Judaism (Page 92)


The loss of the world as we knew it

When the Holy Temple was destroyed, the loss was of a whole way of life.

The loss of the world as we knew it

Why would anyone want to be a rabbi?

A congregant asked this venerable rabbi why he chose to be one and received an unexpected answer.

 Why would anyone want to be a rabbi?

How should we look at the pandemic during the Three Weeks?

The global pandemic we are in today is a lot like the punishment for the Second Temple, it is a long unending saga with no end in sight.

How should we look at the pandemic during the Three Weeks?

Today’s Sin of the Golden Calf and the Spies

The Sin of the Golden Calf and the Sin of the Spies, which occurred during the Three Weeks, are the prototype of all other sins.

Today’s Sin of the Golden Calf and the Spies

Legendary leadership: Ruler or server?

Moshe’s request for a leader applied not only to his immediate successor, but to all future leaders of Israel. G-d's answer applies as well.

Legendary leadership: Ruler or server?

The 'Three Weeks' and the Parasha

Parashat Pinchas invariably falls during the Three Weeks of mourning for our lost Land and destroyed Holy Temple.

The 'Three Weeks' and the Parasha

Weekly Torah Study: Pinchas

No doubt Pinchas did the right thing. But at what price? The Temple Institute weekly Torah thoughts.

Weekly Torah Study: Pinchas

Pinchas: The Tamid offering performed at Sinai

Torah from Israell's first Ashkenazic Chief Rabbi, the iconic Torah Luminary and undisputed leader of Religious Zionism.

 Pinchas: The Tamid offering performed at Sinai

The prayers of the Daughters of Israel

PINCHAS Numbers 25:10–30:1 The modest and powerful place of prayer must be open and inviting to those women who truly understand prayer.

The prayers of the Daughters of Israel

What is the hallmark of a great leader?

What did Moses mean by a nation appearing to be like sheep who have no shepherd? There is always a shepherd when there is a flock of sheep.

What is the hallmark of a great leader?

Talking Parsha - Pinchas

What's the most significant story in our Parsha? Pinchas? What makes a true leader? and what does it have to do with 17th BeTamuz?

Talking Parsha - Pinchas

Torat Avigdor:

The Torah Laws of inheritance: Keeping it in the family

Death means you stop - not breathing; something much worse – you stop serving Hashem. Your opportunity to choose is lost forever.

The Torah Laws of inheritance: Keeping it in the family

Leadership paralysis

The situation could only be described as surrealistic, bizarre, inconceivable, and even grotesque. The nation's leaders were paralyzed!

Leadership paralysis

Pinchas - Status/Change of status

Status. Change of status. Concepts familiar to us from social media. But we use those terms lightly, often for insignificant matters.

Pinchas - Status/Change of status

Zealot in deed and zealot in the heart

Despite Torah's praise for Pinchas' zealousness, educators throughout Jewish history don't do the same. So what is the Torah teaching us?

Zealot in deed and zealot in the heart

Aaron and Pinchas, two diametrically opposed personalities?

When the situation demands it, the gentle priest becomes a man of war, who can and must take decisive and even violent action.

Aaron and Pinchas, two diametrically opposed personalities?

Events in Jewish history that occurred on the 17th of Tammuz

On this day, five negative events occurred in Jewish history, the most remembered one being the Roman breaching of the walls of Jerusalem.

Events in Jewish history that occurred on the 17th of Tammuz

The Jew-haters in the Book of Numbers

The Sages tell us that Moses wrote the Book of Bilaam. He had good reason to record this antisemite's words.

The Jew-haters in the Book of Numbers

Eretz Yisrael does not accept enemies of the Jewish People

The Torah says that the enemies of the Jewish People will not be able to make the land prosper. To Ramban this is a blessing, not a curse.

Eretz Yisrael does not accept enemies of the Jewish People

Isolation is a blessing for Israel

“Not only must the Jew not be afraid to be isolated [BaDaD], he is commanded to choose it. That is why all Jews must live in Eretz Yisrael.

Isolation is a blessing for Israel

My beloved is like a deer

The deer is an animal that nobly and easily leaps over life’s pitfalls, knowing there will be more ahead.

My beloved is like a deer

Weekly Tanya video\lecture: The Gate to Faith

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

Weekly Tanya video\lecture: The Gate to Faith

The righteous daughters of Zelophehad

How come Moses does not know what answer to give five orphaned sisters who want to inherit their father's portion of Eretz Yisrael?

The righteous daughters of Zelophehad

Aliya: Running away or becoming what you can be?

Israel is not a place to escape or run to, although it can be that as well. Israel is a place to step up into higher purpose and meaning.

Aliya: Running away or becoming what you can be?

Why was God angry? And where was Moses?

One of the interpretations of the name Pinchas is "mouth of brass", suggesting that he is the forebear of those who mount protests.

Why was God angry? And where was Moses?

Rabbi Meshulam Rata's love of the Land and diligent Torah study

A positive attitude to Zionism and settling the Land of Israel was shared by Rabbi Meshulam Rata (Roth) and his rabbi, Rabbi Meir Arik.

Rabbi Meshulam Rata's love of the Land and diligent Torah study

Balak - Who and what is the real antidote to Bilaam?

Bilaam represented a poisoned personality with intellectual skills.

Balak - Who and what is the real antidote to Bilaam?

