Judaism (Page 77)


Jerusalem Liberation Day

Why didn''t King David establish a Jerusalem Day when he brought the ark to the Holy City?

Jerusalem Liberation Day

Jerusalem Day: The two messengers

Prophetic words from Israel's first Chief Rabbi: There are two heralds of the return to our holy city and they bear two different messages.

Jerusalem Day: The two messengers

'In the eyes of the nations He has revealed His righteousness'

Jerusalem Day is intrinsically connected with the promise in this past Shabbat Torah reading ending the Book of Leviticus.

'In the eyes of the nations He has revealed His righteousness'

Appreciating Jerusalem - A thought for Behar-Bechukotai 5781

The parasha leads us to a pictorial comparison of Jerusalem then and now.

Appreciating Jerusalem - A thought for Behar-Bechukotai 5781

Behar-Bechukotai: Life lessons from the Sabbatical Year

We are custodians, not owners, of this world.

Behar-Bechukotai: Life lessons from the Sabbatical Year

Fooling yourself

Rabbi Simcha Bunim observed that the Torah tells us not to fool others, but if you are a hassid, you don’t fool yourself either.

Fooling yourself

Shir Hama’alot and the sanctity of Eretz Yisrael

We walk in tears, but “our mouths will fill with laughter”- at the time of redemption, the joy hidden within Am Yisrael will burst forth.

Shir Hama’alot and the sanctity of Eretz Yisrael

How valuable are you?

Parshat Behar Bechukotai: Why does Sefer Vayikra end with technical chapter about how donations are evaluated?

How valuable are you?

The Parsha in Chesed – Behar - Put Them in Their Place

The time has come to put the needy in their proper place.

The Parsha in Chesed – Behar -  Put Them in Their Place

A matter of Arithmetic

Within the blessings that G-d blesses the people of Israel in this week's Torah portion, there seems to be a mistake in the calculation.

A matter of Arithmetic

Israeli Modern Orthodoxy and female clergy-crossing the line

There are clear halakhic decisions against women serving as congregational rabbis. In the case described below, that has been ignored.

Israeli Modern Orthodoxy and female clergy-crossing the line

Shmita - Rest for the Man or for the Land?

Is it the land lying fallow that is the central theme, or are the Jews who do not work it during the shmita year the focus?

Shmita - Rest for the Man or for the Land?

Weekly Tanya video\lecture: The Gate to Faith

The Tanya compacts four millennia of Jewish wisdom to answer the great personal and existential questions of life.

Weekly Tanya video\lecture: The Gate to Faith

Where did all those Jewish Democrats come from?

The bulk of American Jewry voted for the left and against Israel. Who are they? Op-ed.

Where did all those Jewish Democrats come from?

The Temple Institute: Weekly Torah study: Emor‏

What is time? Where does it come from? Where does it go?

The Temple Institute: Weekly Torah study: Emor‏

Why Jerusalem is the capital of Israel

Others may love and be impressed by Jerusalem. But only the Jewish people have been inextricably bound up with the city for 3000 years.

Why Jerusalem is the capital of Israel

The Daily Portion

Meron, Jerusalem, Canada: Chizuk from Rabbanit Chana Henkin

Rabbanit Chana Henkin, whose son and daughter in law were murdered by terrorists, in a message to strengthen us at this time.

Meron, Jerusalem, Canada: Chizuk from Rabbanit Chana Henkin

The priesthood as inspiration for our own work

Just as the kohanim must sanctify themselves for their service, so every professional should strive to contribute his utmost to his field.

The priesthood as inspiration for our own work

Psalm 119: “I arose...and cried out; I hope for Your word.”

Torah from Israel's first chief rabbi: When did David arise during the night to meditate and pray? And what did it signify?

Psalm 119: “I arose...and cried out; I hope for Your word.”

The Daily Portion

On the disaster in Meron

Ordinarily,Sefira customs associated with mourning end on Lag Ba'Omer, but this year they have, tragically, been extended.

On the disaster in Meron

Emor: Between Yom Haatzmaut and Yom Yerushalayim

This week's Torah and Haftarah are a most fitting riposte to Yom Ha-Atzma’ut, and an equally fitting introduction to Yom Herut Yerushalayim.

Emor: Between Yom Haatzmaut and Yom Yerushalayim

We are all Kohanim

In this week's Torah portion the Kohanim are told not to become ritually unclean and the Sages interpret it as a commandment to all Israel.

We are all Kohanim

Talking Parsha - Emor: Is it after Shabbat or after Pesach?

The Torah speaks about Shavuot as 'after the Shabbat.' Is Shavuot 7 weeks long? Why is it defined by being 'after Shabbat?'

Talking Parsha - Emor: Is it after Shabbat or after Pesach?

Office of the Chief Rabbi

Count each day to make each day count!

“Teach us to number our days in order that we should become wise hearted,” said the Psalmist, a message fitting for the period of the Omer.

Count each day to make each day count!

The Chance for a Second Chance

We don’t need to wait for a Pesach Sheni or Lag B’omer to appreciate second chances

The Chance for a Second Chance

Can both sides be right in a dispute?

Two opposing ideas or opinions can appear to be correct to the same degree but, in fact, only one is true.

Can both sides be right in a dispute?

The spirit of Israel is the spirit of Rabbi Akiva and Rashbi

Oz Torah: The paradoxes of Lag Ba'Omer, the story of a Jewish Pope and the Torah's view of cosmetic surgery.

