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 Jerusalem: What's in a Name? .: Viewed: 2993 times :.
Names play a significant role in Judaism. In the Torah, the name of almost every person comes with an explanation or reason for the name. The name Adam is derived from the Hebrew word, "adama" (earth), to remind us of our humble roots and beginnings. Avraham, will become the "Av" (father), of many nations. The name Yitzchak, is a reminder of his parents Tzchok (laughter), upon hearing the...
Published: April 22, 2013 |
Yom KippurÂ’s Mysterious Scapegoat: SatanÂ’s Bribe? .: Viewed: 2976 times :.
What is the meaning and purpose of the strange ceremony of the scapegoat which involves pushing a goat off a cliff on Yom Kippur? Â Ramban explains according to the Kabbalah that it is a symbolic pay-off or bribe to the Satan to prevent him from prosecuting Israel on Yom Kippur. That’s why the ceremony of the scapegoat is done through a lottery which is determined and controlled by G-d....
Published: May 24, 2011 |
Chanuka: Festival of Education .: Viewed: 2974 times :.
There is an interesting Talmudic passage in Tractate Shabbat: 23: "One who is careful about the Chanuka lights will have children who are talmidei Chakhamim (scholars)." Rashi explains this enigmatic passage by referring to the verse in Proverbs 6 which says: "a candle is a mitzvah and the Torah is light."On the basis of the mitzvah of the candles of the Sabbath and Chanuka, the light of Torah...
Published: December 6, 2011 |
Tu B'Shvat: Why the Torah Compares a Human Being to a Tree .: Viewed: 2964 times :.
The source for Tu B'Shvat is the opening Mishnah of the Talmudic Tractate Rosh Hashana: "The Academy of Hillel taught that the 15th of Shvat is the New Year for the Trees." Â What does that mean, "New Year for the Trees?" Â Tu B'Shvat is technically the day when trees stop absorbing water from the ground and instead draw nourishment from their sap. In Halacha, this means that fruit which has...
Published: January 31, 2007 |
A Tikkun for the Spies Syndrome .: Viewed: 2914 times :.
What was the sin of the Spies? It cannot be that the sin was the very fact that they were sent. On the contrary, we find the use of spies against the enemy camp in many places. For example, it says, “Moshe sent out men to spy on Ya’azer” (Bamidbar 21:32). Likewise, Yehoshua sent out two spies to see the Land and Jericho. Regarding Gideon we...
Published: June 13, 2014 |
What is Kabala? .: Viewed: 2911 times :.
The Ramban in his introduction to his Torah commentary says that every field of knowledge – whether it be science, agriculture, medicine of palmistry – can be learned from the Torah. The Torah given to Moshe at Mount Sinai consists of the Written Law (the Five Books of Moses) and the four levels of the Oral Law (some of which was recorded in the Talmud):
Peshat – the...
Published: May 24, 2011 |
The Menora – Symbol of the 7 Branches of Science .: Viewed: 2907 times :.
The Torah commands Aharon, the High Priest, "When you light the lamps, towards the center of the Menora shall the seven lamps cast light." (Bamidbar 8:2) According to the Maharal and Rabbi Yonatan Eybishuts, the seven branches of the Menora represent the seven pillars of secular wisdom, knowledge and science. The Rambam in Hilchot Yesodei Hatorah Ch. 2 states that when you study nature and the...
Published: May 28, 2014 |
Nadav & Avihu - The Divine Kiss of Death .: Viewed: 2898 times :.
"And Nadav and Avihu, the sons of Aaron, took both of them his censer, and put fire therein, and put incense, and offered strange fire before Hashem, which He did not command them. And there went out fire from Hashem, and devoured them, and they died before Hashem." ( Vayikra 10:1-2). Many Torah commentators have pondered why Nadav and Avihu died.
Was the "strange fire" sufficient cause for...
Published: April 17, 2012 |
Rosh Hashanah's Mysterious Cover-Up .: Viewed: 2889 times :.
Why is it that we Jews celebrate the New Year at the beginning of the seventh month? Jewish tradition actually recognizes four New Year days (Mishnah Rosh Hashanah 1:1), but only the first of Tishrei, the one we know as Rosh Hashanah, is a major holiday. Â The mystery only increases when we remember that the Torah specifically identifies the month of Nisan, the month in which Passover falls,...
Published: September 20, 2006 |
Tisha BÂ’Av: Observing Shiva Now for Ancient Tragedies? .: Viewed: 2874 times :.
On Tisha B'Av we mourn for the destruction of the first and second Holy Temples. The Talmud in Trachtate Taanit (Page 30) states that all Mitzvot that apply to a mourner during the Shiva also apply to the entire Jewish people on Tisha B'Av. In other words, according to Halacha we are all sitting Shiva on Tisha B'Av. But, how can this be ? For the Halacha states that if a close relative has...
Published: July 18, 2012 |
The Danger of False Piety (A Wolf in SheepÂ’s Clothing) .: Viewed: 2870 times :.
To our sorrow, these past few months we have witnessed painful divisions and shocking hatred within Israeli society. What is particularly tragic is what triggered these divisions and animosities. It was the criminal actions of a small group of hooligans. The fact that they were dressed in Charedi garb should not deceive us. Their acts of verbal abuse and other degrading behavior constitute a...
Published: February 1, 2012 |
Our Task as Jews: Unity, not Uniformity .: Viewed: 2866 times :.
At the Sinai Revelation, "the people all responded with a single voice, "We will keep every word that the L-rd has spoken'" (Exodus 24:3). Was this one-time phenomenon, in which every Jew was identical to every other in his conduct and thought, an ideal situation? Alternatively, might it not be that beyond every Jew's obligation to fulfill the 613 mitzvot and to believe in the tenets of...
Published: May 24, 2011 |
The Mishkan’s Sacrificial Altar – Metaphor for the Human Being .: Viewed: 2857 times :.
The main function of the Mishkan is to offer up animal sacrifices to G-d. For many people, it is easier to relate to narrative portions of the Torah or Mitzvot that apply in our day than to those dealing with Temple sacrifices. The last sacrifices were offered in 68 C.E., before the Second Temple was destroyed. Thus many people would find it hard to conceive how the sacrificial system could...
Published: March 14, 2012 |
Why Wine Plays a Central Role in Judaism .: Viewed: 2853 times :.
Why is wine so essential to Judaism? To find the answer we must look into the Talmud.
The Talmud discusses the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden, wondering what type of fruit it was (B. Berachot 40a; B. Sanhedrin 70 a-b). Three opinions are presented.
According to one opinion, the forbidden fruit was wheat. This suggestion is innovative since wheat stalks are not normally considered...
Published: May 24, 2011 |
Did G-d pray when He gave us the Torah? .: Viewed: 2843 times :.
At the giving of the Torah we find that G-d utters a prayer that we should always fear Him and observe His Mitzvot, for our own good (D'varim 5:26).
The Talmud in B'rachot 7a, brings another verse to prove that G-d prays: "I will bring them to My holy mountain, and make them rejoice in the house of My prayer, [for My house is a house of prayer for all nations]" (Yeshayahu 56:7). The pasuk...
Published: May 24, 2011 |