In this week’s parsha, Parshas Shoftim, the Torah commands us regarding fruit trees, which may not be cut down or destroyed: כִּי-תָצוּר אֶל-עִיר יָמִים רַבִּים לְהִלָּחֵם עָלֶיהָ לְתָפְשָׂהּ, לֹא-תַשְׁחִית אֶת-עֵצָהּ לִנְדֹּחַ עָלָיו גַּרְזֶן--כִּי מִמֶּנּוּ תֹאכֵל, וְאֹתוֹ לֹא תִכְרֹת: כִּי הָאָדָם עֵץ הַשָּׂדֶה, לָבֹא מִפָּנֶיךָ בַּמָּצוֹר...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Re’eh, the Torah reminds us of those animals which are kosher and fit for consumption, and those which are not kosher and, therefore, forbidden to us. An animal that chews its cud and has completely split hooves is kosher. As for...
Good morning Friends, I hope that you are all well. For your information, here is the link to a new shiur presented yesterday (Monday, Aug.29). The shiur was related to Parshas Re’eh, but the shiur is essentially a Chodesh Elul shiur - topic is Elul: A...
Once again, in this week’s parsha, Parshas Eikev, we are awed and inspired by the passionate, eloquent, moving and heartfelt words of Moshe Rabbeinu, who began his career as a man “not of words.” The pasuk says: כָּל-הַמִּצְוָה, אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוְּךָ הַיּוֹם--תִּשְׁמְרוּן לַעֲשׂוֹת: לְמַעַן תִּחְיוּן וּרְבִיתֶם,...
In this week’s passionate, stirring, eloquent and moving parsha, Parshas V’Eschanan, Moshe continues to lovingly encourage, exhort and teach the nation from whom he will soon part. In this parsha, he reviews one of the tenets of our faith: The Aseres ha’Dibros, which were heard...
אֵיכָה יָשְׁבָה בָדָד, הָעִיר רַבָּתִי עָם--הָיְתָה, כְּאַלְמָנָה; רַבָּתִי בַגּוֹיִם, שָׂרָתִי בַּמְּדִינוֹת--הָיְתָה, לָמַס - Alas, how is it possible that she dwells alone, the city (J’lem) that was so full of people has become like a widow! She was great amongst the nations, a princess amongst...
In the first of this week’s parshios, Parshas Matos, as the nation prepares to cross the Jordan River and enter into the Holy Land, the Torah records, in great detail, the account of the Israelite war against the Midianite nation. As they prepare for battle,...
In this week’s parsha, Parshas Pinchas, we learn of the Bnos Tzelafchad, the five daughters of Tzelafchad, who desired a portion in the Land, as their father died without leaving sons. וַתִּקְרַבְנָה בְּנוֹת צְלָפְחָד, בֶּן-חֵפֶר בֶּן-גִּלְעָד בֶּן-מָכִיר בֶּן-מְנַשֶּׁה, לְמִשְׁפְּחֹת, מְנַשֶּׁה בֶן-יוֹסֵף; וְאֵלֶּה, שְׁמוֹת בְּנֹתָיו--מַחְלָה נֹעָה, וְחָגְלָה...
In this week’s fascinating parsha, Parshas Balak, we meet Bila’am the monotheist (as he is called by R’ Samson Rafael Hirsch), Bila’am the masterful hypocrite (as he is called by R’ Yisrael Meir Lau), Bila’am the prophet (as he is called by the Sages) -...
This week’s parsha, Parshas Chukas, opens as we learn the laws regarding the parah adumah, the red heifer. A perfectly red cow is taken [in Temple times], slaughtered outside of the camp, and its ashes are used for purifying one who has become tamei meis,...