Id, the Yid, and the Super-Ego

Choose one mitzva

Become an expert in one mitzvah and gradually expand to a second, a third, a fourth one, and eventually the total mitzvah-life

Choose one mitzva

Antisemitism is a symptom of a greater problem

If the reasons people give for hating us are contradictory or irrational, to them it all makes sense and feels natural. Op-ed.

Antisemitism is a symptom of a greater problem

The endless movements of the Torah

The Torah is a compilation of music that speaks to every person individually on their own level.

 The endless movements of the Torah

Religious Affairs Minister: Without Torah we have nothing

Minister Matan Kahana responds to no confidence motion, says 'those who can study Torah must. That is what State of Israel stands for.'

Religious Affairs Minister: Without Torah we have nothing

With donation of new Torah, second synagogue opens in Aruba

Second synagogue opens in Aruba with donation of newly commissioned Torah.

With donation of new Torah, second synagogue opens in Aruba

Turkish police confiscate smuggled 1,000-year-old Jewish Books

Four books and an ancient Torah scroll were illegally smuggled into Turkey from a synagogue in Damascus.

Turkish police confiscate smuggled 1,000-year-old Jewish Books