torah

And if a person borrows [an animal] from his neighbor and it breaks a limb or dies, if its owner is not with him, he… Read More »That’s Way Too Costly

This week’s Torah portion features many laws governing our interactions with others: personal and property damages, borrowing and lending, and judicial proceedings, among others. Yet… Read More »Round Peg in a Round Hole

Rabbi Shimon ben (son of) Yehuda said in the name of Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai: Beauty, strength, wealth, honor, wisdom, old age, fullness of years,… Read More »Chapter 6, Mishna 8(b): Peace and the Messiah – Part 2

This week we read the parsha of Mishpatim {Judgments}. “V’aileh ha’Mishpatim asher tassim lifnaihem {And these are the judgments that you shall place before them}[21:1].”… Read More »Murder and the Super Bowl

Shabbos Night IF YOU don’t have your health, then you have nothing. At least that is what I have heard many people say over the… Read More »Fifty Gates of Understanding

You shall serve Hashem your G-d, and He will bless your bread and your water.[2] In the Hebrew text, the first half of the verse… Read More »Credit Where Credit Is Due

These divrei Torah were adapted from the hashkafa portion of Rabbi Yissocher Frand’s Commuter Chavrusah Tapes on the weekly portion: #1150 Taking State Farm To… Read More »We Would Have Legislated Just the Opposite!

“If you see the donkey of someone you hate crouching under its burden…you shall help repeatedly with him” (23:5) The Torah relates that we are… Read More »Help Me Help Myself

Certain things in life are given, at least for people reared according to Judaic values and ideals. Compassion for the weak and downtrodden. Sympathy for… Read More »Old Memories

One who serves [G-d] out of love studies Torah, [performs] the mitzvos (commandments), and goes in the paths of wisdom not because of any factor… Read More »Chapter 10, Law 2 – Abraham’s Devotion