Loving-kindness or Judgment

lashon hara

We are living in a world that seems to be moving towards upheaval and confusion. We see signs of that upheaval all around us. How are we to understand those signs. How wary must we be of reading too much into those signs? In the parsha we see that there was a time when G-d [...] Read more »

Parshat Tazria

highpriestatholyofholies2

Parshat Tazria  (Leviticus 12:1-13:59) — This week’s Torah portion begins an exploration of Tumah and Tahara, impurity and purity. What do those terms really mean? What is the common thread that binds the the birthing mother and the one  struck by the spiritual leprosy called Tzaraat? What does such a thread teach us about our [...] Read more »

The strength of a Jewish Army

hesder

“Aaron lifted up his hands”  …..The strength of a Jewish Army We are entering into another period of unease around our borders. The Hamas is sending missiles into Beersheba and Ashdod. The Hezbollah is busy arming themselves and the Fatah are cozying up with their more militant allies in the Gaza strip .Murderers are being [...] Read more »

Parshat Shemini

Moshe and Aaron

Parshat Shemini  (Leviticus 9:1-11:47) –  What does this week’s Torah portion teach us about the tragic incident involving the two sons of Aaron and the lessons learned from the “Silence of Aaron”? Read more »

Gathering the Ashes

ashes

As we enter the week of Purim we are very aware that it is a time of “NaFochHu” , a time of dramatic overturn.”  as the days when the Jews rested from their enemies, and the month that was reversed for them from grief to joy and from mourning to a festive day-“( Esther 9:22) [...] Read more »

Parshat Tzav

Burnt Offering

In this Torah portion, G-d continues to explain to Moshe as to how to instruct Aaron and his sons regarding their duties and rights as Kohanim ("priests") .Moshe is also given instructions regarding the sacrifices. Read more »

The Inner Light of Destruction

fire

Rabbi Chanan Morrison Flooding, war, earthquakes — every day we are bombarded with news of catastrophe and disaster. Is this how God envisioned His world? How can we relate to the many destructive forces in the world? Read more »

The Shrinking Aleph and Amalek

aleph

The book of VaYikra begins with a mystery. The verse reads “And He called to Moses, and HaShem spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting, saying, (Leviticus 1:1). The word VaYikra (and He called) ends with the letter “Aleph “that is shrunken in size. Our sages explain that small “Aleph” with a Midrash that [...] Read more »

Parshat Vayikra

sacrifices

Throughout the Torah text we see G-d telling Moshe what to say to the people. Yet at the burning bush on Sinai and here, G-d calls him forward.Why did G-d do so at the burning bush and why does He do it here? Read more »

Parshat Pekudei

clouds

Parshat Pekudei (Exodus 38:21-40:38) – The previous Torah portion of VaYakhel  is usually read together with this one.What does that teach us. What is the secret of the hooks that held the Tabernacle together. How does understanding  relate to mitzvoth of the Torah? Read more »

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