Rabbi Nachum Dovid Alpert

Parshat Korach:

Parshat Korach: Hashem settled the debate for eternity

Moshe understood that this effort on the part of Korach in reality stood to undermine the entire Torah

Understanding the 'new offering' of Shavuot

We can glean from the sacrifice of the day a poignant perspective as to how to relate to the learning of the Torah.

Parshat Behar\Bechukotai:

Parshat Behar\Bechukotai: Our Claim to the Land of Israel will Never Falter

The Torah commentator, the Alshich Hakadosh, bothered by this very issue, offers, that Shemittah astoundingly serves as the rebuttal to the claims of the Jew-haters and fools that sneer at our right to the land of Israel, and claim that the land of Israel was stolen by the Jews.

Parshat Tazria/Metzorah:

Parshat Tazria/Metzorah: The Power of Circumcision

The Rokeach [and Nachal Kedumim] point out, that Yitzchak lived one year for each hour of his existence until Avraham circumcised him-thus, he lived 180 years.

Parshat Shemini:

Parshat Shemini: The Mystical Midpoint of the Torah

We can suggest that the foundation of the entire Torah rests on the declaration of pure and simple faith that we proclaim twice a day—“Shema Yisrael, Ad-onai Elo-henu Ad-onai Echad”, which, when done properly, empowers the Jewish people to defeat the machinations of the Yetzer Hara.

Pekudei\Shabbat HaChodesh

Pekudei\Shabbat HaChodesh: The Prophetic Vision of the Return to Our Homeland

We, with the benefit of hindsight, can only be in awe of the divine revelations that were expressed by our great commentators, and how accurately history has borne out the events that were foretold in their writings.

Parshat Vayakhel

Parshat Vayakhel: The magnificence of Shabbat, our Window Outside Time

Although we currently are lacking the Beit Hamikdash, we still have the beauty and joy of Shabbat to invigorate our souls.

Purim/Parshat Ki Tisa

Purim/Parshat Ki Tisa: Together, the Jews are indefatigable and undefeatable

The most critical lesson of Purim that our generation can take from the story of Esther is the need for Jewish Unity, above all else.

Terumah\Rosh Chodesh Adar

Terumah\Rosh Chodesh Adar: The incredible and inspiring nature of our heroes

In our generation, and those immediately prior, we can note similarities to the Purim story

Parshat Mishpatim:

Parshat Mishpatim: 'These are the rules that you shall set before them'

A unique perspective on the Parsha offers a further glimpse into the depravity that is the International Courts

Parshat Beshalach:

Parshat Beshalach: Hostages' stories echo the merit of our ancestor Yosef

The entirety of the splitting of the sea was in the merit of Yoseph, and the sacrifices that Yosef made.

Parshat Yitro:

Parshat Yitro: What we learn from the first convert to Judaism

In order to become a “convert”, a National Identity must be established.

Parshat Shemot:

Parshat Shemot: These are the names, these are the souls

The Neshamot of the Shevatim accompanied and shielded their descendants during the teeth of the Egyptian exile.

Parshat Vayigash:

Parshat Vayigash: How to Maintain Jewish Identity

One can not help but thank G-d for the Jewish homeland which preserves our status as a “Great Nation”.

Parshat Mikeitz:

Parshat Mikeitz: The Truest Wisdom is the Domain of the Torah

This week’s Parshah continues the story of Yosef, and his rising from the ashes of an Egyptian prison to the rank of Viceroy, second only to Pharaoh

Parshat Vayeitzei:

Parshat Vayeitzei: Yaakov was assured of eventual redemption of the Jewish people

The explanation of Yaakov’s vision can provide much poignancy vis-a-vis a future episode in Yaakov’s life–namely

Parshat Toldot:

Parshat Toldot: Why is the land ours?

G-d lets Yitzchak know that the land of Israel will belong to the incredibly numerous heirs of Avraham and Yitzchak and eventually Yaakov, because of the fact that Avraham followed the entirety of G-d’s commandments

Parshat Vayeira:

Parshat Vayeira: No Prayer is Left Unanswered

The Sefer Tifferet Yehonasan [Bereishit 18’ 33’] offers, that in reality, Avraham’s prayers and efforts to save the wicked people of Sodom did not go unreturned

Parshat Noach:

Parshat Noach: The Flooding away of Evil

It seems that the theme of these observations of Rashi is that G-d can be said to be willing to forgo His honor; it is only when interpersonal relationships break down and antisocial behaviors reign supreme that G-d feels that the fabric of society and creation is being torn down.

What the sukkah teaches about the meaning of life

The Midrash details how Iyov could not understand his life of extreme suffering, until he was able to comprehend the mitzvah of sukkah. This comment of the Midrash begs for an explanation, as the logic that would explain a connection between Iyov’s suffering and the mitzvah of building a sukkah is glaringly missing.

