Parshat Shavua

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi

Re’eh: What we have always had is new every day!

How we should relate to the mitzvot on every day of our lives - how lucky we are!

Israel's first Chief Rabbi:

Eikev: Balancing Torah and Work

The amount of time devoted to a particular activity is not the sole factor in determining that this is our main pursuit in life.

Un-Jewish? Un-Rabbinic?

Is it "un-Jewish” and "un-rabbinic” to hope that Hashem, the God of justice, mercy and truth punish all who have wronged His people?

Weekly Torah Study for Eikev: 'Not by bread alone'

What, then, does sustain man?

The forty year-long Ulpan

During their forty years of desert wandering, the most crucial lessons of Israel's essence were tested and learned.

Reward and punishment

What are we to make of the obviously literal lesson that this week's Torah portion seemingly teaches us?

Jealousy’s a hungry heart

How can we ensure our wants are not driven by envy?

Israel's first Chief Rabbi:

Va'etchanan: In mind and heart

What is the difference between “knowing it” and “pondering it in our heart”?

Weekly Torah Study: Va'etchanan

The oneness and unity of G-d was a revolutionary revelation enunciated in this week's Torah reading.

Talking Parsha - Va'etchanan: Why is Shema so fundamental?

'Hear O Israel' wasn't said so dramatically as it seems. Why did it become such an important part of our life, and what makes it so special?

Office of the UK Chief Rabbi

Va'etchanan: Climate Change and Moshe Rabbeinu

A very current message about climate change can be derived from the actions of Moshe Rabbeinu.

Bashert

The aptitude to live and function within the limitations of one's own shortcomings is a great talent which many do not possess.

The fewest of all peoples

We may be the fewest of all peoples, but when we heed God’s call, we have the ability,to mend and transform the world.

Israel's first Chief Rabbi:

Devarim: Di Zahav - Too much gold

Do you know anyone who had enough money and refused to accept more?

Devarim: Accountability

From Moses, we see that It is impossible for truths to be described without the personality and subjective view of the person doing so.

Parshat Mattot-Masai: The legend of Billy the Neder

The laws of vows are there for us to contemplate the awesome power contained in our speech.

Talking Parsha - Matot Masei: Moshe's final mission is revenge?!

The last mission given to Moses is to avenge what Midian did to the People of Israel. Why revenge, and why is this his final mission?

Office of the Chief Rabbi

Matot-Massei: Pack this in your bags – it doesn’t weigh anything

When travelling, the most important thing to take with us doesn’t weight anything at all.

Mattot-Maasei-joined for calendar convenience or is there more?

There must be a connecting bond, a common denominator that unites these two apparently disparate and different sections of the Torah.

Unique and 'regular' everyday – Both powerful

Moshe had saved the nation before with prayer, by reasoning and imploring. Pinchas saved them by acting, violently and definitively.

"Between the gates"

Being born between the gates empowered Yocheved to feel free. To not allow Egypt to invade her mind, her psyche, her sense of self. And you?

Office of the Chief Rabbi

Pinchas and the best invitation ever

In this parasha, an invitation arrives from Hashem Himself in order to enable us to have a life changing experience. Be sure to RSVP.

Torah gives Balaam a bad press – undeservedly, he thinks

The Israelites are basically off stage. They are bystanders while he, Balaam, does things to them and for them.

The Parsha and Current Events: The root of our fears

Hashem expects the Jewish nation to live with trust in Him, without fear of the gentiles.

Weekly Torah study: Chukat

Water plays a major role in this week's parasha.

Chukat: Living waters

We need to stop, rest and drink deeply from living waters before continuing the arid wilderness we seem to have entered.

Watch: The Temple - a place of life

Rabbi Shmuel Eliyahu explains why, when Aaron is in the right place, and the Divine Presence is there, even a dry stick of wood can blossom.

A blossoming staff - that's what makes the difference?

After the earth swallows Korach and his followers, the Jews come to Moses angry - and only stop arguing after Aaron's staff blossoms. Why?

Office of the Chief Rabbi

Something extraordinary happened in our living room!

A Flame Lily inspires this week's D'var Torah about why it's so good to connect.

You, Moshe and Aaron, killed Hashem's people!

Were Moshe and Aaron guilty of the deaths of the 250 followers of Korach because they set a too difficult test for them?

