Parshat Shavua

To return to the beginning

The possibilities of what we might create by consulting with others are endless. And so are the possibilities for growth if we study Torah..

Tishrei's festivals culminate with Ashrei

By reading the two parshiot on Simchat Torah, we allude to the crux of the Shma prayer - that Torah should be inscribed on our hearts. How?

Vezot HaBeracha: The link between God and man is Torah study

In contrast to the realm of halakha which is “less flexible”, Torah exegesis makes room for personal interpretation, but has criteria.

Heaven and Earth, eternal witnesses: What the commentators say

Our Parasha opens with the injunction:(32:1)’האזינו: Listen O Heavens, and I will speak; and may the earth hear the words of my mouth.’

Talking Parsha

Ha'azinu & Sukkot: Why's Moshe talking to the sky & earth??

Why does Moshe begin the song of Ha'azinu by speaking to the sky & the earth, & how is this connected to Yom Kippur & the holiday of Sukkot?

Haazinu: This entire, very complex story

All the events of Jewish history are outlined in this parsha. Ramban called Moshe an exceptional prophet, and 750 years later,it sill holds.

Vayelech: A short and powerful parasha

This parsha especially gains in power and relevance as Jewish history unfolds over thousands of years.

Choose life - for you and your offspring

A look at the commentaries on what it means to choose life for ourselves and future generations..

Talking Parsha - Nitzavim & Rosh Hashanah: Do we have a choice??

Why is Moshe offering the Jewish people a choice, but telling them what to choose? And who would choose death? What kind of choice is this?

Nitzavim – the last Parsha of 5782

Life doesn’t stand still; it is volatile and mercurial with resha’im dictating the direction of world affairs. Come before it's too late.

Nitzavim: All stand, please. And if necessary, stand alone

Often, the individual can hide behind the community. Sometimes it is essential for him to face personal scrutiny, to stand alone.

Ki Tavo: First Fruits, led by an ox and a flute

Israel's first Chief Rabbi: What was the significance of the ox? Why the golden horns and olive-twig crown? And why was the flute chosen?

Believing in God when times are bad

Historically, Jews are able to trust in God, no matter what is occurring.

Ki Tavo: Serve Hashem with joy - it's a mitzva!

What do the commentators say about the Torah reprimanding or punishing us for not performing mitzvot joyfully?

Ki Tavo: The inconsonance between generations

The most bitter curse of all of those in the parasha is that future generations will undo all we have done.

Ki Teitze: The rebellious son - preventive medicine

Israel's first Chief Rabbi: Is this mitsva purely theoretical or does it have a deeper purpose?

Ki Teitse: Build a new home, so you can erect a guard rail

Commentators on this mitzva, ‘It follows, that the guard rail is in reality the guardian of the house, that it should remain in his hands!.’

Talking Parsha - Ki Teitzei:

This is what you need in your new home?!

Why is the mitzvah to fence in a roof the one that the Torah emphasizes when it talks about building a new home?

Eshet yefat toar, a captive woman - what kind of mitzva is this?

Young Israeli Torah scholars on the issue of the beautiful female captive, the,eshet yefat toar. A decree from God or a life prescription?

Jew vs. Jewish

He who cannot state proudly that he is one of Hashem’s chosen nation, can be Jewish but is far from being a Jew.

Doing your own thing - not so fast

The mamzer is fully a Jew; obligated in all mitzvoth.  But the spiritual consequences of his birth are profound.

Shoftim: Changing for the better with G-d’s help

We are each expected to exercise judgement and restraint at our six gate points, the eyes, ears, nose and mouth. G-d is with us to help.

The Parsha and current events: Our Destiny 5783

Iran/Persia, the hostile Ishmaelic state will go the way of Achashverosh and Haman. How Hashem will do it makes for fascinating theories.

Filling the glass

There are four components of governance and guidance in the parasha. How are we doing?

Talking Parsha - Re'eh: False prophecy is a test of love?!

How are the Jewish People supposed to know that a false prophet is a test, if we don't have the tools to cope with the situation?

What kind of world will our children grow up to see?

Much of what we see as axiomatic has been discarded in today's society:marriage, two genders, individuality, even stealing is condoned.

Re'eh: The vision of the future

The word re’ah which means “see” is the key word in the parsha. This entails a vision for the future and its new demands in Eretz Yisrael.

Time to build the Holy Temple

The Prophet Haggai’s words about the Beit Hamikdash speak to us even as they did to the Jews in Israel of his generation:

The importance of border towns protecting Eretz Yisrael

Maintaining the Land of Israel is not simply a matter of fulfilling the mitzva, but a basic element of Jewish life.

Ekev: Animals are served first!