Zechor na - We must always remember Bilaam's real intentions

From Bilaam to the UN, we have been cursed and slandered by eloquent talking heads. When Micah said "remember" he meant in the future.

Zechor na - We must always remember Bilaam's real intentions

Balak: Sweet dreams

Torah from Israel's first Ashkeniazi Chief Rabbi, the iconic Torah Sage and undisputed leader of Religious Zionism.

Balak: Sweet dreams

The source of blessing

Balaam arrives at an astounding conclusion despitie his arrogance. How different are the words about him from those about Abraham!

The source of blessing

Good and bad are a matter of perspective

What is the difference between the students of Abraham and the students of Bilam? And what are the three levels of having a 'good eye?'

Good and bad are a matter of perspective

Ya’akov and Yisrael – two levels

The quality of “Ya’akov” allows us to survive suffering, that of “Yisrael” allows us to reach the level in which we can declare God’s name.

Ya’akov and Yisrael – two levels

A very pessimistic man

There are people whose profession is a form of 'cursing'. They are very talented and clever people- whose message is that life is bad.

A very pessimistic man

The power of fear

Balak understood that fear is a powerful weapon.  It destroys men and nations and kills a nation’s courage to defend itself. Annex or not?

The power of fear

When the Tents of Jacob aren’t beautiful: Domestic abuse

In our Torah portion, Balak, is the famous blessing from the prophet Bil’am on the Jewish people's homes. But what if it is not the reality?

When the Tents of Jacob aren’t beautiful: Domestic abuse

Talking Parsha - Balak

Tuvia and Yitzi talk Parshat Balak: What's the deal with the story of Bila'am's donkey, and what are we supposed to learn from Bila'am?

Talking Parsha - Balak

Some of the greatest blessings are wrapped up in a curse

Please God, answer all of our prayers - for the good.

Some of the greatest blessings are wrapped up in a curse

Toras Avigdor for Chukat-Balak: The enigmatic well

What happened that made the Israelites in the desert sing a song of praise to a well - and to which well were they singing?

Toras Avigdor for Chukat-Balak: The enigmatic well

The hidden meaning of the Bilam story

In the Bilam story, the Israelites were rescued from a danger they knew nothing about by a deliverance they knew nothing about.

The hidden meaning of the Bilam story

"Sorry, I'm not good at this"

The "Thirteen Principles" for those who want to get involved with matchmaking.

"Sorry, I'm not good at this"

Prayer between the walls

On the prayers born out of our seclusion in our homes, and the act of praying against the wall.

Prayer between the walls

Hashem - I don't understand, but let us make up

The Holocaust is inexplicable to man, as is the Red Heifer. The question mark is the essence of Jewish faith.

Hashem - I don't understand, but let us make up

The G-d Factor

Yes masks, no masks, stay home, go out, The debates go on all the time. Is there a Mayvin with the last word? Hashem runs the world, relax.

The G-d Factor

Weekly Tanya video\lecture: The Gate to Faith

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

Weekly Tanya video\lecture: The Gate to Faith

Recipe for a perfect Red Heifer

This is not in our food section because the ingredients are currently unavailable, but how we wish we could achieve the purity it brings!

Recipe for a perfect Red Heifer

Democracy or divine aristocracy for the People of Israel?

Plato's list of types of regimes can be matched uncannily with what we are seeing today, with only the highest similar to a Torah regime.

Democracy or divine aristocracy for the People of Israel?

Mortality and hope

Just as we know the inevitability of death, we know the inevitability of growth, the “hope” that breaks through the chains of mortality.

Mortality and hope

Rav Eliezer, the Jewish People's unity is the concern here

The debate in Israel about Rabbi Eliezer Melamed's much publicized meeting with a Reform "Rabba" scrutinized by a rabbinic friend.

Rav Eliezer, the Jewish People's unity is the concern here

The last generation's Great Sages' attitude to the Reform

In Rabbi Kook’s yeshiva, it was clear that no Jews, including those who were Reform and Conservative, should be boycotted.

The last generation's Great Sages'  attitude to the Reform

A stiff-necked people

There have always been those who refuse to acknowledge the authority of God. Korach added His servant Moshe and the appointment of Aaron.

A stiff-necked people

The opposite of love is not hate

The opposite of love is apathy which can be more painful than hatred.

The opposite of love is not hate

What is the rationale?

Harav Avraham Kook taught us how to think of Am Yisrael as comprising all who are born to a Jewish mother or underwent halakhic conversion.

What is the rationale?

Weekly Torah Study: Chukat

What makes the Red heifer so mysterious to us? Lecture from the Temple Institute.

Weekly Torah Study: Chukat

Psalm 5: Awakening Love and Awe‏

Torah from Israel's first Chief Rabbi, the iconic leader of Religious Zionism.

Psalm 5: Awakening Love and Awe‏

Korach and company - and complaining again (Korach and Chukat)

The challenge to Moshe's authority is settled, so why are the Jews complaining again and what is really bothering them?

Korach and company - and complaining again (Korach and Chukat)

Why did Aaron die before Moshe? (for Korach and Chukat)

In Korach, Aaron's staff flowers, in Chukat he and Moshe both sin, so why is he punished first? Why didh't he also beg to enter the Land?

Why did Aaron die before Moshe? (for Korach and Chukat)




























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