Judaism (Page 2)


Salt of the earth series:

The Life and Legacy of Rabbi Avraham Yosef (Avi) Goldberg Hy"d

This Yom Hazikaron, Torah Mitzion honors the life, spirit, and legacy of Rabbi Avraham Yosef (Avi) Goldberg Hy"d, a true model of Torah, leadership, and heroism.

The Life and Legacy of Rabbi Avraham Yosef (Avi) Goldberg Hy"d

Our Rabbi on Yom Haatzmaut

A heartbroken cry in 1947 becomes a clarion call and prophecy in 1967, as HaRav Tzvi Yehuda Kook rejoices over the State of Israel even though it is not perfect. And on each Yom HaAtzmaut he danced with great joy.

Our Rabbi on Yom Haatzmaut

Passion, stability, and the way of the world

Why we don't make matzah the year round food, pushing chametz aside, and trying for maximum holiness.

Passion, stability, and the way of the world

The deeper meaning of numbers

Six, seven, eight and nine - what ideas do they signify?

The deeper meaning of numbers

Not everyone loves a parade

The Palestinian Arabs are, as usual, fighting the upcoming Jerusalem Day parade. Op-ed.

Not everyone loves a parade

Israel's 1st Chief Rabbi:

Shmini: Immersion in water

When we immerse ourselves in water, we are forced to recognize our existential estrangement from the physical universe.

Shmini: Immersion in water

When religion Is based on lies, it becomes meaningless

Better an ugly truth than a beautiful lie.

When religion Is based on lies, it becomes meaningless

Eretz Yisrael in the Parsha: Shmini

Mitzvahs in Eretz Yisrael

Young Religious Zionist Torah scholars study connections between the weekly Torah portion and the holy land.

Mitzvahs in Eretz Yisrael

Parashat Shmini:

The power of the eighth day

Parashat Shmini opens on the eighth day, the 1st of Nissan.

The power of the eighth day

Parashat Shmini:

It has split hooves but what lies beneath?

“Chazer Treif” is a Yiddish expression that describes something which is absolutely and completely non-kosher. The use of this description goes well beyond the kitchen...

It has split hooves but what lies beneath?

Parshat Shmini:

Simcha in the face of tragedy

Despite the tragedy in the parasha and a similar one in the haftarah, the joyous celebrations at the time continued. How could they find the inner strength?

Simcha in the face of tragedy

Rabbi Shimshon Refael Hirsch:

Shmini: Just obey the Good Book

Judaism calls on us to serve G-d, not our own whims.

Shmini: Just obey the Good Book

Haftarah for Shmini:

Who may bless the congregation?

We yearn for the day - just as David did – when God will grant us respite from our enemies. But now, when we are fighting for our nation's life, may a Cohen who is a combat soldier in the IDF bless the congregation?

Who may bless the congregation?

Parashat Shmini:

Moses said to Aaron: Approach the altar and perform your service

Why did Aaron have to be convinced to approach the altar?

Moses said to Aaron: Approach the altar and perform your service

Parashat Shmini:

Moving with astonishing speed

Our sages wondered why the Exodus is mentioned specifically in response to avoiding insects.

Moving with astonishing speed

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.

The Mystical Midpoint of the Torah

Rabbi Yosef Mashash zt'l's memories

How did Moroccan Jewry celebrate the victory over the Nazis ?

The story of Moroccan Jews on Victory Day over Nazi Germany, as described by Rabbi Yosef Mashash, zt"l, is a testament to the way in which world history unfolded in Jewish neighborhoods in North Africa. We must pass on this legacy - not only as another chapter of Holocaust history, but as a foundation for a broader Jewish identity.

How did Moroccan Jewry celebrate the victory over the Nazis ?

Torah Mitzion:

Holocaust Remembrance Day: And you shall be holy

Those who fought and those who went to their deaths with heads held high. All are holy.

Holocaust Remembrance Day: And you shall be holy

The Holocaust: Have we learned its lessons?

Remembering the tragedies of the past, while extremely significant, provides no protection against their being repeated.

