torah

You shall bring her into your house. She shall shave her head, and let her nails grow.[2] Rashi explains: The Torah arranges for the star-struck… Read More »Taking Stock

Rabbi Chalafta ben (son of) Dosa of K’far Chananya said: When ten people sit and study Torah, the Divine Presence dwells among them, as the… Read More »Chapter 3, Mishna 7: The Spirit of G-d

This week’s Torah reading begins with all the ills that can befall a domestic society. These include lust and exploitation of other human beings, especially… Read More »It’s Sometimes Better NOT to Look for the Root Cause

This weeks parsha, Ki Saitzay, begins with a very strange law pertaining to our going to war. Before we deal with that law, let’s get… Read More »We’re Not There Yet

The Mitzvah: The Jewish soldier who sees a beautiful gentile woman in war, and who desires to take this captive as a wife, is permitted… Read More »Yefas Toar: Captivating Beauty

This week’s portion opens with a discussion of the laws pertaining to the Jewish soldier whose passions are aroused in battle, impelling him to take… Read More »Alive With Spiritual Pleasure

“Remember what Amalek did to you on the way when you were leaving Egypt …you shall wipe out the memory of Amakek from under the… Read More »Passion For Progress

“And he shall gladden the wife that he took”(24:5) The Torah specifies that a newlywed is exempt from military service for a year, so that… Read More »Happy To Please

Liability. Personal responsibility and the utmost care for fellow humans were discussed in the Torah way before lawyers and lawsuits appeared on the judicial scene.… Read More »Dead Man Falling

In the past it was almost universally accepted that a hat was worn on important occasions to indicate respectability. Since a person should be dressed… Read More »Putting On a Hat