Rabbi Nachum Dovid Alpert

Shavuot:

Understanding the 18 decrees of the great sage Shammai

The greater the effort that is put in to the safeguarding of the Torah, the greater the spiritual import and potency of said decrees

Shavuot:

What does Mishkan caretaking have to do with future redemption?

At the time of the acceptance of the Torah, the Jews were totally united, with one goal and purpose; that unity was so sublime and pure

Bamidbar: Reclaim the Torah for all!

Torah, like the desert, must be open and accessible to all of Am Yisrael, with purity, humility, and patience, so that the nation can return to its highest levels of holiness and spiritual greatness.

Behar-Bechukotai

Yitzchak never needed to be remembered?

In a powerful thought on Parshat Behar-Bechukotai, the connection between the Avot and Eretz Yisrael takes center stage.

Emor:

What do I say? A Torah perspective

In a double expression in Parshat Emor, the Torah teaches an important lesson on the responsibility of adults to guide youth and the central role of refined speech and the importance of respectful communication and moral leadership within Am Yisrael.

Shavuot=Yom Kippur??

The Torah portions of Acharei Mot and Kedoshim reveal the deeper role of Yom Kippur as the lasting day of forgiveness and true acceptance of the Torah, offering new insight into its connection with Shavuot.

Parshat Tazria-Metzora:

What is the true core of the Torah?

Lessons from the Torah portions of Tazria and Metzora, the exact middle of the Torah, and how all three connect to the days of the Omer.

Parshat Vayakhel-Pekudei:

Perhaps Tucker Was Right...

Rabbeinu Bachye explains, the very question is the answer-the Beit HaMikdash, and its predecessor, the Mishkan in the desert, was not merely a physical building; it was the repository of the collective psyche and soul of Am Yisrael, which allowed Hashem’s Shechinah to be more manifest in this physical and troubled world.

Parshat Ki Tisa:

Dance the Fears Away

What evoked Moshe’s breaking of the Luchot, in fact, was his witnessing the great joy with which the sinners had embraced their mission

Parshat Tetzaveh/Purim

Of Snakes and Serpents

A Deeper Dive into the Connection between the Ancient Serpent and the Evil of Amaleik

Parshat Yitro

What inspired Yitro in the war with Amaleik?

Yitro’s positive perspective of the Jewish people was caused by his noticing the tremendous significance that the Jewish nation attached to their heritage

Parshat Beshalach:

What inspired Yehoshua to become so devoted?

Moshe’s retrieving of the body of Yosef would thereby serve as the cog in the wheel that would prepare Am Yisrael’s next leader, Yehoshua, after Moshe’s passing 40 years later.

Parshat Bo:

How long was the exile in Egypt?

Tzvi LeTzaddik explains that in reality, every Jew during the time of exile suffered doubly-once for their own personal pain and again due to the fact that they witnessed their brethren suffering

Parshat Vaeira:

Who Was the Mother of Pinchas?

Haamek Davar notes that the Torah’s describing the wife of Elazar in these Pesukim is designed to teach that she contributed greatly to Elazar’s lofty status-hence, they were blessed with a child as great as Pinchas.

Parshat Vayechi:

The True Battle For Jewish Royalty

"...Thus, the true source of the tension between Yehuda and Yosef was this clash between an emphasis on Chessed, versus an emphasis on Torah..."

Parshat Vayigash:

To Conceal or Not to Conceal, That is the Question

Yosef had been nearly killed, sold as a slave, and spent years in an Egyptian dungeon because of his brothers’ aspersions; his father, Yaakov, was grieving and suffering for 22 years-and yet, despite all of the above, Yosef understood that it is still more worthwhile not to embarrass his brothers, and reveal himself to Yaakov.

Mikeitz\Chanukah:

The Greeks sought to "rule" over G-d; Jews to Follow G-d's Rules

When one signs onto idolatry, they are in fact [subconsciously or consciously] worshipping their own self interest; the idolatry is just an external rationalization of the undertaken path. Judaism, however, requires “Bittul", or self-awareness that there is one true G-d, Hashem, to whom we must pledge our devotion,

Parshat Vayishlach:

"The People of the Book Need the Sword Too..."

As a response to the violation of their sister, Shimon and Levi proceed to destroy the city of Shechem. The commentaries seek to explain the rationale for their behavior.

Parshat Vayeitzei

No Deals on Destiny: Yaakov and the Limits of Jewish Compromise

May we take this poignant lesson to heart, and understand that Eretz Yisrael cannot be bargained for. It is our land, and the vision and desire of millions of our brethren, over thousands of years of Jewish history, have always rested on the Land of Israel.

