The message: Chazak Chazak Venitchazek, to be strong and to strengthen ourselves and others for the tasks that always lie ahead.
A thought for Parshat Vayechi 5781 to share with youngsters.
Why does Yaakov care so much to put Ephraim first? What is the fundamental disagreement between them? What is Yaakov trying to teach Yosef?
The Chief Rabbi’s weekly insight for Parshat Vayechi.
Rav Kook explains: “Our temporary existence is only one spark of the glory of everlasting life."
There are many commandments in Judaism that are easy for us to fulfill, but there are also ones hard for us to understand and perform.
The greatest miracle of history is the survival of diaspora Judaism. The greatest question is where it is headed today.
Ephraim and Menashe. How is it that when we lay our hands upon our sons and grandsons' heads to bless them it is these two names we name?
There are many ways to understand the most quoted verse in the Torah: Shema Yisrael Hashem Elokenu Hashem Echad.
Blessings include G-d's Name and therefore one cannot just recite them at will Does halakha allow blessing on this occasion? If so, which?
The Tanya compacts four millennia of Jewish wisdom to answer the great personal and existential questions of life.
In the blessing for the new month we ask for riches but if we don't have riches does that mean we are rejected by G-d?
There are so many ways to give...
The Jewish people have survived only based on dreams. Our people to the land of Israel in our time is perhaps the greatest of dreams.
The day of general kaddish Holocaust victims on the Tenth of Tevet by the Chief Rabbinate was decided before the Knesset's choice of date.
Think about it: The Land of Israel, the exodus circumcision, the Torah, life, and the food we eat were all forced upon us by Hashem.
Every mitzva you do is alive forever. It hovers in the air, in the atmosphere. And one day its merit might help you - or all of Am Yisrael.
Positivity and the Holy Temple.
Religious Zionist yeshiva students on the week's Torah reading: The Israelites acquired land in Egypt, causing some to desire to remain.
Israel's first Cheif Rabbi and iconic leader of Religious Zionism: The synagogue reflects the holiness in the life of the community.
One thing is sure as the vaccine debate goes on, prayer will help and is needed. Thank G-d for the vaccine and let the recovery begin.
Heaven helps us in the path that we have chosen. In the way we looki at life. In the actions we choose in our daily life.
The rabbis subsumed several tragic events that occurred in Tevet and memorialized them on the date the siege of Jerusalem began.
Judah spoke harshly to Joseph. Why didn't he thank Joseph for his act of mercy, in reducing the sentence he had pronounced?
What could have been a swift though painful meeting becomes a drawn out process. What was Joseph’s purpose behind these actions?
Finally Yaakov reunites with Yosef. We'd expect Yaakov to rush to Egypt to meet Yosef, but in the psukim we see something else.
Yosef seemed to have allowed his emotions to overpower his judgement. Was this a failure of character?
Exile, like the pull of Hell, sucks the Jew into its dread grasp – and it becomes ever-harder to leave.
The Tenth of Tevet that falls on a Friday means managing Shabbat preparations, services and fasting until Friday night Kiddush.
Israel's Chief Rabbinate declared the Fast of the 10th of Tevet the day Kaddish is said for Holocaust victims whose yahrzeit is unknown.
Yaakov finds it hard to leave the Land even to see Joseph and does so only after G-d's encouragement - and Judah's prepartation.
Predictions are impossible in the affairs of living, breathing human beings and in this parasha, we see Judah rise to leadership - and why.
Treating the root cause, not the symptoms.The Chief Rabbi’s D’var Torah for Asarah b’Tevet and Parshat Vayigash.
The essence of 'Malchut' - the sphere of kingship - is to be found in Judah's response to Joseph's revealing himself.
This week the Jewish people lost a woman who loved life. Some of her insights are brought here.
There is light ahead. We have just celebrated the only Jiewish holiday whose mitzva is done at night. And it is all about light.
Life can be difficult to make sense of, random and confounding, at times.Until we see our part in causing the chaos.
What happens if a rabbi's halakhic decision is overturned by a rabbinical court?
From the Temple's destruction and the annulment of many laws of purity, Jewish homes are ‘mini temples,’ where the light of purity shines.
The Tanya compacts four millennia of Jewish wisdom to answer the great personal and existential questions of life.
The story of Joseph continued to echo in the plans the Nazis had for the Valley of Dothan where the brothers sold him.
How Pharaoh knoew that Joseph was someone who’s word he could rely on.
Young Relgious Zionist scholars write on the Land of Israel: 'Why does the midrash compare Joseph's life to the events that occur to Zion?'
Seeing behind the darkness, the curtains and camouflage, is a constant challenge to humanity. We see it in the Bible and we see it today..
Torah from Israel's first Chief Rabbi, iconic leader of Religious Zionism: 'The Evil Eye is an example of how one soul may affect another..'
Before the holiday ends, a short Video Dvar Torah given at the Sderot Hesder Yeshiva makes the real conflict with the Greeks clear.
Joseph had three gifts that many have in isolation but few in combination.
Yosef jailed his brothers because of the dreams he had 20 years earlier?
Rabbi Nachman:Jacob, when he sent his ten tribes to Egypt, sent with them a melody of Eretz Yisrael to be sung before the ruler..
There are eight candles sparkling, the light of which brings warmth to the family inside and to passers-by outside who will see its glow.
Meanngful parsha learning for youngsters around the globe. The meaning of Miketz - then and now.
We come to the Wall, embrace the ancient stones, the remnant of the Temple, and cry for Redemption.Then a group of women comes and mocks us.
The Tanya compacts four millennia of Jewish wisdom to answer the great personal and existential questions of life.
Every Shabbat Bubbie would shine the silver candelabrum and pray, "May my mazel (luck) always shine!" Then someone stole her menorah.
Not only have Jews arrived here from many lands, but their traditions and customs, too. This is a special one, for women and girls only.
We don't say the Hallel prayer on Purim at all, but we do say it on Hanukkah. In our time, the reason for this difference is clearer.
Light as a symbol: Hanukkah candles and Shabbat candles - Liturgical reflections on Hanukkah - The Menorah on the Arch of Titus.
We don't say Hallel at all on Rosh Hashanah, skip two of its Psalms on Rosh Chodesh, but on Hanukkah we say all of Hallel for 8 days. Why?
Diaspora Jewry, for the most part, is beyond saving. Bring those still Jewish among them home.
