The difference in sanctity West and East of the Jordan River
The mitzva of settling Eretz Yisrael is fulfilled on the east bank as well as the west bank of the Jordan but there is another difference.
The mitzva of settling Eretz Yisrael is fulfilled on the east bank as well as the west bank of the Jordan but there is another difference.


Parshat Eikev, which includes Moshe's farewell speech, teaches us some golden rules which are especially appropriate during summer vacation.

After the Torah tells us to educate our children in the Shema prayer, it does not tell us how - or does it?

Rejoice in the event that, maybe from the technical point of view, is not going to be big, but which is going to be big in your heart.
Israeli journalist Sivan Rahav-Meir discusses the core message of the Book of Deuteronomy.

Baseless hatred, is a reflection of the Sin of the Spies as was the refusal of Jews to come to Israel in the early days of Zionism.

Torah from Israel's first Cheif Rabbi, iconic leader of Religious Zionism: 'One law of mezuzot is not the same in Israel and the Diaspora.'

Moses prayed 515 times to no avail. But in rejecting Moshe’s prayers, Hashem was enhancing the honor of the collective of Am Yisrael.

The destruction of the 9th of Av was not the end. It was but the beginning of the night, awaiting the new dawn of redemption.

The Torah portion that always follows the 9th of Av tells of G-d's Voice that 'did not cease'. And that is a powerful message to us.

In Parshat Va'etchanan we discuss Moshe's prayers, from which we learn many laws. But is this the model we want to learn from? Why?

Finding holiness in the ethereal on God’s mountain is easy. Finding it in daily life takes conscious effort.

Israeli journalist Sivan Rahav-Meir shares a lesson on the purpose of Tisha B'Av.

We live normally and function in Eretz Yisrael despite its sanctity because Hashem separated a piece of it, the Temple Mount, from the rest.

Why does the prayer appear so late in the Torah, and why is it considered our foundational statement of emunah?

If the rocks and ashes, found in excavations at the Kotel and dating to the Temple's destruction, could talk, what would they say?

Jews who said Nachem centuries ago lamented Jerusalem's desolation, but even we who see Jl'em in its glory know how long the road ahead is.

Includes halakhic parameters for fasting during the corona pandemic and for when the 9th of Av fast ends on Erev Shabbat.

Ths may be the most important prayer you say in your life.

Today marks 20 years since the passing of Shalom Noah Berzovsky, a Hasidic rebbe known by the title of his works "Netivot Shalom".

if you look at our numbers throughout the ages you will be unable to count us. That is a message to remember on Tisha B'Av.

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

In this period of sorrow for events that occurred to the Jewish people, remember that the Sages say that Mashiach is born on Tisha B'Av.!

The Sinat Chinam (baseless hatred) pandemic from which we have suffered for thousands of years needs the opposite of social distancing.

Social worker Roni Printz: Sometimes letting things get out of proportion is appropriate,The daily portion:of Sivan Rahav-Meir:

When we keep Tisha B’Av, today we reconstruct the bitter past in order to appreciate the privilege of living in an age of fulfilment.

Watch Live: Rabbi Moshe Taragin discusses the Song of Songs in the latest edition of Herzog College's Bible Studies series.

The conditions permitting lashon hara for a constructive purpose do not apply if adherence to the conditions will totally offset achievement

A simple instruction against divisiveness from Rabbi Yitzchak Luria, 448 years since his passing. 'The Daily Portion' of Sivan Rahav-Meir.

Scholars can be the agents for building a harmonious society or they can undermine society by promoting an untenable, toxic vison.

'Jewish privilege' can be used sarcastically by Jews to highlight Jewish persecution, but it also poses a very different challenge.

If we learn one thing from the global COVID-19 pandemic, let it be that no one is immune to pain and suffering.

How did Moses, the great leader who said "I am not a man of words" declaim the entire book of Dvarim? Torah from Israel's first Chief Rabbi.

Covenant & Conversation Dvarim 5780: Faced with an angry mob, a leader is not always in control of the situation.

Moshe’s message to the people is not to see a burden in the details of mitzva observance, because it is there spirituality is to be found.

Moshe gives a review of the Torah, but when he gets to the story of the Meraglim and the punishment, leaves out an important detail. Why?

Moshe’s fear of Og was not from the physical might of Og, but from Og’s ‘spiritual’ merits

We have now gained insight into the step-by-step transformation of a decent gentile society as it descends down the slippery slope to hell.

Moses admonishes the people in Dvarim, not for the serious sins of the spies and the golden calf, but for flaws rooted in ego. Op-ed.

How do we define old age? How do we concentrate when praying?

What do we want to return to in Megillat Eicha?

What is the first and fundamental mitzva that Moshe explains when he teaches the Torah to his people? Not Shabbos. Not kashrus.

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

While we destroy each other with words by accusing, insulting, and generalizing, we perpetuate the exile which has persisted for too long

Those whom the Talmud presents as the great lovers of Eretz Yisrael were not “sabras,” but Sages who returned from far-off lands.

Journalism unavoidably involves information prohibited by the the laws of lashon ha’ra, but in a democratic state its role is essential.

Vows can be a way to a life full of sanctity.

Numbers separates the slave-generation which left Egypt from the free desert-generation. Which generation are we?

Tthe first day of the fifth month, is Rosh Chodesh Menachem Av, which will be on Wednesday of this week and is mentioned in Parashat Mas'ei.

Torah from the Temple Institute, located in Jerusalem's Old City, dedicated to learning about the Temple and the hopes to rebuild it.

The Talmud tells us the sins that brought on the Second Temple's destruction, but how were they seen in daily life?

Judaism made an extraordinarily wise decision when it made teachers its heroes and lifelong education its passion..

The tribe of Reuven, Gad and half of Menashe want to live east of the Jordan, but will help conquer the west. Moshe judges their every word.

The Rambam's lesson from our parasha is that learning from our retreats is an integral part of humanity’s zig-zagging journey forward.

When a person truly identifies with the Torah he also understands things that have not been said explicitly.

Why does the Torah suddenly remember to teach us about vows? Why now, as Moshe prepares for death & the nation is preparing to enter Israel?

Vows, oaths and obligations: nothing is ever said in a void or without some sort of ramifications.

We see the full picture when we make a summary and the Torah, in listing the journeys, teaches us to look at things in a broad perspective.

The elders of Israel, the leaders of the tribes were taught directly by Moshe the entire Oral Law as received by him at Mount Sinai. Why?

The journey of life is not about the destination but about exploration - Nitin Namdeo. Torah thoughts for Matot-Masei.
