Torah MiZion

From Resurrection to Heroism: A message for these days

The writer, a bereaved parent who lost two sons on October 7, 2023, strenghthens the Jewish People despite his pain.

Torah Mitzion:

Avadim Hayinu: From disgrace to praise

" Thus said the Holy One to Israel: My children, do I lack anything? What do I seek from you? I seek only that you love one another, and honor one another..."

Parashat Vayakhel-Pekudei and Hachodesh:

The Grand Finale

The Mishkan is here to remind us of that. Hashem has brought presence to Space. Parashat Hachodesh tells us that this presence occurs in time.

Torah Mitzion:

Parashat Zachor

“Remember what Amalek did to you on the way, after you left Egypt… you shall blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven; do not forget."

Torah Mitzion:

A house for G-d: Salvation or snare?

Our synagogues, like the Temple, must be a Beit Midrash, a Beit Tefilah and a Beit Kenesset.

Torah Mitzion, Parashat Mishpatim:

“You shall not let a sorceress live"- learned from its context

Does this commandment have any practical application, as do the other commandments of the parashah?

Torah Mitzion: Parashat Yitro

Seudat Yitro, a Tunisian Jewish tradition

One can see in Seudat Yitro, celebrated by Tunisian Jews on the Thursday before Shabbat Parashat Yitro, an invitation to reconsider the boundaries of belonging and the possibility of lending an ear to wisdom that comes from outside.

Torah Mitzion: Vaeira

Hakarat Hatov

Do we show gratitude to someone who helped us if he also benefitted? What does it signify to show gratitude to inanimate objects as Moses did?

Torah Mitzion: Parashat Vayechi

"And let them multiply abundantly like fish, within the land"

The Midrash identifies Manasseh and Ephraim not only as concrete individuals, but also their descendants Yehoshua and Gideon. What is that based on?

Torah Mitzion on Vayeshev:

"Judah went down....Behold, thy father-in-law goeth up"

In this parasha, we learn about Judah, the leader of the tribe that will give the Israelites the kingdom of David and ultimately, the Messiah.

Torah Mitzion: Toldot

Davening in a time of trouble

From the root of the word atar (“to entreat”), the Sages derived that prayer is heard only when there is peace among those praying.

Torah Mitzion: Parashat Vayera

The old couple

The use of egg donors raises many halakhic and ethical questions.

Torah Mitzion: Parashat Noach

The righteous man who kept the world alive

Who is greater? Noah or Avraham. Let us compare the two following the example of Chazal..

Torah Mitzion:

The King is in the building

The significance of hakhel goes beyond the reading itself.

Torah Mitzion: Parashat Shoftim

Why do we even need a king?

The Torah believes in our ability to repair ourselves as individuals and to repair society as a whole, so why do we need an external force?

Torah Mitzion: Parashat Re'eh

Uncovering the secret of the place the Lord shall choose

“To His dwelling you shall seek, and there you shall come.” Why not identify the place in the Torah?

Torah Mitzion: Eikev

Fear in the Torah of Life

Rav Kook spoke at length about fear of Heaven and did not spare criticism of the mistakes in the meaning of the concept.

Torah Mitzion: Parashat Devarim and Tisha B'Av

How do we return to rebuilding through ahavat chinam?

The Nine Days, and Tisha B'Av in particular, are days in which we can reflect on our connection with the other citizens of Israel and Jews around the world.

Torah Mitzion:

Shrek's donkey

A donkey that can talk is not an original invention for the Shrek movie; we are actually going to read about it in the portion of the week.

Torah Mitzion on Shavuot:

The voice of Torah and the free heart

Hasidic thought explains that Shavuot is not only a time of learning but a time of heart repair.

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.

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.

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.

Torah Mitzion: Parshat Vayikra:

The Asham and the Chatat offerings

What is the difference between the two sin offerings and is there a psychological insight in that difference?

Torah Mitzion:

The power of the community in building the Mishkan

The sanctity of Am Yisrael does not stem from the individual alone but from each person’s ability to contribute to the greater good.

