What does honoring parents have to do with collecting birds’ eggs? Both of these seemingly unrelated activities figure among the list of the Torah’s commandments.… Read More »Opposites Are Equal (or: Of Parents and Eggs)
In Parshas Va’eschanan we find the very famous portions of the Torah that are imbedded in the soul of the nation: The Ten Commandments and… Read More »Don’t Forget
WE’VE MOURNED, SO now it is time for consolation. This is part of that consolation, from a little different angle. According to tradition, not only… Read More »Messianic Moment
Rav Y. A. Rosenberg (1), quotes Rav Yitzchak Blazer: “Let’s contemplate the difference between the people in those days and us. … Read More »Yiras Shomayim and the Churban
These are the words that Moshe spoke to all the Jews…[2] This is how the Torah introduces us to Moshe’s monologue reproaching his flock, shortly… Read More »Every Reproach Deserves a Chaser[1]
אֵיכָ֣ה …How has the city that was once so populous remained lonely! She has become like a widow! She that was great among the nations,… Read More »Here We Are
Last class, we began our in-depth textual analysis of the bracha of Modim, the seventeenth blessing of the Shemoneh Esrai. Today, we continue that analysis… Read More »Modim (cont.): At All Times of the Day
The GR”A explains the fundamental difference between Sefer Devarim and the rest of the Torah is the level of prophecy. He says that, for the… Read More »In His Words
This Shabbos, upon which we read Parshas Devarim, falls on the eve of Tisha B’Av–the date that both Temples were destroyed. On Tisha B’Av itself,… Read More »How?
Sefer Devorim begins with Moshe rebuking the Jews for their shortcomings during their 40-year trek through the desert. In an effort to preserve the honor… Read More »Enough is Enough