Israel's first Chief Rabbi: Why does the halakha have animals served before hunans?

Do not trample minor mitzvot under your heel

Eikev means a heel and "as a result of" - and the two are connected by God's admonition and promise of love. The views of commentators.

Talking Parsha - Ekev: We don’t deserve the Land!

How can the nations of Canaan not behaving be the reason for the People of Israel conquering the land, if they are not behaving, either?

Ekev:They heard only what they wished to hear

Moshe presents, throughout his discourse, both sides of the coin.Unfortunately, over the ages, the Jews have not always chosen wisely.

Despite our sins...Vaetchanan, Nachamu and Tu B'Av

In no way can one compare the conduct of the so-called secular Zionists to the huge transgressions of the Jews in the desert. And yet...

Talking Parsha - Va'etchanan: Adding mitzvos is idol worship?!

This week's Torah portion discusses not adding or subtracting from the commandments. What's wrong with adding?

Nachamu, Nachamu – The secret to survival

This week's haftarah is not only a message of consolation; it is a major hashkafic (philosophic) treatise and more.

No, you don't need to finish it all!

It is not your responsibility to finish the work [of perfecting the world], but you are not free to desist from it either – - Rabbi Tarfon,

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi

A question and answer that might surprise you

This week, we have a lesson in woodwork - that isn't really about wood at all.

Fair and good in the eyes of Hashem

Rashi expounds:’Fair and good’: compromising, acting beyond the strict demands of the law. What do other commentators say?

Devarim: Right versus Might

Israel's first Chief Rabbi's prescient words: There are nations addicted to brute force and aggression and It becomes part of their pshyche.

Devarim: Don’t listen to me – listen to Moshe

The Torah wasn’t given to be kept in Sinai, nor in Brooklyn or Beverly Hills. The Torah isn’t a “religion” like Buddhism or Christianity,

Talking Parsha - Devarim: Moshe is doing us a favor??

Who is talking in the book of Devarim - is it Moshe giving his own speech? Or did Hashem command Moshe to give this speech?

Talking Parsha - Massei: Is the murderer running 'to' or 'from'?

Why does the Torah send an 'accidental' murderer to a city of refuge instead of banning the victim's blood relatives from taking revenge?

Talking Parsha - Matot: It's ok to not enter THE land?!

When 2.5 tribes ask to remain on the eastern side of the Jordan River, Moshe doesn't get upset that they don't want to enter the Land. Why?

Talking Parsha - Pinchas: What are the korbanos doing here?!

In this Torah portion, we discuss the korbanot passages, which we read every day. Why are these discussed here, instead of in Leviticus?

Balak: Legal but wrong

Balaam is the perfect example of someone who tries to get away with doing anything not specifically forbidden.

Pinchas: Impetuous upstart or heroic leader?

There are so many times in history that this story has repeated itself, albeit always under different circumstances.

Chukat: Do we need to use the whip?

A story told by the Lubavitcher Rebbe about a teacher who had a whip hanging from a peg in the classroom..

Chukat: "Speak to the Rock"

Israel's first Chief Rabbi: The paradigm here shifted from speaking to striking, from receptive listening to coercive force.

Three leadership styles and three different emphases

38 years passed between last week's Parsha and this one. Not only did the whole nation die, all three of its leaders pass away.:

The Parsha and Current Events: Para Aduma

When goyim attack our religious beliefs, the best thing is to say, “because Hashem said so”, and discussion finished.

Talking Parsha - Chukat: Why wasn't Miriam mourned?!

This week we read about the deaths of Aharon and Miriam - but only Aharon is mourned. Why is that? Why does the Torah just move on?

Weekly Torah Study: Chukat

The inexorable march of time is the thread running through the parasha.

The shallow brook we dare not cross

The tethers that hold us back, birthdays and other insights that are part of the larger story of our people.

Chukat (Israel): Heavenly irrationality

How ironic that the most irrational of all creatures – human beings – criticize Jewish tradition as not being rational or easily explained.

"And Korach took": What did he take?

See how seven Torah commentators elucidate this one phrase.in different, but non-contradictory ways.

Shlach: Everything is G-d's business

I wear tzitzit under my shirt and let the fringes hang down at my side. All I need to do is glance at them and I remember exactly who I am.

Korach: Personal ambition and unwarranted hubris

It is quite common in history that dangerous, corrupt, and nefarious political groups always claim the high moral ground for themselves.

Talking Parsha - Shlach: Tzitzit - do you see that?

What exactly is tzitzit? How does the tzitzit help us with remembering all the mitzvahs of Hashem? What is tzitzit all about?!

A post-pandemic lesson from Parshat Behaalotecha

Why the Torah praise Aaron for listening to G-d's command? Would we expect anything else?