The spirit of Israel is the spirit of Rabbi Akiva and Rashbi

Lag Ba'Omer 5781

This semi-holiday is utterly unique in the calendar of the Jewish people.because it commemmorates a passive event.

Lag Ba'Omer 5781

Moed: An appointed time

In the Jewish view, dates and appointed times are gates through which time flows in a cyclical, upward spiral fashion, toward a purpose.

Moed: An appointed time

Rabbi Akiva and Lag Ba'Omer

Who were the students of Rabbi Akiva that we should mourn their deaths so many centuries later?

Rabbi Akiva and Lag Ba'Omer

Giving thanks at the Kotel

Should there be a mass thanksgiving prayer of all those who survived corona?

Giving thanks at the Kotel

Weekly Tanya video\lecture: The Gate to Faith

The Tanya compacts four millennia of Jewish wisdom to answer the great personal and existential questions of life.

Weekly Tanya video\lecture: The Gate to Faith

Loving your neighbor while standing on one foot

The world suggests it’s wiser to maintain the walls that separate neighbor from neighbor. But what does G-d want?

 Loving your neighbor while standing on one foot

Four post-corona parenting guidelines - and the 14th of Iyar

How do we re-establish parental control at home after a year of the corona? A parental counselor gives some pointers.

Four post-corona parenting guidelines - and the 14th of Iyar

Family Purity, Zionism and religiosity, bar soap on Shabbat

Zionism was a movement led by the secular, but it led to the preservation of religion and Jewish identity

Family Purity, Zionism and religiosity, bar soap on Shabbat

Treating the disadvantaged

The commandment “You shall not insult the deaf” is less spoken about than the one that follows it about the blind.

Treating the disadvantaged

'Here is the way you shall enter'

In this week's Torah reading, why begin the description of the Avoda on Yom Kippur with telling us of the demise of the sons of Aaron?

'Here is the way you shall enter'

Preventing tragedy with our words is not 'lashon hara'

If we see or hear about an authority figure or any other person, for that matter, who harms another, it's our responsibility to act.

Preventing tragedy with our words is not 'lashon hara'

Acharei Mot: Triple measure of incense

Torah from Israel's first Chief Rabbi, iconic leader of Religious Zionism: "Teshuva allows us, in a sense, to rewrite the past."

Acharei Mot: Triple measure of incense

'Not just the Baba Sali can, you can too'

The Chief Rabbi of Tsfat on Parashot Acharei- Mot and Kedoshim.

'Not just the Baba Sali can, you can too'

What should be our national interest?

The Torah reading this Shabbat teaches us that the Land of Israel is intrinsically a holy land which cannot stand to be defiled.

What should be our national interest?

What does it actually mean to be holy?

This week the Parsha begins with one of our biggest mission statement as a nation - Be Holy!

What does it actually mean to be holy?

Grab the Torah by its foot

As parents, we know that there is no greater pleasure than seeing our children getting along with one another.

Grab the Torah by its foot

It's all in the details

Isn't it enough to be a good, honest, caring human being without all of the details that make up the bulk of this week’s Torah reading?

It's all in the details

Groupthink and cancel culture vs. Love others as you do yourself

Every human was created in G-d’s image. If G-d can’t be canceled, neither can His image.

Groupthink and cancel culture vs. Love others as you do yourself

Sprints and Marathons: Acharei Mot–Kedoshim 5781

The good news is: there once was a Moses. Because of him, the people survived. The bad news is: what happens when there is no Moses?

Sprints and Marathons: Acharei Mot–Kedoshim 5781

Modern Tzara’at

Tzara’at is a result of a spiritual deficiency, so the punishment is educational, encouraging the metzora consider and regret his behavior.

Modern Tzara’at

Ascending to Har Habayit

The spiritual experience of praying on the Temple Mount awakens gratitude for the miracles we have seen along with yearning for Redemption.

Ascending to Har Habayit

Simple hakarat hatov

The ability to live in a country where we can be Jews freely requires from us as Jews, at the very least, simple gratitude.

Simple hakarat hatov

Tazria Metzora: The pivotal moment

The two ways of reading a word in the parsha - "vehuva" or as our Sages said "vehu va" have a world of meaning.

Tazria Metzora: The pivotal moment

The blessing of the Land of Israel is... leprosy?

Why does the Torah introduce tzara'at habayit with words that sound like a blessing? What does it teach us for Israel's Independence Day?

The blessing of the Land of Israel is... leprosy?

The utter futility of speaking slanderously - lashon hara

One who slanders is implying that he is better than the slandered person - but worth is not based only on how others judge someone.

The utter futility of speaking slanderously - lashon hara

Eretz Yisrael: Finding the good hidden within the bad

Torah from religious Zionist yeshiva students: The early pioneers did not see swamps in Eretz Yisrael, they saw potential farm land.

Eretz Yisrael: Finding the good hidden within the bad

Judaism is pro-family and pro-motherhood

Having and raising children is a positive act of faith in the future, and unlimited generosity towards others.

Judaism is pro-family and pro-motherhood

Six, seven and eight

All numbers have symbolism in Judaism, but eight is a higher level than 7, which in turn is higher than 6.

Six, seven and eight

R’Baz and the Racham - what a non kosher bird has to say

The bird’s call is so raucous and so recognizable that some say it is the source of our word 'shriek' - but in Hebrew, it means a whistle.

R’Baz and the Racham - what a non kosher bird has to say




























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