Parshat Vayeira:

The Chair that Only Looks Empty

Seforno notes, that Jewish custom at the circumcision of a child is to leave a chair unoccupied to represent a designated makom for the Shechinah [Hashem’s earthly presence].

Parshat Lech Lecha:

Avraham - Chosen to Stand Alone

Avraham was not going to be, like Noach and Adam, born of a world where it was just him and his wife; rather, they were going to be the progenitor and catalyst of a new people

Noach:

Staying Afloat During Today's Flood of Insanity

As the time for Moshiach’s arrival swiftly approaches, one can’t help but notice the utter insanity that surrounds philosophy and what is considered educated thought in today’s world.

The only solution to exile is national unity

As we begin the Torah with Bereishit, we are reminded by the Netziv that our forefathers' uprightness contrasts with the baseless hatred that led to the destruction of the Second Temple, urging us to embrace unity and respect.

Sukkot:

There Is nothing as whole as a healed heart

Based on the pattern expressed earlier of connecting the ending and beginning of the Torah, we notice that the last letter of the Torah, and the first letter of the Torah, combine to form the word “Le”v”--the Hebrew word for Heart! Undoubtedly, the Torah is expressing that the foundation that circulates lifeblood to the Jewish people is the Torah, the very essence of our existence.

Don't Serve G-d for Reward--Except When it Comes To____

"...With this background in mind, the Rambam’s comments in Chapt. 7 Halachah 1 [Laws of Repentance] are all the more remarkable. Rambam writes: “Since free choice is granted to all men as explained, a person should always strive to do Teshuvah."

The Attitude of Gratitude!

Chid”a explains, however, that a gift that is accepted by Hashem Himself is, in reality, a source of pride and joy for the giver; thus Hashem’s accepting of the offering serves as the greatest pleasure for the benefactor, and therefore they are considered a “taker” in this scenario.

Lessons from what will never be

Ramban explains that the Ben Sorer Umoreh’s actions violate the fundamental backbone and spirit of the entirety of the Torah - 'Kedoshim ti’yhu - You shall be a holy people.'

The Foundational Idea of Listening to Our Sages

Thus, because the Torah commands us not to veer from the words of our sages, it is inherently considered a command from Hashem to follow the words of our Torah scholars, and therefore, the blessing made on Rabbinic Mitzvot can be considered as commanded by Hashem, by virtue of the fact that Hashem commands us to listen to the Sages!

Parshat Eikev:

"Your children will have lengthy days in the land"

Coming a few weeks after the tragic day of Tisha’a Ba’av, where we recall the destruction of G-d’s holy temples, a small measure of comfort can be gleaned from the above idea

Va’Etchannan \ Shabbat Nachamu

"Do not add, and do not detract"

The Torah says “Do not add to the matter that I command you, and do not detract from it; to guard the commandments of Hashem your G-d that I command you”, so how do we relate to the teachings of our sages?

Parshat Mattot:

The power of speech: Understanding the laws of nedarim

The Torah emphasizes the profound power and responsibility of speech through the laws of nedarim, teaching us that individuals have the ability to create with their words and reflecting a deep connection between speech, commitment, & responsibility.

Parshat Balak:

Bilaam’s prophecy needed to be heard by nations of the world

The introductory phrase that tells us that Bilaam “Raised his declaration” appears to be unnecessary, as well as a somewhat mystifying description of what occurred, and is noticed by the commentaries.

Parshat Chukat:

Why is Parah Adumah considered “Chukat HaTorah”?

This Mitzvah serves to illuminate to us that the Torah, at its core, is divine wisdom.

Parshat Korach:

Hashem settled the debate for eternity

Moshe understood that this effort on the part of Korach in reality stood to undermine the entire Torah

Understanding the 'new offering' of Shavuot

We can glean from the sacrifice of the day a poignant perspective as to how to relate to the learning of the Torah.

Parshat Behar\Bechukotai:

Our Claim to the Land of Israel will Never Falter

The Torah commentator, the Alshich Hakadosh, bothered by this very issue, offers, that Shemittah astoundingly serves as the rebuttal to the claims of the Jew-haters and fools that sneer at our right to the land of Israel, and claim that the land of Israel was stolen by the Jews.

Parshat Tazria/Metzorah:

The Power of Circumcision

The Rokeach [and Nachal Kedumim] point out, that Yitzchak lived one year for each hour of his existence until Avraham circumcised him-thus, he lived 180 years.

Parshat Shemini:

The Mystical Midpoint of the Torah

We can suggest that the foundation of the entire Torah rests on the declaration of pure and simple faith that we proclaim twice a day—“Shema Yisrael, Ad-onai Elo-henu Ad-onai Echad”, which, when done properly, empowers the Jewish people to defeat the machinations of the Yetzer Hara.

