Judaism (Page 27)

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi: Yitro

Every child is the one and only.

Honoring one's father and mother is only one of two lessons on family life in the parasha.

Yitro's proclamation

Why Yitro used "measure for meaure" to proclaim G-d's rule

Were there not other great things that could have made Yitro say, ‘Now I know,’ such as the actual redemption or the splitting of the sea?

Yitro:

The outsider

Sometimes, just sometimes, when the nation of Israel is at a low ebb, when we are vulnerable and uncertain, when we need strengthening, G-d sends us a leader like Yitor from outside who can provide that emboldenment.

Celebrating productivity and resilience

By celebrating the renewal and resilience of trees, we recognize these same qualities within ourselves.

'We have no clearer sign of Redemption than this'

Eretz Yisrael is yielding its fruit in abundance to the People of Israel. Following two-thousand years of Exile, we are now gathering together our fruit, and gathering our scattered brothers by the millions.

Yitro:

'Thou shalt not covet'

Ibn Ezra comments: Many have wondered about this commandment: how can one not covet in your heart, a nice thing, which is goodly in his eyes? Read his famous answer and other commentaries' explanations of it below.

Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch: Yitro

Rendering yourself non-existent

Don’t smother the unique characteristics with which Hashem blessed you.

Torah Mitzion: YItro

We heard from the Mouth of the Almighty

Why are there three traditions regarding the division of the first verses in the Ten Commandments?

Hostage releases on Shabbat - trampling Israel's honor

It is unfortunate that the representatives of the State of Israel did not take heed of the fact that the release of the hostages was done on Shabbat, violating the national sanctity of the day. Honoring Israel’s holy symbols is an essential component in defeating the enemy, and in establishing the Israeli national identity.

For Tu B'shvat:

Happy New Year of the trees!

About the holiday of Tu BiShvat and the special connection of the Jewish People and the Land of Israel.

For Tu B'Shvat:

Late blossoming

The real blossoming of the fruits of the Land of Israel is seen on the holiday of Pesach, in the spring. On a national level as well.

The tragedy of our Jew-ish allies

What makes a convert and why it matters.

Video/lecture

Watch: Tanya/ Iggeres Ha’Kodesh - 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.

Amalek

Hamas is Amalek. Realize that. And then do what Hashem commanded us to do about Amalek. Think hard about why suspended releasing hostages - it is not Israeli violations, it is the condition of those hostages and hostage bodies.

Patience is the key

The story of the exodus is a story of Redemption, and we are in the midst of such a story. Study the exodus from Egypt to see how much patience is needed...

A People of Fate, A People of Destiny:

When are we a People of Fate, when a People of Destiny?

Rav Soloveitchik zt"l teaches us how to transform our inner conflicts into a Redemptive Destiny.

Beshalach:

Shabbat Shirah

When G-d grants us victory over our enemies, when He destroys our enemies who oppress us, we are obligated to thank Him with ecstatic praise. Anything less denotes extreme ingratitude

Three Versions of a Song:

Are our leaders afraid to empower their students?

Do you know how to make your disciple shine?

Eretz Yisrael in the parsha:

The goal: Reaching Eretz Yisrael

Young religious Zionist Torah scholars find connections between the Torah reading and the Holy Land.

Parshat Beshalach:

Hostages' stories echo the merit of our ancestor Yosef

The entirety of the splitting of the sea was in the merit of Yoseph, and the sacrifices that Yosef made.

Beshalach:

Nutrition from heaven

Takeaways from the story of the Manna.

Beshalach;

This is my G-d

What do I do for a G-d who forged a personal relationship with me and showed me His tender love? I beautify Him. I make Him as beautiful as I can.

When Pharaoh sent them out

Who freed the slaves - Hashem or Pharaoh?

Amalek matters

Our mandate to rescue the most vulnerable amongst our people.

Torah Mitzion: Beshalach

From Miriam the Prophetess to Agam Berger

Dedicated to talented young violinist Agam Berger, freed from captivity as was Miriam the prophetess who sang at the Red Sea. Two who both believe in the power of music.

Beshalach: Mon vs. Quail

G-d wants us to work for our blessings.

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi

Leadership that lasts

D’var Torah for Parshat Beshalach.

Personal Growth series:

How the world connects us to our Creator

Studying and appreciating the way Hashem reveals Himself to us in His interaction with the world strengthens our faith.

Watch video/lecture: Tanya/ Iggeres Ha’Kodesh - 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.

Parshat Yitro:

What we learn from the first convert to Judaism

In order to become a “convert”, a National Identity must be established.

