King David

“Justice, Justice Shall You Pursue”
(updated and revised from Shoftim 5764-2004)

The Torah’s ideas of a judicial system and the pursuit of justice has revolutionized jurisprudence throughout the world.

“Building a ‘New’ Sanctuary”
(updated and revised from Devarim 5764-2004)

This has been a difficult and challenging year for the Jewish people. Terror attacks, anti-Semitism, assimilation and intermarriage are on the rise. It has also been a particularly hard year for observant Jews, who are constantly challenged by new religious issues and the prohibitively expensive cost of maintaining a religious lifestyle. Perhaps what we need during this period of mourning for the Temple, is a period of spiritual chilling-out--to calm down and to rebuild a spiritual and emotional Sanctuary that resides within each of us.

"Pinchas and King David"

While both Pinchas and King David killed in the name of G-d to bring sanctity into G-d’s world, only Pinchas was rewarded immediately with the eternal covenant of the priesthood. King David, on the other hand, was denied the right to build the Temple in Jerusalem.

"Joseph and Judah: A Confrontation for Posterity"

The confrontation between Judah and Joseph was not only intended to achieve the release of Benjamin, but was a struggle for the leadership of Israel between two larger-than-life brothers.

“Were Lot’s Daughters Moral or Immoral?”

After the destruction of Sodom, Lot’s daughters, thinking that the whole world had been destroyed, ply their father with wine and bear children with him. The commentators struggle with their actions.