Pekudei\Shabbat HaChodesh

The Prophetic Vision of the Return to Our Homeland

We, with the benefit of hindsight, can only be in awe of the divine revelations that were expressed by our great commentators, and how accurately history has borne out the events that were foretold in their writings.

Parshat Vayakhel

The magnificence of Shabbat, our Window Outside Time

Although we currently are lacking the Beit Hamikdash, we still have the beauty and joy of Shabbat to invigorate our souls.

Purim/Parshat Ki Tisa

Together, the Jews are indefatigable and undefeatable

The most critical lesson of Purim that our generation can take from the story of Esther is the need for Jewish Unity, above all else.

Terumah\Rosh Chodesh Adar

The incredible and inspiring nature of our heroes

In our generation, and those immediately prior, we can note similarities to the Purim story

Parshat Mishpatim:

'These are the rules that you shall set before them'

A unique perspective on the Parsha offers a further glimpse into the depravity that is the International Courts

Parshat Beshalach:

Hostages' stories echo the merit of our ancestor Yosef

The entirety of the splitting of the sea was in the merit of Yoseph, and the sacrifices that Yosef made.

Parshat Yitro:

What we learn from the first convert to Judaism

In order to become a “convert”, a National Identity must be established.

Parshat Shemot:

These are the names, these are the souls

The Neshamot of the Shevatim accompanied and shielded their descendants during the teeth of the Egyptian exile.

Parshat Vayigash:

How to Maintain Jewish Identity

One can not help but thank G-d for the Jewish homeland which preserves our status as a “Great Nation”.

Parshat Mikeitz:

The Truest Wisdom is the Domain of the Torah

This week’s Parshah continues the story of Yosef, and his rising from the ashes of an Egyptian prison to the rank of Viceroy, second only to Pharaoh

The Saving of Yosef, and Reuvain's Purity of Heart

This week’s Parshah contains the unfortunate saga of Yosef and his brothers–Yosef

Parshat Vayeitzei:

Yaakov was assured of eventual redemption of the Jewish people

The explanation of Yaakov’s vision can provide much poignancy vis-a-vis a future episode in Yaakov’s life–namely

Parshat Toldot:

Why is the land ours?

G-d lets Yitzchak know that the land of Israel will belong to the incredibly numerous heirs of Avraham and Yitzchak and eventually Yaakov, because of the fact that Avraham followed the entirety of G-d’s commandments

Parshat Vayeira:

No Prayer is Left Unanswered

The Sefer Tifferet Yehonasan [Bereishit 18’ 33’] offers, that in reality, Avraham’s prayers and efforts to save the wicked people of Sodom did not go unreturned

Parshat Noach:

The Flooding away of Evil

It seems that the theme of these observations of Rashi is that G-d can be said to be willing to forgo His honor; it is only when interpersonal relationships break down and antisocial behaviors reign supreme that G-d feels that the fabric of society and creation is being torn down.

What the sukkah teaches about the meaning of life

The Midrash details how Iyov could not understand his life of extreme suffering, until he was able to comprehend the mitzvah of sukkah. This comment of the Midrash begs for an explanation, as the logic that would explain a connection between Iyov’s suffering and the mitzvah of building a sukkah is glaringly missing.

The Astonishing Holiness of the Prayers of Yom Kippur

The highlight of the Yom Kippur service in the time of the Beit Hamikdash was the High Priest entering the Holy of Holies, in special white garments, as the representative of the Jewish people. The Mishnah states that it was the most intimate of moments between the man representing the Jewish Nation and Hashem Himself.

To follow in our ancestors footsteps a duty, not just a privilege

As much as we are bound by our ancestors declaration of allegiance to G-d and the Torah, our generation is now bound to educate and inspire our own descendants to follow the proud path of Judaism.

The wrath of Esav and the end of the exile

Rabbi Soleveitchik suggests that the bringer of the first fruits should not declare his gratitude for the salvation of Yaakov from Esav, because there are still lingering, and often painful, impacts of that exile.

Parshat Shoftim:

Total Evil Deserves Total Destruction

Apparently, as explained by Rashi, the Jewish army was commanded not to engage in total warfare; even against immoral nations, the humanity of the Israelite army required that we would not act as total savages, and therefore, effort must be made to preserve the fauna of a city that the Jews were attempting to destroy.

Parshat Re’eh

It is all or Nothing

The Torah presents these two choices as “Either\or.” No middle ground is volunteered.

Parshat Eikev:

The Number at the Heart of Judaism

Judaism has, at its core, a series of threes. There are three different divisions within the broader framework of the twelve ancient Judaic tribes.