Israel's first Chief Rabbi: There are two levels of kavanah (intention) in prayer.
For while we have fought for and earned the Land of Israel, and the practice of Jewish life has returned to Zion, we cannot say that our Jewish brothers and sisters in Israel are truly free.
If You Don’t Love Me, Don’t Expel Me,
From the month of Nisan, we are taught that it is not just during times of sorrow that we should empathise with others, it is also when they are happy.
The laws of tzaraas are incomprehensible if we adopt the general translation.
Are speakers of lashon ha’ra not found amongst the nations? Why then don’t we find that they are afflicted by tzaraat?
God demands we live a life of good deeds towards others and this upholds the world. Therefore, many commandments in the Torah are commandments of interpersonal nature.
Young Religious Zionist Torah scholars connect the Torah Reading with the Land of Israel.
A quick internet search shows that no other country connects (except perhaps Holland) their Memorial Day (Yom HaZikaron) and Independence Day (Yom HaAtzmaut) as Israel does.
There are three important Jewish holidays celebrating Jewish redemption each of which is the historical template and precursor of the establishment of the First, Second and Third Jewish Temples.
How is it that milah brings completeness? And what is the connection with the Menorah?
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.
America did not make Israel. It did not fight for Israel and it will not save Israel. America claims to help Israel with military and financial aid, but this help comes with conditions that do not serve Israel’s interests. What should we do?
It is the first of Nissan in the year 2448 (1312 B.C.E.). Nine of the Ten Plagues have struck Egypt, and only the tenth, the Slaying of the Firstborn, the most devastating Plague of them all, is yet to come.
The future deliverance can be viewed as “a redemption of correction,” perfecting the initial one.
We pray that Hashem protect and defend them all, but every parent has his own special prayer - and his own sleepless nights.
We look for G-d’s presence not in the life of the individual, but in the life of the nation – what G-d does for us as a people.
We have none to rely on other than our Father in heaven. We must ask for His help.
How are we supposed to deal with the pathological hatred driving people to protest violently in the midst of war?
Israel' first Chief Rabbi and iconic leader of Religious Zionism: To understand Moses’ unusual instructions for mourning his nephews, we must examine the Talmudic account of the passing of Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi.
Aharon's sin with the Golden Calf was not in its creation but in forcing G-d to judge the Jews as willful sinners.
“Le’David Barchi Nafshi” is a compilation of essays written on the weekly Torah reading by David Schwartz, Hy"d, who fell in Gaza. First published on the occasion of his marriage to Meital, David’s unique Torah thoughts that delve into the depths of the Torah are shared now to elevate his memory and sanctify his soul.
G-d wants you to be good, but He also wants you to shine. Creating ambitious and confident children does not guarantee their moral uprightness and integrity.
Shmini describes the wondrous events of that first day of Nissan, the eighth day of the investiture of the Mishkan.
Why are Aharon and his sons not allowed to mourn the deaths of Nadav and Avihu? Why is it different than the customary practices of kohanim who must mourn their seven close relatives? And how is this relevant to what our nation has faced for the past six months?
In pre-computer times, the scribes knew how many words and how many letters there were in the entire Torah.
An analysis of the non kosher animals mentioned in the parasha is connected to the four questions - and Redemption. This will be the final exile, after which we will never again be defeated or exiled from our Land.
We are all eighth day Jews. What does that mean?
When the time for retribution for the evils perpetrated on His nation Yisrael arrives, Hashem will wait for no man.
The Prophetic Books are not more “ethical” than the Pentateuch.
Part 5: The Eternal Struggle Between Good and Evil
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.
Learning to distinguish between our plans for the future and our view in retrospect.
The Levites served in policing roles against criminals and deserting soldiers, and when necessary, they also joined the most elite combat units in the war itself.
These two holiday episodes in our history share common elements of observance. Both are celebrated through the shared quality of giving. Daniel Perez Hy"d embodied that ideal.
Yaakov did not cease his studies of the 613 Mitzvot, and when one learns about a Mitzvah, credit is given for actually fulfilling that commandment!
While the Torah does introduce new aspects, the repetition prompts us to question the Torah's approach - why does it not consolidate these discussions into a single section?
Good morning, soul.
There are two conflicting messages that the red heifer teaches us.
The problem isn’t the Jews in Israel. The problem is the Jews outside of it.
The word "tsav" is found only concerning the Korban Tamid. Why?
What it says on the tin should be what you find within it.
How do we continue to trust in G-d when He allows us to be rocketed by so much evil and darkness?
Our mission and our ancestors’ mission are one and the same.
Israel's first chief rabbi: "Our world is inherently imperfect, and God’s kindness is not always readily apparent."
March Madness involves basketball. This March, our beloved Israel, and World Jewry, are suffering a different and far-more insidious madness, called antisemitism. Op-ed.
The rest of the world is also beginning to recognize the unique value of Israel’s religiously committed population.
When the Rebbe of Belz came on aliyah, he said, ‘We realize now that we erred in our estrangement from Eretz Yisrael.’
Because Mordechai gathered all the Jews, the Jewish people were saved. Unity is the key to redemption.
It is the month of Adar, the month of rebirth, of hopefulness. And yet, a white cloud of disbelief lends an atmosphere of disbelief, to the lovely scene. We ask, When? For how long?
“Brief” encounters can lead to devastation.
UN demands cessation of all gragger spinning. Ahashveros confused again - cannot seem to tell the difference between Haman and Mordechai.
To present an example that is happening right before our eyes; Why is the entire world focused, and even obsessed with Israel?
Dramatic announcement of the DOA.
Every nation, every culture which ever felt threatened by the knowledge of G-d was determined to exterminate, to kill, and to destroy all the Jews, from young to old, babies and women.
Our Sages expound the word ‘Saying’ in the first pasuk in several ways, feeling that it is superfluous, as immediately after it - in the second pasuk - the Torah again says:’Speak to Bnei Israel, and say to them.’
Israel's first Chief Rabbi had a unique tradition for Purim festivities and his students took part. In the middle of his speech, Rav Kook suddenly stood up and began to sing with great elation, “Do not fear, My servant Jacob! Do not fear, do not fear!”
R’ Moshe Feinstein asks the obvious – if G-d’s voice was to be heard by Moshe alone, why does the Torah allude to the might and majesty of G-d’s communications? What purpose was served by this miracle?
Young religious Zionist Torah scholars connect the parasha and the Holy Land.