Torah Mitzion-Parashat Tetsave:

For dignity and splendor - whose?

The reason offered here for the High Priest's special garments connects with an added dvar Torah about choosing a king before erasing Amalek.

Torah Mitzion: Mishpatim

The small details

The covenant is established through both aspects—the "big" revelations and the "small" laws—together leading to spiritual heights.

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?

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.

Torah Mitzion Parashat Bo:

'This month shall be for you'

We count the months starting from the Exodus from Egypt.

Torah Mitzion:

Active Hakarat Hatov

It’s not enough to appreciate the good that we get from others; we must take time to act in a way that shows just how much we appreciate it.

Torah Mitzion:

The mitzvah of rebuke

The explanation of two Reb Yaakovs.

Acharei Mot: True rebuke is hard to come by

There are two ways to understand this mitzva and both are not easy to perform.

Servant of God: A title of emancipation

Personal drive, self-induced pressure and competition have become the Pharaohs of today, the master we serve.

Leading a nation

A leader's strength is in redirecting behavior, turning a snake into a staff.

The Fast of the Tenth of Tevet - Asara beTevet

Why do we fast on Friday instead of pushing off or moving this seemingly minor fast on day back?

The Hanukkah candle of the Little Prince

We must ask ourselves what the light of Hanukkah means to us.

Parashat Vayetzei: God of society

“The merit of Eretz Yisrael will protect me and my family, that no harm should befall us, and no harm should befall all of Israel…”

Toldot: The material and spiritual missions and their blessings

Isaac had hoped that cooperation would be possible between his two sons. It was not to be.

Which commandments are more important?

Commandments between man and G-d or man and his fellow man - which are more important?

Aln agronomist on the pitom - and a thought for Simchat Torah

The etrog should be kept away from moisture. This is in order to preserve its beauty for the entire duration of Sukkot.

The big picture

In order to believe in G-d, one must be willing to accept that we don’t know the whole story.

Dip your apple in the honey!

For a sweet year."Le- Shana Tova uMetuka" But is there more to this symbol than its sweet taste?

Growing joy

Joy appears from giving. The first fruits narrative shows it.

The laws of “Kilei Hakerem” (Crops Grown in a vineyard)

Why is the prohibition of Kilei hakerem so severe? What precisely is prohibited?

Eikev: Avoiding the mistakes of one's predecessors

The service in the Beit Hamikdash is the prototype of all the mitzvot.

Chosen! The riddle of Jewish Destiny

What is the promise of Jewish history? Is it the salvation that we have repeatedly experienced, or is the suffering part of the promise?

Devarim: Empowered by the Nation

Moshe received the Torah at Sinai forty years prior to his speech.Why does he share his words only now?

Chukat-Balak (Diaspora):Why not hit the rock?

What is the real sin of Moses and Aaron that keeps them from entering the land?

Naso (Diaspora): The Golden Mean and the Nazirite

Is ascetisim what is requested from us?

My Jerusalem

For Jerusalem Day. The paratroopers weeping at the Western Wall have become a symbol.(Note: An insight on the parsha is included at the end)

Living through tt

How do we live "through" the mitzvot?

Supporting a Jew in need

The Cohen went out towards the person in need of help, even if that person was hesitant. That is still our responsiblity to society.

Coming back to Gan Eden

How the eighth day of the Mishkan is like the day after Creation.

Vayikra: Being on call

It is not by accident, obviously, that 'calling' is introduced in relation to the sacrifices.

More Mishkan Parshiot?

Why all those meticulously written details when the Torah does not write anything superfluous?

Partners with Hashem

If we do not observe the festivals, it is as if we worship idols? What is the connection?

On Purim – How drunk should a person get?

Why would our Sages instruct us to get drunk, when the Torah and Prophets clearly object to the associated lack of control?

The Cohen Gadol represents all of Am Israel

We, too, should always remember who and what we are representing as we try to bring G-d's Presence closer to us.

Who has the right to give?

There is a contrast between the type of charitable giving in Parashat Terumah and Parashat Ki Tisa.