The Holocaust: Have we learned its lessons?

Parashat Shmini:

With an abundance of love and faith

Just as there were crises on the eighth day when the Mishkan was erected, so too in our times, when we have been privileged to establish our national home, there are national and personal crises.

With an abundance of love and faith

The one they pick

Somehow, children relate best to personal examples. The father’s truth is passed on to his child, and the child feels as though, in some way, this was also his own personal experience.

The one they pick

Weekly Tanya video/lecture: The Holy Epistle

The Tanya compacts four millennia of Jewish wisdom to answer the great personal and existential questions of life. It has revolutionized the way we think about G -d the human soul, the world and our place in it.

Weekly Tanya video/lecture: The Holy Epistle

The secret of Sefirat HaOmer

The revealed side of the Torah is the foundation for this deeper learning, but the revealed side is not the Torah’s end.

The secret of Sefirat HaOmer

The Damascus Affair:

Blood, Lies, and the Birth of Modern Jewish Solidarity

So much has changed, yet so much of it seems so familiar... The crisis demonstrated that despite progress toward emancipation in Western Europe, ancient prejudices remained potent.

Blood, Lies, and the Birth of Modern Jewish Solidarity

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi:

The taste of Pesach: D’var Torah for Isru Chag

At the end of a long and wonderfully fulfilling festival, we don’t just want to put it behind us. The Miouna keeps the festival spirit alive, but we have to keep it in our hearts as well.

The taste of Pesach: D’var Torah for Isru Chag

The Song of the Sea in Jerusalem:

The 7th night of Pesach with Rabbi Charlap (1882-1951)

Rabbi Charlap: “If I had to name the worst disaster that could befall me it would be to leave the Land of Israel for Chutz L’Aretz."

The 7th night of Pesach with Rabbi Charlap (1882-1951)

The two levels of faith:

Did the Jews deserve the splitting of the Sea?

And what does it teach us about faith?

Did the Jews deserve the splitting of the Sea?

Seudat Mashiach:

Julius Caesar, Moshiach, and the state of the world

We are ready for a new-old consciousness.

Julius Caesar, Moshiach, and the state of the world

A Jewish Army:

How the IDF Rabbinate prepared for Passover

Over 200,000 pounds of Matzah and combat-friendly “Seder kits” - and that's for starters.

How the IDF Rabbinate prepared for Passover

In the merit of righteous women

The saga of renewed Jewish life in Chevron, led by the intrepid American olah, Miriam Levinger.

In the merit of righteous women

“Next Year in Eretz Yisrael”

From the Haggadah of Rabbi Chaim Drukman zts"l

But aren't we already there? Are we being ungrateful?

From the Haggadah of Rabbi Chaim Drukman zts"l

Laws of Chol Hamoed and Sefirat HaOmer:

And - have you said the blessing for the fruit trees yet?

After the cleaning, shopping and the Seder, we have ahead of us - the Intermediate Days, the last day of Pesach, Counting the Omer - and if you haven't yet, the blessing on trees. Moadim Lesimcha!

And - have you said the blessing for the fruit trees yet?

God fought for us then, we fight for Him now

The story of the Exodus says that God fights his people's oppressors at the Red Sea. Now, it is our turn to fight for freedom.

God fought for us then, we fight for Him now

For his 32nd yahrzeit, 18 Nissan:

Rabbi J.B. Soloveitchik, the Zionist ethos and Jewish unity

“We are confronted with a singular phenomenon. The Almighty has paved the way for the return to Zion through people who have cast off the yoke of Torah and mitzvot. Can we possibly deny that their accomplishments in rebuilding the land," - Rav Soloveitchik zts"l.

Rabbi J.B. Soloveitchik,  the Zionist ethos and Jewish unity

For the holiday of freedom:

Interview with former Prisoner of Zion, Rabbi Yosef Mendelevich

‘We didn’t know you people have such unbreakable spirit and resolve,’ the KGB commander said.

Interview with former Prisoner of Zion, Rabbi Yosef Mendelevich

Israel's 1st Chief Rabbi:

Destroy chametz, gain freedom

Why Clear Out Chametz?