The Exodus from Egypt and Redemption through natural means

God created the world so that it operates according to laws known as the laws of nature; Miracles were intended to reveal and publicize that God is the leader of the entire world.

When will there be peace?

The concept of peace found in the Torah is not necessarily built upon that of peace-loving neighbors, but often built upon the fear we instill in them:

Beit El Yeshiva Dean:

The hostage deal and its implications

Dean of the Beit El Yeshiva and leading Religious Zionist Rabbi, Shlita, delivers a lecture about the current agreement that frees hostages in exchange for freeing terrorists, and includes retreating from areas in Gaza.

What is a hyssop?

As Bnei Yisrael were exiting Egypt, a small appearing plant of that name had a role in the observance of Passover that year and in the redemption; a small plant whose importance is immeasurable.

Sivan Rahav-Meir:

What I learned from Meirav Berger, Agam's mother

Thank you, Meirav, for reminding us about the big story and making us more connected to it.

Israel's 1st Chief Rabbi:

Bo: The Special Pesach Offering

Why may the korban pesach only be eaten at the nighttime? And why must it be roasted?

Depressing Time, productive Time, and redemptive Time

Is Time a storm in which we are all lost?

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi:

Am Yisrael Chai

Following the commemorations for the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, to which I accompanied King Charles, we can be certain, perhaps more than at any other time before, of the truth that Am Yisrael Chai.

Parashat Bo:

'In your blood you shall live, in your blood you shall live'

Various commentators weigh in on a question on the Torah reading. Did Bnei israel in Egypt not have any Mitzvot, so that Hashem felt compelled to give them these two new Mitzvot - pesach and milah - in the merit of which they were redeemed from Egypt?

Prashat Bo:

Ten plagues and nine ceasefires

A lesson of hope for today from this week's Torah reading.

Haftarat Parashat Bo:

Where everybody knows your name

When there is genuine concern for the individual, names hold meaning and serve a purpose.

Matan Rosh Hodesh Shvat Torah Essay:

The month of Shvat – past and future

Old and new fruit cannot be tithed from one another, just as the past and future are distinct from each other.

Parashat Bo:

As the hostages come home

They were not alone in the tunnels but with G-d and the love of their people. That gave the hostages a reason to live. It gave them the ability to transcend.

Headlines from Parashat Bo

The story of the Exodus is central to our historical purpose and destiny. Its "headlines" are psukim hinting to current events, leaving a bit to the imagination...

Parashat Bo:

Pharaoh’s anger at Moshe

Unshakable stubbornness is a key feature of brutal rulers. They have an irrational magnified belief in their own significance in the scheme of things that blinds them to reality.

The Parasha and Current Events: Bo

Existential challenges

Tje hareidi and religious Zionist total 22% and the others 78% of Israel's population. These numbers parallel the demographics of our ancestors on the eve of the Exodus!

Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch:

Parashat Bo: How free were we?

Matzah reminds us that we left Egypt thanks to G-d’s grace alone.

Torah Mitzion Parashat Bo:

'This month shall be for you'

We count the months starting from the Exodus from Egypt.

Personal Growth series:

How the past inspires faith in the future

Jewish history has never been a straight line. We’ve seen soaring highs and devastating lows, and those low points can be especially difficult to endure. But from our nation’s first low point, Hashem taught us how to handle future ones.

The Novardok Yeshiva and Yeshiva Rabbi Chaim Berlin US connection

Thoughts after the recent passing of Rav Mordechai Zev Yoffen (Jofen) Z"L Rosh Yeshiva of the Novardok Yeshiva in Brooklyn.

Watch video/lecture: Tanya/ Iggeres Ha’Kodesh - 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.

Revivim:

The Hostage Deal and our soldiers' heroism

We must exalt the bravery of the regular and reserve soldiers who fought for so many months. Thanks to their dedication, the people of Israel live and continue to move forward.

Aging parents and aliyah

Snce this week marks my mother’s yahrtzeit, may her memory be a blessing, I will use my personal experience to demonstrate that bringing one’s aging parents to Israel is the very best thing a child could do for them.

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi:

Never again

In the face of wickedness, there is no room for patience.

Eretz Yisrael in the Parsha: Vaera

What is "morasha"?

Religious Zionist scholars find and explain connections between Torah readings and the Holy Land. This week: The Land of Israel as a "morasha."

Freeing terrorists for release of Jewish hostages

The story of the historic rabbinic decision on the Entebbe hostages and how the IDF saved the day.