Judaism (Page 2)


Jerusalem is waiting for us!

Many of our brethren in the Diaspora are waiting for Mashiach to come and build the Beit HaMikdash. But the order of events is otherwise. First they have to come and then Mashiach will arrive to finish the work, may it be soon.

Jerusalem is waiting for us!

Israel's 1st Chief Rabbi:

Behar-Bechukotai: Jubilee - National reconciliation

Why was the formal proclamation of the Jubilee year postponed until Yom Kippur?

Behar-Bechukotai: Jubilee - National reconciliation

Parashat Behar-Bechukotai:

Answering the famous question about shmitta and Mount Sinai

The shmita year reminds the Jewish people that they are slaves of G-d, and therefore everything they own should be used to serve Him, whether land or people.

Answering the famous question about shmitta and Mount Sinai

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi

Make those moments last.

D’var Torah for Parshat Behar: Ramban says that Yovel, the Jubilee year in our parasha, means taking something forward.

Make those moments last.

A Rabbi's thoughts on the DC murders:

Rage does not entitle you to murder

Hey, Elias, if you cared for children in Gaza, why didn't you fly to Ben Gurion airport, cut over to Gaza, and enlist at the local Hamas recruiting office? Opinion.

Rage does not entitle you to murder

Parashat Behar-Bechukotai:

Bigger bombs aren’t the answer

The full solution is in the parsha this week.

Bigger bombs aren’t the answer

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.

Our Claim to the Land of Israel will Never Falter

Parashat Behar-Bechukotai:

Are we eternally chosen?

Yes, there is an unbreakable bond between Hashem and the Jewish people.

Are we eternally chosen?

Parashat Behar-Bechukotai:

Shmita as a continuation of the revelation at Sinai

A person who is not subjugated to Torah - but to his possessions and his wealth - can not observe the mitzvah of shemita, whilst he still feels that he is the master of his fields.

Shmita as a continuation of the revelation at Sinai

A calendaric reason for the attack occuring on October 7th

And a call to rebuild a House of Prayer for the Nations, as prophesied.

A calendaric reason for the attack occuring on October 7th

The Parsha and Current Events:

Global natural disasters

We might be seeing now the beginning of the period where one evil nation wages war on another evil one, while in the background their countries are being ravaged by Hashem’s manipulation of natural disasters.

Global natural disasters

Parashat Behar-Bechukotai:

The good news

The Torah says that during the exile of the Jewish people, as they wandered the ends of the Earth, the Land of Israel will be desolate and barren, unable to support large thriving populations. And then comes the next part.

The good news

Weekly Tanya lecture/video: 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 lecture/video: The Holy Epistle

Rabbi Shimshon Refael Hirsch: Behar-Bechukotai

Inner peace

This parsha contains the secret to overcoming anxiety and self-doubt.

Inner peace

Haftarat Behar-Bechukotai

Individual responsibility, collective rewards

In moments of personal hardship, it is natural to wonder: Why am I not being rewarded for my efforts? The Torah’s answer is painful, but empowering.

Individual responsibility, collective rewards

Haredi Draft:

A Torah lottery for a united Israel

A radical compromise to the IDF draft controversy. Op-ed

A Torah lottery for a united Israel

The endless spiritual possibilities in quantum physics

Indeterminacy, as in the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle, overturns the old, classical idea of a perfectly predictable, clockwork universe and shows that chance and possibility are woven into the very structure of reality.

The endless spiritual possibilities in quantum physics

The awakening of heresy in recent generations

In recent generations, human consciousness has developed and expanded greatly, while the study and clarification of faith has not been sufficiently established to cope with it. The more we clarify faith and refine the guidance of the Torah, the more faith in God and His Torah will return to beat in hearts.

The awakening of heresy in recent generations

Israel's 1st Chief Rabbi:

Emor: The Omer Controversy

What is the nature of the Jewish people? Is the nation merely the combined contribution of each individual Jew? Or are the Jewish people as a whole a national collective with its own special holiness?