Destroy chametz, gain freedom

The 4 Sons—and the 4 Big Questions on Judaism

The Rational Child, the Depressed Child, the Selfish Child, and the Apathetic Child. G-d believes in the youth. You must too!

The 4 Sons—and the 4 Big Questions on Judaism

Eretz Yisrael in the Parsha: Tsav

The daily offering - where, what when?

Young Religious Zionist Torah scholars find connections between the week's Torah portion and Eretz Yisrael.

The daily offering - where, what when?

True Jewish freedom

Rabbi Kook teaches that we are called upon to remove the “chametz” of foreign cultures and foreign idolatries from our hearts and be free of their influence.

True Jewish freedom

The Parsha and Current Events:

Tale of one family – two worlds

MY FOREVER RELEVANT PESACH TALE.

Tale of one family – two worlds

Rabbi Shimshon Refael Hirsch:

Tzav: Rise and shine

Judaism flourishes in light, not darkness.

Tzav: Rise and shine

Bitul Chametz: The genius of Rashi

The essence of Pesach is the aspect of renewal, novelty- see how Rashi carries the theme through the intricacies of halakhah.

Bitul Chametz: The genius of Rashi

Parashat Tzav & Shabbat HaGadol:

Chametz and Matzah

The Todah (the last offering we will read about before Pesach) in Parashat Tsav and the Korban Pesach both convey the same ideology. When G-d sends His salvation, we are obligated to celebrate it. There were also visible and societal connections between the two offerings.

Chametz and Matzah

Defining Pesach

On Pesach night, we were chosen, and history was never the same.

Defining Pesach

Machon Meir:

Pesach messages for today

One can see that a change has taken place in Israeli society since the start of the current war. Vast numbers are returning to tradition, returning to the synagogue, returning to the Sabbath and to the weekly portion, returning to the sources, returning to themselves.

Pesach messages for today

Parashat Tsav:

Mindfulness in the service of G-d - and advice on enhancing it

The daily lifting of the ash, which was performed by the Kohen as part of the Temple service, did not serve the practical purpose of keeping the Altar clean. What then was the objective of this Mitzvah?

Mindfulness in the service of G-d - and advice on enhancing it

Educating for the Seder II:

What type of redemption are we celebrating?

There are two explanations that we can offer our children at the Seder for our celebration.

What type of redemption are we celebrating?

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi

The essence of our Passover Seder

D’var Torah ahead of Pesach.

The essence of our Passover Seder

Matan Emunah Essay:

Nissan: The developed craft of Emunah

The Zohar refers to matzah, the quintessential food of Pesach, as the bread of faith. Nissan, and specifically Pesach, thus becomes a crucial time to explore and cultivate this active art of emunah.

Nissan: The developed craft of Emunah

Why the Pesach sacrifice?

The miracle of the angel of death passing over the Jewish houses teaches us a momentous lesson.

Why the Pesach sacrifice?

Let us go to the Seder together!

Let us recognize that we are children of royalty, a nation whose eternal destiny is freedom, that Israel is neither a servant nor a home-born slave, nor an object of contempt.

Let us go to the Seder together!

Passover:

Two faces of "the day after"

Though we had no merits - ‘no פתח no opening’ - Hashem still redeemed us.

Two faces of "the day after"

Jabotinsky’s tale of the 4 sons

A different way of looking at the four sons in the context of recent hisory - with a twist in discussing the third one.

Jabotinsky’s tale of the 4 sons

The Passover Exodus: History's turning point:

Reflections on the profundity of the first night of Passover,

The Passover Exodus: History's turning point:

Passover:

Matzah's letter of Redemption

Only one letter separates chametz from matza. What does this signify?

Matzah's letter of Redemption

Watch: Weekly Tanya video/lecture: The Holy Epistle

The Tanya compacts four millennia of Jewish wisdom to answer the great personal and existential questions of life. It has revolutionized the way we think about G -d the human soul, the world and our place in it.

Watch: Weekly Tanya video/lecture: The Holy Epistle




























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