Danny Ginsbourg

News by Danny Ginsbourg

Why is this holiday called "Sukkot"?

And why did the Tur say that Sukkot is for Yaakov Avinu?

Why is this holiday called "Sukkot"?

The great chessed of Divine Judgment

In this world, a judge cannot truly do ‘true justice’, so that it does not punish innocent people, those who may be affected by it.

The great chessed of Divine Judgment

'One thing I ask of Hashem' - the one thing He asks of us

What could Hashem need of us?

'One thing I ask of Hashem' -  the one thing He asks of us

Nitzavim: You shall choose life

As we read our Parasha approaching the Day of Judgement, it guides us as to the ‘life’ for which we should fervently plead, on that Day.

Nitzavim: You shall choose life

Ki Tavo: A tale of two declarations

Two haggadot, two promises. Commentators weigh in on the differences and similarities.

Ki Tavo: A tale of two declarations

'Go out to war against your enemy then Hashem will deliver him into your hand'

Commentaries weigh in on how waging war against enemies is what is ‘upright in the eyes of Hashem’.

'Go out to war against your enemy then Hashem will deliver him into your hand'

Re'eh: You are children to Hashem, your G-d

The principle of principles - what do the commentaries say about this and how it affects every Jew?

Re'eh: You are children to Hashem, your G-d

What Moses learned from the Patriarch Jacob

Moshe rebuked them only a short while before his death. From whom did he learn this? From Yaakov. Why did Yaakov wait to rebuke his sons?

What Moses learned from the Patriarch Jacob

Matot-Maasei: Our mouths are sacred vessels

Various commentators weigh in on the power of speech.

Matot-Maasei: Our mouths are sacred vessels

Zealotry - for Hashem

Zealotry, like every other aspect of a Jew's life, has halakhic boundaries and limitations..

Zealotry - for Hashem

Balak: Learning mussar from a donkey

Are the donkey's words important enough to take up room in the Torah? Why?

Balak: Learning mussar from a donkey

It's not the snake that kills - but sin (Chukat-Israel)

Why did Hashem command Moshe to make the lifeless serpent, and to raise it on a pole?

It's not the snake that kills - but sin (Chukat-Israel)

The wondrous test - who was being tested? (Korach)

How could Moses be sure his threat would work?

The wondrous test  - who was being tested? (Korach)

Complete repentance? Not when it is a transgression in itself

The Israelites did not comprehend what their real sin was, so their repentance did not atone for it - quite the contrary.

Complete repentance? Not when it is a transgression in itself

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

Count by the number of the names

Each name is a thread in the tapestry that is Am Israel - but why not do the same in parashat Pinchas, a later census?

Count by the number of the names

The most difficult mitzva of all

Shmitta is the most difficult mitzva.What special relevance does the Mitzvah of Shemitah have to Har Sinai?.

The most difficult mitzva of all

‘Kedoshim: Reprove your fellow’- but first: reprove yourself!

Rabbi Tarfon said:'I would be amazed, if there is any person in this generation who will accept rebuke;' And what would we say?

‘Kedoshim: Reprove your fellow’- but first: reprove yourself!

The proportionate punishment for malicious speech - lashon hara

Why must only the slanderer be afflicted with tsaraat nd dwell alone outside the camp?

The proportionate punishment for malicious speech - lashon hara

Shvi'i shel Pesach: 'And they had faith in Hashem and in Moshe, His servant'

Hashem has His sometimes hidden ways to vanquish His enemies and exact revenge upon them.

Shvi'i shel Pesach: 'And they had faith in Hashem and in Moshe, His servant'

'So that you may relate in the ears of your son'

The message of the Exodus as seen by Torah commentators from the Riva to the Slonimer Rebbe.

'So that you may relate in the ears of your son'

The spiritual defect of a depleted pocket

Selected commentators explain why the priests had to be urged to bring the burnt offering as opposed to other offerings.

The spiritual defect of a depleted pocket

The offering of self

The wondrous burnt offering and what its purpose is. A selection of renowned commentators.

The offering of self

And Moshe saw all that Israel did - and he blessed them

Selected commentators explain what it means for Israel to have done all they were commanded when actually the artisans did the work.

And Moshe saw all that Israel did - and he blessed them

The power of priestly clothes

Read the Netivot Shalom, Rav Zalman Sorotzkin, Rav Avigdor Nebenzahl,The Ra’ma, Maharal and more on the power of priestly clothes to atone..

The power of priestly clothes

These ordinances could only have been given at Sinai

Selected commentators explain the reasons ordinances between man and his fellow man had to be given at Sinai.

These ordinances could only have been given at Sinai

Were the Children of Israel deprived of Free Will at Sinai?

Delving into the events surrounding this seminal and unconditional acceptance of Torah by Bnei Israel.

Were the Children of Israel deprived of Free Will at Sinai?

The staff which was taken, not to be used

Why did Moshe take his staff with him to the top of the hill in the Amalek battle, as seemingly he did not perform any act with it?’

The staff which was taken, not to be used

Why did Hashem make a mockery of Egypt?

What purpose does making a mockery of those who mock Hashem and mistreat His people?

Why did Hashem make a mockery of Egypt?

Vaeira: Aaron's wondrous staff-swallowing staff

An eye-opening review of the commentators' explanations on the purpose of the staff and the miracle involved.

Vaeira: Aaron's wondrous staff-swallowing staff

Yaakov Avinu: God is my shepherd

Ohr Hachaim Hakadosh,Alshich Hakadosh, Malbim and others on the double clause in Yaakov's blessing to his beloved Yosef.

Yaakov Avinu: God is my shepherd

Why does descending to Egypt frighten Jacob?

A selection of commentators whoweigh in on this troubling question and their psychologically enlightening answers.

Why does descending to Egypt frighten Jacob?

Help us to learn from our enemies

Learn from them but not from their evil deeds, as Jacob testified about himself. But what could he learn from the wicked Laban?.

Help us to learn from our enemies

Behold it was Leah!

As Jacob's first marriage was based on ‘mistaken belief’, should it not have been deemed invalid?

Behold it was Leah!

Who was the batlan (idler), Jacob or Esau?

A surprising Rashi on the two sons of Rivka and Isaac leads us to wonder if it is the hunter or the tent-dweller who is of no consequence?

Who was the batlan (idler), Jacob or Esau?

Chayei Sarah: All her years were equally good

This is the only instance in the whole of Tanach, that the number of years of the life of a woman, is written.

Chayei Sarah: All her years were  equally good

Thou shalt not steal - from God

Is stealing from one another really the reason for The Flood?

Thou shalt not steal - from God

Tishrei's festivals culminate with Ashrei

By reading the two parshiot on Simchat Torah, we allude to the crux of the Shma prayer - that Torah should be inscribed on our hearts. How?

Tishrei's festivals culminate with Ashrei

On the third day, schach was created!

Had it not been for the seeming ‘failure’ of the earth to comply with Hashem’s words when trees were created, we could not have had schach!

On the third day, schach was created!

Heaven and Earth, eternal witnesses: What do the commentators say?

Our Parasha opens with the injunction:(32:1)’האזינו: Listen O Heavens, and I will speak; and may the earth hear the words of my mouth.’

Heaven and Earth, eternal witnesses: What do the commentators say?