When the Jewish people entered the land, they were to assemble at two mountains for a new acceptance of the Torah, but the command to do so is found already in this week’s parsha. Twelve commandments were to be enumerated, and the people would acknowledge publicly that blessings
Read more →When the Jewish people entered the land, they were to assemble at two mountains for a new acceptance of the Torah, but the command to do so is found already in this week’s Torah Portion. Twelve commandments were to be enumerated, and the people would acknowledge publicly
Read more →Before the lengthy rebuke that characterizes much of Parshas Ki Savo, the Torah promises great rewards for the Jewish people if they follow HaShem’s instructions. This section ends with a warning how the people should not act: “And you shall not turn away from the words that I command
Read more →In this week’s parsha, we read the tochecha, which describes the punishments that B’nei Yisrael will receive if they don’t observe the Torah. Following the tochecha, the Torah writes (28:47) that we are punished not only for failing to perform mitzvos, but even for the way we perform mitzvos. If our mitzvos are not performed be-simcha, then that can
Read more →A great deal of Parshas Ki Savo outlines the devastating punishments that would befall the Jewish people if they do not follow the Torah. In the midst of the tochacha the Torah gives us a deeper insight into the cause of all the terrible punishments enumerated here; “Since
Read more →“You shall take of every fruit of the ground produced by the land that the Lord your God is giving you. You must place it in a basket, and go to the site that God will choose.”(Deut. 26:2) The Torah commands us to take the first fruits
Read more →Libraries are usually quiet places to allow for contemplation and concentration. Yet, if you walk into a Torah study hall, you may be surprised at the decibel level and the noise. Why is it that Jews study out loud? Parshat Ki Tavo offers an insight that solves
Read more →Bikureiim Read the parsha “Who gave us the land?” That’s right G-d. And we take the first fruits the beginning of reeping our blessings and fortune. Come to Jerusalem to express our gratitude. HaKoras aHaTov is a lost art that is fundamental. Being religious, being a Jew
Read more →This class covers the following topics: Theme of the Sedra. The Mitzva of Bikkurim. The Curses and the Blessings. Preparations for Rosh Hashana. Theme of the Sedra. The whole Sedra is coming to teach us how we should serve G-d. The specifics covered in the sedra are:
Read more →“An Ammonite and Moabite shall not enter the congregation of Hashem …. Because of the fact that they did not greet you with bread and water on the road when you were leaving Egypt.[1]” The men of Ammon and Moav displayed a great failing in the mida of chesed
Read more →“An Ammonite and Moabite shall not enter the congregation of Hashem, even their tenth generation shall not enter the congregation of Hashem, to eternity. Because of the fact that they did not greet you with bread and water on the road when you were leaving Egypt, and
Read more →“When a man has a wayward, rebellious son, who does not obey his father and mother, they shall have him flogged. If he still does not listen to them… [the parents] must declare to the elders of his city, ‘Our son is wayward and rebellious. He does
Read more →KiTzazah L’ Milchama71 Mitzvot 24 Positive “do’s” and 47 Negatives “don’ts”Yafas Toar. Goes to war and captures a women. She is dressed in her most alluring and beautiful best as was the custom of the non Jews so the men would be compassionate or just passionate. Now
Read more →I remember touring the Old City of Jerusalem on a particularly spectacular spring Shabbat afternoon with a very charismatic Rabbi from Manhattan and a group of West Side young professionals that he was leading. We had stopped at one of the few playgrounds nestled amongst the cobblestone
Read more →Topics covered in this class: The Battle and the War. The Torah and the Yetzer Hora. “Taamai Hamitzvos”. The Battle and the War. In the verse 21:10 the Torah changes its grammatical syntax. The verse starts out in the plural “enemies” but continues in the singular “hand
Read more →This class covers the following topics: Aishes Yafas Toar. Rashi’s juxtaposition. Some general principles concerning mitzvos. Shiluach Hakan. Aishes Yafas Toar. Rashi tells us that we are talking about an optional war. We learned earlier that only the truly righteous men would go out to fight these
Read more →What does that famous Midrash about all of us being at Sinai and accepting the Torah really mean? The Midrash appears in this week’s portion and offers us an opportunity to delve into the matter. The theme of Parshat Nitzavim is the special covenant God made with
Read more →“First, I was dying to finish high school. Then, I was dying to finish college. After that, I was dying to get married. Then, I was dying to have children. Then, I was dying for the kids to get older so I could marry them off and
Read more →Author: Rabbi Yehonasan Gefen The Torah concludes with a stirring eulogy for Moshe Rabbeinu, ending with praise for, “the strong hand and awesome power that Moshe performed before the eyes of all Israel[1].” The Medrash, cited by Rashi, explains that the phrase, “before the eyes of all
Read more →Author: Rabbi Bourch Leff VeZos HaBeracha- Mah Kasuv BahThere is a yesod that Rav Yaakov Weinberg ZTL would say very often which is based on a midrash that Rashi brings. “Zarach meseir lamo, hofia mihar paaran”.Rashi brings the famous midrash that Hashem offered the Torah to Esav
Read more →Author: Rabbi Baurch Leff Status as a Symbol By Rabbi Baruch Leff. The topics of repentance and Yom Kippur need not be all fire and brimstone. There is much about repentance that is positive, inspiring, and meaningful. Maimonides writes: “Each and every person has merits and transgressions.
Read more →Author: Rabbi Bourch Leff(based on the teachings of Rav Yaakov Weinberg zt’l) The pasuk says “Haazinu Hashamayim . . . “. Rashi says that the shamayim was being called as a witness that the Klal Yisrael should never abandon the Torah. Perhaps we can explain /enhance the
Read more →Author: Rabbi Zev Leff Beset by many evils and troubles, the will say, “It is because God is no longer with me that these evil things have befallen me.” On that day I will utterly hide My face because of all the evil that they have done… (Deut.
Read more →“This mitzvo that I command you today – it is not hidden from you and it is not distant. It is not in heaven, [for you] to say, ‘who can ascend to the heaven for us and take it for us, so that we can listen to
Read more →After a lengthy admonition regarding the consequences of not following the Torah, Moshe Rabbeinu famously assures the people that despite the seeming difficulty in learning and keeping the Torah, it is actually easily attainable. “For this commandment that I command you today, it is not hidden from
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