Bechukotai 5784-2024
“Achieving Peace and Security for the Jewish People”
(updated and revised from Bechukotai 5765-2005)
Parashat Bechukotai pronounces the ultimate formula for achieving peace for the Jewish people. G-d declares: If the Jewish people wish to attain peace and ultimate blessing, they must follow My decrees and observe My commandments and perform them. Security for Jews, is a factor of the Jewish people’s relationship with G-d.
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Vayishlach 5783-2022
“We Can Forgive the Arabs for Killing Our Children...”
(updated and revised from Vayishlach 5763-2002)
As we delve deeper into the study of Torah, we often find that seemingly insignificant verses in the Torah contain revolutionary insights about life. In 1972, Golda Meir made a widely acclaimed statement: “We can forgive the Arabs for killing our children, but we cannot forgive them for forcing us to kill their children.” Who would ever imagine that our commentaries find the possible original source of this message in parashat Vayishlach?
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Noah 5783-2022
“The Story of Noah--Fact or Fantasy?”
(updated and revised from Noah 5763-2002)
It is not at all surprising that many of the ancient near-East documents contain parallel stories of the Great Flood. Perhaps the most famous is the Babylonian flood story known as the "Epic of Gilgamesh." And yet, despite the parallels, the stories are profoundly different. While the details regarding the flood are similar, the Bible introduces a profound and revolutionary moral element. In the Biblical version G-d does not simply decide to destroy the world on a whim, but rather does so because of the corruption of the world's inhabitants. The fact that the Biblical story of the flood is not simply about gods who entertain themselves at humankind's expense, is what makes the Biblical Noah story revolutionary and meaningful.
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Noah 5782-2021
“The ‘Myth’ of the Great Flood”
(updated and revised from Noah 5762-2001)
It is not at all surprising that many of the ancient near-East documents contain parallel stories to the flood. Perhaps the most famous, is the Babylonian flood story known as the "Epic of Gilgamesh." And yet, despite the parallels, the stories are profoundly different. While the details regarding the flood are similar, the Torah revolutionizes the flood story by introducing what is most significant--the element of moral accountability.
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Kee Tavo 5780-2020
“There are Stones with Human Hearts”
(updated and revised from Kee Tavo 5761-2001)
In parashat Kee Tavo, Moses transmits to the Jewish people some of the specific laws and rituals that apply once the people enter the land of Israel. He instructs the elders that, on the day they cross the Jordan to enter into Israel, the people must set up 12 great stones, cover them with plaster and write upon them all the words of this law. Tradition thus explicitly teaches us that Jewish memorials must incorporate Torah. The most appropriate memorials are houses of study and yeshivot that nurture a new generation of Jews. Only in this manner, will our enemies never be able to defeat us.
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