Emor: The Omer Controversy

Parashat Emor:

Kohanim and independence

Though we are once again sovereign in our ancestral homeland for the first time since the days of Queen Shlom-Zion, the murderers still stalk us. And though tragedy strikes, we are in an incomparably better situation than we have been at any time since Queen Shlom-Zion.

Kohanim and independence

Parashat Emor:

Why is Shabbat listed among the holidays?

Torah commentaries weigh in on the philosophic and practical issue of the difference between Shabbat and the other festivals and why Shabbat is mentioned with them despite that.

Why is Shabbat listed among the holidays?

For Lag Ba'Omer:

Life Is a Wedding: The finite as a portal to the infinite

Why Reb Shimon ben Yoachai's passing came to be known as a "Wedding,"

Life Is a Wedding: The finite as a portal to the infinite

Lag Ba'omer: When the soul is bound to G-d

It is taught that on the day of his passing, Rabbi Shimon taught secrets of the Torah that had never been heard before.

Lag Ba'omer: When the soul is bound to G-d

The unique light of Lag Ba'Omer

This ability, to see the good even in something that appears faulty, is what God demanded of Moses before he could redeem Israel, and likewise of Isaiah. When Rachel saw this trait in Akiva, she chose to marry him.

The unique light of Lag Ba'Omer

For Lag Ba'Omer:

Self-Sacrifice in our generation

Not only Rashbi, but all those who follow in his path throughout the generations, especially in our generation, the generation of revival and the ingathering of exiles - whether they are aware of it or not - are sustained by the merit of his and their self-sacrifice.

Self-Sacrifice in our generation

Parashat Emor:

Are we holier than thou?

There is a clear distinction between what is expected of the ordinary Jew and what is demanded of the Kohen.

Are we holier than thou?

Rabbi Shimshon Raphael Hirsch:

Emor: No disabled people allowed

Judaism is supposed to be a springboard, not a crutch.

Emor: No disabled people allowed

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

For Lag Ba'Omer

Reminiscences and reflections on Lag Ba’Omer and its lessons

The pernicious disease of disrespect continues to infect our times. Disdain of others can also lead to demonization and baseless hatred of the sort that led to the destruction of the Second Temple. Let us overcome it.

Reminiscences and reflections on Lag Ba’Omer and its lessons

For Lag Ba'Omer:

Eretz Yisrael and the Secrets of Torah: Introduction to the Zohar

The Talmud teaches that it is impossible to come to the Land of Israel without difficulties and suffering. Learning the secrets of Torah is the remedy. Read

Eretz Yisrael and the Secrets of Torah: Introduction to the Zohar

Matan Iyar Emunah Essay:

Optimism in Iyar

Rabbi Akiva refused to see suffering as the end of the story, hopefully we can learn from his perspective and find hope in the ashes.

Optimism in Iyar

Revivim:

New Book: “Faith and Its Commandments”

Questions of faith in our generation regarding foreign cultures and religions are becoming increasingly significant and widespread. Last week, the new book “Faith and Its Commandments” was published in two volumes as part of the “Peninei Halakha” series.

New Book: “Faith and Its Commandments”

Mysticism, and Biology

The sacred science of scent

From the incense-filled sanctuaries of ancient Jerusalem to the comforting aroma of spices at the close of Shabbat, scent remains our most direct link between earth and heaven, body and soul.

The sacred science of scent

Post Pesach thoughts based on Rav Yitzchok Hutner's teachings

Abraham, Isaac and Jacob as embodiments of God's divine attributes.

Post Pesach thoughts based on Rav Yitzchok Hutner's teachings

The university crisis provides a historic opportunity

The danger when my comfort zones and fears become my god.

The university crisis provides a historic opportunity

Israel's 1st Chief Rabbi:

A letter for the Neturei Karta

During the British Mandate, the Jews of Eretz Yisrael were no more united than they are today.