The Astonishing Holiness of the Prayers of Yom Kippur

The highlight of the Yom Kippur service in the time of the Beit Hamikdash was the High Priest entering the Holy of Holies, in special white garments, as the representative of the Jewish people. The Mishnah states that it was the most intimate of moments between the man representing the Jewish Nation and Hashem Himself.

Following in our ancestor's footsteps is a duty, not just a privilege

As much as we are bound by our ancestors declaration of allegiance to G-d and the Torah, our generation is now bound to educate and inspire our own descendants to follow the proud path of Judaism.

The wrath of Esav and the end of the exile

Rabbi Soleveitchik suggests that the bringer of the first fruits should not declare his gratitude for the salvation of Yaakov from Esav, because there are still lingering, and often painful, impacts of that exile.

Parshat Shoftim:

Parshat Shoftim: Total Evil Deserves Total Destruction

Apparently, as explained by Rashi, the Jewish army was commanded not to engage in total warfare; even against immoral nations, the humanity of the Israelite army required that we would not act as total savages, and therefore, effort must be made to preserve the fauna of a city that the Jews were attempting to destroy.

Parshat Re’eh

Parshat Re’eh: It is all or Nothing

The Torah presents these two choices as “Either\or.” No middle ground is volunteered.

Parshat Eikev:

Parshat Eikev: The Number at the Heart of Judaism

Judaism has, at its core, a series of threes. There are three different divisions within the broader framework of the twelve ancient Judaic tribes.

Parshat Devarim:

Parshat Devarim: Shema - commemorating the total oneness of the creator

All misdeeds are rooted in a certain momentary lack of awareness of the reality of Hashem, which allows for sinful behavior to fester and actualize

Parshat Mattot Massei:

Parshat Mattot Massei: Silence, in fact, can be Violence

The cause and instigator of the sin were the Midianites, and therefore, as the impetus for the sin, they faced more blame than the people of Moab, and G-d’s wrath was directed at them.

True peace in the face of violence

'Moshe and the elders could not recall the proper response to the display of immoral conduct; his great-nephew Pinchas was able to clarify the issue, and speared both Zimri and Kozbi as befitting those who blatantly defame G-d's Name with extreme displays of lewdness.'

Parshat Balak:

Parshat Balak: A Nation that Dwells Alone

The Hebrew words for “A Nation that dwells apart” numerically result in the value of 420, which is the same value as the Hebrew phrase for “The days of Messiah"

Parshat Korach

Parshat Korach: Preserving the authenticity of Judaism

Korach and his cohort fail spectacularly and are swallowed by the earth while yet alive. We can glean from this incident the significance of comprehending that the Torah was given through Moshe, by the direct orders of G-d.

Unpacking the truth:

Unpacking the truth of the strange custom of eating dairy on Shavuot

'When the Written Torah will be translated into the secular tongues, and the nations of the world will claim that they received the Torah from G-d and are the chosen religion, the Jewish response to prove the veracity of our claim as the one true religion will be that we have the Oral Torah, which contains the deeper understandings of the written Torah.'

The Greatest Blessing is One of Peace

Rashi seems to be talking directly to our generation, for while we have merited to recreate a prosperous Jewish homeland in our ancient territory over the last 75 years, that victory is hard to truly celebrate when faced with the struggles that have accompanied the birthpangs of our nation's third Genesis in Israel.

Thought-provoking ideas from the weekly parsha - Behar

Chinuch explains that if one is allowed to defend their physical property to the fullest extent of the law, for sure when facing verbal abuse and threats to one’s emotional and spiritual health one can respond in kind.

The Torah's morality against the flames of child sacrifice

While the practice of Molech is no longer en vogue in today’s world, the metaphoric pillars of fire that youngsters pass would through in worship of this barbaric deity still burn strong in the halls of 'prestigious' universities.

Finding comfort from the loss of Miriam through the holiness of Shabbat

It appears that the ability of the Jews to take the pagan representation of the Egyptian society in full view, and prepare it for sacrifice 4 days later, may have been a greater miracle than anything that had occurred up until that moment.

Tazria

Tazria | Echoes of prophecy still inspire the Jewish nation

For while we have fought for and earned the Land of Israel, and the practice of Jewish life has returned to Zion, we cannot say that our Jewish brothers and sisters in Israel are truly free.

The depth of discipline

Aharon's sin with the Golden Calf was not in its creation but in forcing G-d to judge the Jews as willful sinners.

Tzav:

Tzav: The sacrifice we CAN offer nowadays

Yaakov did not cease his studies of the 613 Mitzvot, and when one learns about a Mitzvah, credit is given for actually fulfilling that commandment!

Vayikra:

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?