torah

Following the decisions of the court and judges of one’s time, even if one personally disagrees with those judicial conclusions, is the subject of this… Read More »The Forest and the Trees

[The speaking of lashon hara (slanderous gossip) is forbidden] whether one speaks lashon hara in front of his fellow (i.e., the victim) or not in… Read More »Chapter 7, Law 5 – Words that Kill

Gazing at the extreme polarities that characterize our world, questions spring to mind. What does it all mean? Why the vast range between the two… Read More »Enjoy the Ride

This week’s parsha, R’ay, gives us a very clear glimpse of the attitude the Torah enjoins us to have towards death. “Bunim a’tem laHashem Elokaichem,… Read More »We Are His Children

“Rather, you shall open your hand to him; you shall lend him his requirement…”(15:8) The Torah instructs us to be open-handed with our destitute brethren.… Read More »Don’t Give It Personally

Yeshaya 66 This week’s haftorah, read in conjunction with Shabbos Rosh Chodesh, reveals to us a secret dimension of this significant date. In fact, as… Read More »Haftorah Commentary Shabbos Rosh Chodesh

In this week’s portion, the Torah tells us to decimate any remnant of idolatry: “You shall utterly destroy all the places where the nations that… Read More »Total Control

See I place before you today blessing and curse. (Devarim 11:26) Hear O’Israel Hashem is our G-d Hashem is One! (Devarim 6:4) Hearing is not… Read More »It is Caught with Two Hands

So that you will remember the day you left Egypt all the days of your life.[2] That we are instructed to remember the Exodus twice… Read More »Truth In Thinking

Last class we reviewed the twelfth (and additional) blessing of the Shemoneh Esrai, continuing to review the communal blessings and focusing on our plea that… Read More »A Prayer for the Righteous – Including Ourselves