A letter for the Neturei Karta

Ethics of the Fathers:

Chapter III: Food for thought

We live in a world that regards food, along with sexuality, as ends in themselves rather than as means. Judaism says something else about our needs.

Chapter III: Food for thought

A survey of commentaries:

'Do not do as Egypt did, nor Canaan'

Commentaries weigh in on what exactly this prohibition means.

'Do not do as Egypt did, nor Canaan'

Achrei-Mot-Kedoshim:

A peek into the Super-Conscious

This is not a world one can describe because one can only experience it from within oneself. In this world, we lose the very self to the magnetic pull of profound oneness.

A peek into the Super-Conscious

Torah Mitzion:

Why so negative?

What can connect the disparate commandments in Parashat Kedoshim?

Why so negative?

Eretz Yisrael in the Parsha:

Violations of which sins bring about exile?

Young Religious Zionist Torah scholars connect the weekly Torah reading with the Land of Israel.

Violations of which sins bring about exile?

For 10 Iyar, Herzl's birthday:

Theodore Herzl - The visionary of a Jewish State

A clarification of the many false claims made about Herzl, some of which caused the Haredi community to look askance upon Religious Zionism for its appreciation of Herzl’s dedication and bold Zionist endeavors.

Theodore Herzl - The visionary of a Jewish State

Acharei-Mot–Kedoshim:

Worshipping under the influence?

The dangers of misguided zeal: Lessons from Nadav and Avihu

Worshipping under the influence?

Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch:

Achrei Mos-Kedoshim: Which goat are you?

Stubbornness can lead us to, or away from, Hashem.

Achrei Mos-Kedoshim: Which goat are you?

Acharei-Mot–Kedoshim:

Preparing for Redemption

This prophetic message of the Return to Zion in the Haftorah was tailor-made for this Shabbat, falling between Yom ha-Atzma’ut and Yom Herut Yerushalayim.

Preparing for Redemption

The Parsha and Current Events:

Thoughts after Yom Ha'atzma'ut

During WWII, we begged the major ally nations to use their air forces to bomb the concentration camps, today the world is holding its breath and counting the minutes until our Israeli Air Force bombs the Iranians after it has already bombed the Houthis!

Thoughts after Yom Ha'atzma'ut

Kashrut in the IDF: No compromises, highest standards

In reality, the kashrut standards maintained in the army today are often more stringent than those of the Chief Rabbinate of Israel and, in fact, often rival those of the mehadrin kashrut agencies.

Kashrut in the IDF: No compromises, highest standards

Watch: 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: Tanya video/lecture: The Holy Epistle

One Homeland, not two

We are talking about the situation of entire Jewish communities ensconced in the darkness of exile, believing that it is perfectly OK to live in Gentile countries. But it is not OK.

One Homeland, not two

Israel’s future

It is very important to emphasize this confidence, because some, lacking faith, are frightened that the State of Israel will not endure, Heaven forbid.

Israel’s future

Is this the Redemption?

The Redemption is gradual, it relates to the increase in light, yet it is also possible that within this process there will be times of great darkness.

Is this the Redemption?

The joy and challenge of children

If you want to be a better parent, you must first become a better person.

The joy and challenge of children

A vision for unity and revival

What if the key to our future is hidden in the very essence of our identity—Torah, Land, and People? Op-ed.

A vision for unity and revival

QM, superposition, and charging interest on a loan

The beautiful connection between spiritual law and scientific discovery reminds us that everything in the universe is connected to Torah and vice versa.

QM, superposition, and charging interest on a loan

Ethics of the Fathers;

Stepping Up

Leadership is where a person takes responsibility where others are not present…

Stepping Up

Parashat Tazria-Metzora

Conundrum: The difference in purification time between births

‘Why are the periods of impurity - and then purity - of the mother who gives birth to a girl, double the periods where she gives birth to a male?’

Conundrum: The difference in purification time between births




























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