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 The Suka-Symbol of Life's Shadows .: Viewed: 2037 times :.
When contemplating the Festival of Sukot, we are confronted with a great paradox.
According to Kabala, the Suka symbolizes our life span in this world. For what is a Suka? It is a frail structure in which we need to dwell for 7 days. The Ari reminds us that these 7 days of Sukot represent a person's average lifespan, which is 70 years. This was stated by King David, "The span of his years...
Published: October 7, 2016 |
Yom Kippur's Magic Moment .: Viewed: 1936 times :.
Rav Avraham Yitzchak Kook draws our attention to a strange phrase at the end of the Al Chet confession, which is said on Yom Kippur. "My G-D, before I was formed I was of no worth, and now that I have been formed, it is as if I was not formed."
Rav Kook explains that the first part of this confession is easy to understand. Before I was formed I was obviously of no worth, since I did not yet...
Published: September 22, 2016 |
The Shofar- Bookends of Jewish History .: Viewed: 1876 times :.
The Shofar is a very basic, natural instrument which, according to Halacha, may not be adorned with gold and silver. Its purity and simplicity, both in terms of its form and the notes it sounds, cut through the noise and BALAGAN of today’s world, calling the Jewish People back to the Torah.
The Shofar connects us to the key moments of Jewish History that define our destiny as a Holy...
Published: September 12, 2016 |
Shofar –The Soul’s Alarm Clock .: Viewed: 1967 times :.
Rosh Hashana is a time to step back and regain our lost vision. And the call of the Shofar is how we do it. The Rambam states that the message of the Shofar is to “Awaken those who are asleep”. The Rambam’s analogy to sleepashanaHhhhhhhhhRHHH is profound. The dreams we experience in our sleep seem so real at the time, yet the moment we wake up, we realize they were merely...
Published: September 8, 2016 |
Seeing G-D In Nature .: Viewed: 1756 times :.
The Yeshiva students are now on vacation touring the Holy Land. Is this considered BITUL TORAH-neglecting Torah study? In Parashat Lech Lecha, G-D tells Avraham, "Get up and tour the Land". The Torah is not ancient history, it is G-D's GPS (G-D's Personal System). G-D was not just speaking to Avraham, but to every Jew.
G-D is commanding us to explore his Precious Holy Land. At the...
Published: August 26, 2016 |
Written In Stone! .: Viewed: 1962 times :.
Parshat Eikev states, “At that time G-d said to me, carve out two tablets of stone like the first…. And I (G-d) will write on the tablets the words that were on the first tablets… And I put the tablets in the Ark which I made.” (D’varim 10)
Rav S.R. Hirsch notes that whenever the Torah discusses the LUCHOT – TABLETS, it mentions the material,...
Published: August 20, 2016 |
Tisha'a B'Av-Did G-D Divorce Us .: Viewed: 5301 times :.
After the Ten Tribes had been exiled by Sancherev, Yishayahu speaks to the remaining tribes of Yehuda, Binyamin and Levi who remained in Eretz Yisrael. "Where is your mother's Bill of Divorce? I sent her away? INDEED! Because of your rebelliousness you were sent away!" (Yishayahu 50). The Prophet says that G-D will never divorce us.
However, the Radak brings the words of Yirmiyahu who...
Published: August 10, 2016 |
Finding The Lost Keys of The Mikdash .: Viewed: 1963 times :.
4 days a year we fast and mourn, commemorating different historical events of the destruction of the Beit Hamikdash. The 17th day of Tammuz is one of the 4 days, and it began a 3 week period of limited mourning that climaxes with Tisha B'Av, the day of the destruction of both Temples. Consistent with Judaism's optimism, the Biblical references about these 4 days, including Tisha B'Av, are NOT...
Published: August 2, 2016 |
Why the OU Israel Center was Closed .: Viewed: 2052 times :.
Last Thursday afternoon, the OU Israel Center was forced to shut down. As a result, my Torah Class as well as others were canceled. The reason for the forced closure was the Gay Pride Parade in Jerusalem. There is a verse in Devarim 28, “G-d will strike you with madness.” This verse in the Torah is being fully and completely observed by our Politically Correct Leaders. The...
Published: July 24, 2016 |
Why Mourn For A Temple We Never Saw? .: Viewed: 2008 times :.
We all encounter grief and mourning in our lives. When a relative or friend passes away, G-D forbid, we mourn him. Even when we experience other kinds of loss, we feel pain and sorrow. However, with regard to the destruction of the Temple, many find it hard to understand what we are mourning. What are we lacking when the Temple is not standing? Or in other words, when the Temple is rebuilt,...
Published: July 24, 2016 |
May We Invite A Shabbat Traveler To A Shabbat Meal? .: Viewed: 1921 times :.
May one invite a guest for Shabbat dinner knowing that he will violate Shabbat either coming or going to our house? The Torah states, "You shall not place a stumbling block before the blind" (Vayikra 19). The Talmud interprets this verse that we may not cause another Jew to sin through our actions.
Thus, Rabbi Shmuel Wosner (Shevet HaLevi 8) and Rav Yosef Shalom Elyashiv both rule that...
Published: July 14, 2016 |
Bilam: Have Curse, Will Travel! .: Viewed: 2074 times :.
Balak, King of Moav, called on Bilam to curse the Nation of Israel. Bilam responded that he must wait for G-d’s instructions. After Bilam was told by G-d not to curse Israel, “For it is blessed”, Bilam says (Bamidbar 23:8) “How can I curse whom G-d has not cursed”, and thereby got Balak very angry. It seems that Bilam realized that cursing has no real physical...
Published: July 7, 2016 |
G-D's Recycling Business .: Viewed: 1897 times :.
The Zohar states that Eliyahu Hanavi was the Reincarnated soul of Pinchas, the grandson of Aharon the Kohen Gadol. Pinchas was the hero whose active zealotry saved the Jewish People from destruction by a deadly plague (Bamidbar 25). Is Reincarnation mentioned in TANACH?
The Ramban brings a proof text for Reincarnation from the book of Iyov. "Wow, all these wonders G-D does, 2 or 3...
Published: June 24, 2016 |
Moshe's Improper Rebuke of Korach .: Viewed: 1864 times :.
Moshe says to Korach, "It is too much for you (RAV), you sons of Levi" (Bamidbar 16:7). The Talmud in Sota 13 states, "With the word RAV (too much), Moshe rebuked Korach and the other Levites. Therefore, with the word RAV (too much), G-D rebuked Moshe that he would not enter Eretz Yisrael." Rashi explains that Moshe was held accountable for the improper way he spoke to Korach and the other...
Published: June 16, 2016 |
Did The Spies' Mission Benefit Moshe? .: Viewed: 2197 times :.
"G-D spoke to Moshe, 'Send men for yourself (LECHA), to spy out the land.'" (Bamidbar 13:2).At the beginning of Parashat Lech Lecha (Bereshit 12), Rashi comments that the word LECHA (for yourself) means "for your personal benefit". When G-D told Avraham to go to the Holy Land, it was for Avraham Avinu's benefit, because his life would improve in Pisgat Ze'ev.
Rabbenu Bechaei says...
Published: June 9, 2016 |
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