Nitzavim-Vayeilech 5771-2011
"Renewing the Covenant"
How could Moses have made a covenant with future generations who were unable to agree or disagree with the covenant, or to accept or refuse to be a part of the agreement?
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Re’eh 5771-2011
“Listening to the Message”
How does one remain moral in an increasingly immoral environment? Ethical and moral behavior doesn't simply develop through osmosis or from preaching. Judaism maintains that living a religiously observant life results in the ability to hear G-d’s voice among the conflicting messages competing for one’s attention in a noisy world.
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Eikev 5771-2011
"Finding the Greatness of G-d in His Humility"
How do mere mortals dare pray to the All-Powerful G-d? Because there is incontrovertible evidence that our omnipotent G-d cares about the weak and the downtrodden. This knowledge serves as our license to pray, to ask that the coming days, weeks and years be times of blessing and beneficence.
0 Comments11 Minutes
Va’etchanan 5771-2011
"The Ten Commandments: The Differences"
The fact that there are two versions of the Ten Commandments in the Torah with slight differences in the texts raises significant questions. These questions are confronted head-on by the incredibly intellectually honest approach of Jewish scholarship. This educational legacy of Judaism, which encourages students to constantly search for truth, has shaped young Jewish minds for millennia, resulting in unparalleled intellectual achievements.
0 Comments11 Minutes
Devarim 5771-2011
“The Responsibility not to be Misled”
When recounting the story of the Scouts in the Book of Deuteronomy, Moses omits many details of the original story, while other seemingly less pertinent facts are emphasized. There is a profound lesson that is taught by these unexpected changes about the individual’s responsibility not to be misled.
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Matot 5771-2011
“Leadership and its Moral Responsibilities”
Parashat Matot underscores the complexity of Jewish leadership. It is from the episode in this parasha that our rabbis derive the important principle that leaders are to be held responsible for the wrongdoings of the people, for they have the power and authority to protest.
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Chukat 5771-2011
"The Well of Miriam"
In parashat Chukat, the great prophetess, Miriam, passes away. The fact that, immediately after Miriam’s passing, there is no water for the People of Israel leads the rabbis to conclude that in Miriam’s merit, a well of water traveled with the people of Israel for 40 years in the wilderness, and, with her demise, the well vanished. What was the nature of Miriam’s well?
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Shemini 5771-2011
“The Death of Aaron’s Sons: The Midrashic Perspective”
The Midrash labors, at great length, to develop a context for the great tragedy that befell Aaron’s family on the “eighth day.”
0 Comments13 Minutes
Kee Tisah 5771-2011
"The Thirteen Attributes of G-d’s Mercy"
After the sin of the Golden Calf, G-d forgives the people and pronounces what are known as the “13 Attributes of G-d’s Mercy.” These “13 Attributes” are considered the most exalted prayer that a Jew may utter when beseeching G-d for mercy. It is important to know the intended meanings of these fateful words.
0 Comments9 Minutes
Yitro 5771-2011
"The Dark Side of Judaism"
Not only does the Torah revolutionize theology by declaring that Jewish religious leaders are fallible, it goes much further, often even highlighting their shortcomings. This is so very different from what is portrayed by other faith systems, where religious leaders are always infallible and never depicted as mistaken or ever saying or doing anything wrong.
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Va’eira 5771-2011
"Messages from the Nile"
As the central feature of Egypt, it was logical that the Nile would be the first object of G-d’s wrath. Hence, the first two plagues, blood and frogs, are visited upon the Nile. But, there is much more that the Nile represents.
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Nitzavim-Vayeilech 5770-2010
“Rebelling with G-d”
In parashat Vayeilech, Moses denounces the People of Israel, calling them “rebels with G-d” for a third time. What does this expression mean, and how does it reflect the Jewish people’s special relationship with the Al-mighty, even in times of rebellion?
0 Comments6 Minutes
Re’eh 5770-2010
“The Blessing and the Curse”
Is Moses setting out a choice before the people of blessing or curse, or is he simply stating that life always consists of elements that are bitter as well as those that are sweet?
0 Comments5 Minutes