The Parsha and Current Events: Choice versus Virtue

In every generation, the question is asked: "How do we know that Hashem will make us victorious?"

Not to be wicked

In yesterday's parsha, a wicked person is someone who witnesses a mind-changing event and yet continues as though nothing had happened.

Understanding the Mission

The great sin of the spies was due to the fact that they misunderstood their mission.

Forgiving a war criminal

What does Judaism say about forgiving criminals - what factors influence that concept? Addition: Thoughts for this week's parsha.

Talking Parsha - Beha'alotcha: This is what broke Moshe?

Why is the gathering of the future Sanhedrin intertwined with the story of the People of Israel craving meat?

Office of the Chief Rabbi

Beha’alotcha: Exacerbating Jewish suffering?

When struck by one of your own, the consequences are more severe. That surely is a major lesson of Jewish history.

Majestic order and natural bewilderment

This week's Torah portion has two distinct segments, but they are connected by a natural progression of events.

When each tribe brought the same offering

Each of the Tribes was unique, and even though each brought the identical offering, each one’s offering was unique.

The elite group

The Levites were a living spiritual force that taught the people and inspired fulfillment of the mission entrusted to Israel at Mount Sinai.

Israel's first Chief Rabbi:

Naso: Divine favoritism?

What did the Jews do to earn them leniency before the Heavenly Court? Is that a good thing?

Two ways to look at a situation

We can deal with the Sota in this week’s parsha as does the kohen or as does the nazir. This is also true of various evils we encounter.

The Parsha and Current Events: The head chases its tail

Who - or what - will break the vicious cycle of the God-fearing communities in the galut?

What you can do for Israel today-thoughts for Parashat Bamidbar

Is there something Diaspora Jews can do for Israel at this time?

The Parsha and Current Events: Why does tragedy strike us?

That most people suffer in this world is axiomatic, but so too is the reality that Hashem’s chosen people suffer most. Why?

Long Live the tribes!

Tribalism has a price, but it also has great advantages not only for the tribe itself but also for the other tribes and the entire nation.

Talking Parsha - Bamidbar: The secret in the numbers

The Book of Numbers starts with lists and numbers from counting the People of Israel. Why does the Torah go into so much detail about this?

The Book of Numbers: Organizing a Nation

Bamidbar's real message is that our self civil rule, the absolute necessary result of our newly found independence, demands structure

Bamidbar: Israel is on fire

Our enemies use our sacred ground to launch attacks against us and the world does not understand how sacred this mountain is to us.

Fooling yourself

Rabbi Simcha Bunim observed that the Torah tells us not to fool others, but if you are a hassid, you don’t fool yourself either.

A matter of Arithmetic

Within the blessings that G-d blesses the people of Israel in this week's Torah portion, there seems to be a mistake in the calculation.

Shmita - Rest for the Man or for the Land?

Is it the land lying fallow that is the central theme, or are the Jews who do not work it during the shmita year the focus?

The Temple Institute: Weekly Torah study: Emor‏

What is time? Where does it come from? Where does it go?

We are all Kohanim

In this week's Torah portion the Kohanim are told not to become ritually unclean and the Sages interpret it as a commandment to all Israel.

Talking Parsha - Emor: Is it after Shabbat or after Pesach?

The Torah speaks about Shavuot as 'after the Shabbat.' Is Shavuot 7 weeks long? Why is it defined by being 'after Shabbat?'

Treating the disadvantaged

The commandment “You shall not insult the deaf” is less spoken about than the one that follows it about the blind.

Acharei Mot: Triple measure of incense

Torah from Israel's first Chief Rabbi, iconic leader of Religious Zionism: "Teshuva allows us, in a sense, to rewrite the past."

What should be our national interest?

The Torah reading this Shabbat teaches us that the Land of Israel is intrinsically a holy land which cannot stand to be defiled.

It's all in the details

Isn't it enough to be a good, honest, caring human being without all of the details that make up the bulk of this week’s Torah reading?

Groupthink and cancel culture vs. Love others as you do yourself

Every human was created in G-d’s image. If G-d can’t be canceled, neither can His image.

Sprints and Marathons: Acharei Mot–Kedoshim 5781

The good news is: there once was a Moses. Because of him, the people survived. The bad news is: what happens when there is no Moses?