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Rosh Hashanah Thoughts

Teshuva The Rambam indicates that Benonim have until Yom Kippur to repent, otherwise they may be condemned to death. Since benonim have equal Mitzvos and sins, why do they die? Why not go leniently on them? (Indeed, after death Hashem … Continue reading

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Nitzavim parshah thoughts

Doing Our Thing “And Hashem will rejoice in you as He rejoiced in your fathers” Like our fathers? Them who followed Hashem into the desolate desert? Who heard Hashem face to face, and walked through the Yam Suf with Him? … Continue reading

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Ki Tavo Parsha Thoughts

Long Form Thank You Bringing Bikkurim , the first fruit, to the Beis Hamikdash entails a speech. The donor reads a lengthy text – essentially the Pessach Haggadah, – recounting all Hashem has done him, starting all the way back … Continue reading

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Ki Tetzei Parshah Thoughts

Predestination And You The Torah mandates to fence our roofs saying “do not place blood in your home, when ‘the faller’ falls from [your roof]”. Why is the victim called ‘the faller’, as if that’s what he always was? Rashi … Continue reading

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Shoftim Parsha thoughts

Be Judgeable! ‘Put judges and police in all your cities to ensure fair judgement!’ This directive is addressed to us, not the government. We too are responsible for ensuring justice. How!? The Netziv explains that city leaders must oversee the courts … Continue reading

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Reah Parsha Thoughts

Rich-Poor Turnus-Rufus asked Rabbi Akiva; Obviously Hashem hates the poor, for otherwise He would have provided for them. So isn’t giving alms contravening His Will? Rabbi Akiva answered him cryptically: ‘So that we may merit through them.’ What was his … Continue reading

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Ekev Parshah Thoughts

Before Or After? Biblically, the blessing on food is only made AFTER eating. The blessing on Torah is BEFORE study. Why are they different? Food is enjoyed by the body upon taste, therefore the Bracha is made after eating. Torah, … Continue reading

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V’eschannan Parsha Thoughts

Shades Of Belief ‘Today we have seen that Hashem can talk with man and yet live’ said the Jews to Moshe. Apparently up until then they did not fully believe Moshe. How can this be? Moshe would say ‘Hashem said … Continue reading

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Devarim Parshah Thoughts

The Last Chapter Sefer Devarim is Moshe’s speeches to the Jewish people. In a sense, Hashem has finished talking and now Moshe takes over. Is it Torah? Certainly. Hashem included it in His book. Truth is, the Torah was intended … Continue reading

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Tisha Bav thoughts

Feel the Churban? Sadly, I’m among the many who are inured to the Churban. A child was hit by a car and lost both legs. Tragic. Half a year later his classmates visit. ‘How are you doing?’ they ask. He … Continue reading

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Matos-Masai Parsha Thoughts

Matos Because I Said So The Torah asks us to keep our word. It tells us to not profane our word. We understand keeping our word; committing to what we have said. But ‘profanity’? Is there holiness in our words? … Continue reading

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Pinchas Parshah Thoughts

Defensive-Offensive Pinchas killed Zimri, and the plague stopped. Why did killing Zimri calm Hashem’s anger at the Jews? Pinchas took up Hashem’s cause, and fought His battle. As the Torah writes: “He quarreled My quarrel”. It’s like when someone insults … Continue reading

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Balak Parshah Thoughts

Foolin’ Around Hashem asked Bilaam ‘Who are these people with you?’ Rashi explains that Hashem knew the answer, but fooled Bilaam into thinking that He didn’t. Bilaam thought ‘Wow! He does’t know everything! Great, now I’ll curse the Jews when … Continue reading

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Chukas Parshah Thoughts

(Swinging) At The End Of His Rope The Midrash tells of a wicked man who set an exorbitant price for the Parah Adumah – the red heifer – he had in his barn. While they went to bring the money, … Continue reading

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Korach Parshah Thoughts

Thanks, Korach! As a people, we owe a heavy debt to Korach. Were it not for him, people would say that Moshe fooled the Jews. Moshe possessed great charisma and worked his charm on the people. No one was able … Continue reading

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Shlach Parshah thoughts

Spymaster Lessons What can we learn from the story of the meraglim? The children suggested that we understand 1. from their punishment the severity of the sin of lashon harah, 2. the value of Eretz Yisroel, for denigrating something so … Continue reading

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Behaaloscha Parsha Thoughts

You’re A Group In Behaaloscha we learn that the Levi’im entered the service at age 25. In Devarim it states that they started at 30. Rashi explains that they arrived to learn the ropes at 25, but began actual service … Continue reading

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Naso Parshah Thoughts

Initiative Moshe was reluctant to accept wagons from the Nesi’im until Hashem told him to. Why? Wagons were not necessary to make the Mishkan. Hashem gave Moshe a specific list of the things needed; gold, silver, copper etc. Individual initiatives … Continue reading

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Shavuos Thoughts

What is Shavuos about? The Torah does not connect Shavuos to Matan Torah. The connection appears in our t’filla, which calls it, ‘z’man matan Toraseinu’, and in the gemarah. The connection to matan Torah is complicated, because Shavuos is not … Continue reading

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Bamidbar Parshah Thoughts

Segregation, TorahStyle Separating the people into distinct tribes. Living apart from each other, unique in lifestyle. Is that ‘Achdus’: national unity? Why is the Torah so proud of this setup? An automobile engine is a wonderful machine; its many components … Continue reading

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