Va’eira 5778-2018
“Participating in the Communal Pain”
The names of the sons of Levi reflect the fact that the tribe of Levi felt the communal pain for all the tribes of Israel, even though they themselves were not personally afflicted.
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Devarim 5777-2017
“The Transformation of Moses is Completed”
The book of Deuteronomy confirms that the transformation of Moses is now complete. The man who said, ”I am not a man of words,” the man who asked, “Did I conceive this entire people, did I give birth to it?,” eventually became the great orator and the thoroughly devoted nursemaid of his people.
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Chukat 5777-2017
“Moses’ Painful Words of Comfort”
During the moving ceremony marking the passing of his beloved brother Aaron, Moses forces himself to say words of comfort to Aaron that are personally devastating.
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Shelach 5777-2017
“The Slave Mentality”
Without faith, the people cannot overcome their fears that are stoked by a slave mentality. This is not a people who can succeed in the Promised Land. Only a new generation, who have a relationship with the Al-mighty based on a loving faith will enter the land.
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Bamidbar 5777-2017
“The Danger of Seeing the Holy Furnishings”
The closing verses of parashat Bamidbar underscore the great sanctity of the Torah, a particularly timely theme for the eve of Shavuot.
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Tazria-Metzorah 5777-2017
“Insights to be Gleaned from the Metzorah, the Person Stricken with the Tzaraat Disease"
The Tzaraat disease and its accompanying rituals, appear at first blush, rather primitive. However, Tzaraat, like many other obscure concepts that appear in the Torah, when studied carefully, is deeply insightful and conveys a message of timeless importance to all of humankind.
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Tzav 5777-2017
“Lessons from the Ceremony of the Consecration of the כֹּהֲנִים—
the Priests”
From the ceremony of the consecration of the priests we learn that mitzvot must be performed with sincerity and full- hearted devotion.
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Shemot 5777-2017
“From Whence Shall Come My Salvation?”
Sometimes the source of salvation can be traced back to the actual challenge itself.
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Vayeilech-Yom Kippur 5777-2016
“Patience Tempered With Love”
As Joshua is about to assume the mantle of leadership of Israel, Moses charges his disciple to be patient and tolerant with the people and to infuse his feelings for them with abundant love. This was a lesson that Moses himself had learned from G-d Al-mighty.
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Devarim 5776-2016
“Moses the Stammerer, Becomes a World-Class Orator"
At the Burning Bush, Moses describes himself as “a stammerer and stutterer.” The book of Deuteronomy testifies, however, that the tongue-tied Moses was apparently transformed into a bold and talented orator, whose words resound throughout the world to this very day.
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Korach 5776-2016
“Givers and Takers"
The Netziv states that the entire world is divided up between givers and takers. Rabbi Filber shows the great distinction between Moses, the giver, and Korach, the taker.
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Tetzaveh 5776-2016
"Feeling the Pain of Others who are in Need"
Just as the Torah instructs the High Priest to wear the Breastplate on his heart, so must each Jew feel the pain of those who are in need.
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Va’eira 5776-2016
“The Lessons of Genealogy”
The genealogy of Moses and Aaron teaches many important principles about life, and provides insightful life lessons for all to master.
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Vayeilech-Yom Kippur 5776-2015
“Living a Truly Meaningful Life”
On the final day of his life, Moses teaches all of humankind how to live a truly meaningful life.
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Kee Tavo 5775-2015
“Making The Final Commitment”
While encouraging the People of Israel to make the final commitment to the Al-mighty, Moses conveyed an important message to the people that is still relevant in our time, and can prove useful in our own lives.
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Devarim 5775-2015
“Looking Through the Pain, Toward a Bright Future”
Despite having endured more than forty years of hardship and struggle, and having every reason to be angry and bitter, Moses, nevertheless, conveys an inspiring message of hope to the new and future generations of Israel.
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Tzav 5775-2015
“When Performing a Mitzvah Comes at a Significant Personal Cost”
The priests of old were profoundly challenged when they worked in the Tabernacle and Temple, since their service resulted in a significant loss of personal income.
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Vayakhel-Pekudei 5775-2015
“Bringing Heaven Down To Earth”
The Biblical narrative describing the final erecting of the Tabernacle teaches that human beings can indeed build an earthly dwelling place for the Divine Presence, and they can even bring the Divine Presence down to earth.
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Kee Tisah 5775-2015
“Aaron, What Did This People Do To You?”
The biblical narrative seems to portray Aaron as a collaborator with the people of Israel in the sinful worship of the Golden Calf. Actually, Moses and Aaron play a very delicate balancing act of leadership in order to prevent the people from total destruction for their wayward ways.
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Shemot 5775-2015
"Moses--The Mysterious Early Years"
The Torah narrative tells little about Moses’ formative years. Rabbi Eliyahu Kitov, the extraordinary commentator and compiler, fills in many of the details of Moses’ life by gathering Midrashim from many sources, reconciling them and reconstructing the early years of the life of Moses.
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B’ha’a’lot’cha 5774-2014
“The Difference Between Moses and the Other Prophets”
When the Al-mighty rebuked Miriam and Aaron for speaking against their brother Moses, He says: “Not so is My servant, Moses!” affirming that the special prophetic stature of Moses is in a class by itself, and far superior to all other prophets.
0 Comments11 Minutes