This week’s Torah portion, Haazinu, provides a prophetic snapshot of our nation’s long history. It speaks of G-d’s eternal love for His nation. The Torah speaks glowingly of how the Jews followed G-d in the desert after the Exodus from Egypt, trusting that He would provide for their needs. He subsequently brings them to the […]
Parshat Nitzavim opens with Moses gathering the entire Jewish people for the last time in his life. He warns them not to be tempted by the evil ways of idolaters, and not to rationalize inappropriate behavior by saying “G-d will forgive us.” This belief, he says, will ultimately cause our people much punishment and exile […]
Parshas Shoftim underscores the vital role that law and order plays in Jewish life. The portion opens with the commandment to establish a judicial system in the Land of Israel. Every city is to have courts and judges, as well as officers to enforce the decisions of the court. A judge must treat all of […]
In Parshas Re’eh, Moses continues to encourage the Jewish people to follow the path of Torah and to trust in G-d. He unambiguously puts the commandments in perspective, stating that the Jewish People will be blessed if they observe the Torah and, G-d forbid, cursed if they do not. After explaining some details about the […]
This week’s Torah portion, Va’eschanan, can be dubbed “Judaism 101,” for in it Moshe outlines the basic tenets of our faith. This week’s parsha states: · G-d loves the Jewish People. Moshe tells the Jews that they weren’t selected by G-d to become His nation because they were the most populous or winners of a […]
July 20th marked the 43rd anniversary of man’s first step on the moon. Imagine if you had been part of Neil Armstrong’s crew heard him say the famous words, “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” What if, when you stepped off Apollo 11, you beheld an unbelievable sight: There, sitting on […]
In this week’s Torah portion, Vayelech, Moshe once again exhorts the Jewish People before he dies to adhere to the Torah’s commandments. Moshe introduces the final two commandments of the Torah: each person should write his own Torah scroll, and the mitzvah of Hakhel. The Hakhel ceremony takes place every seven years, in the year […]
History gives us a context in which to better appreciate the world around us. For example, knowing American history gives people a better appreciation of the freedom and opportunity that our nation affords its citizens. The “land of the free and the home of the brave” has given the Jews, in particular, the opportunity to […]
“War is a necessary evil,” the saying goes. Rational people don’t seek to engage in war and go to battle only as a last resort. The Torah, in laying the foundation of Jewish jurisprudence, details the rules of war in this week’s portion. Among them are that the Jews must attempt a peaceful resolution first, […]
A corpse. A corpse on Union Street, New Orleans. It is seven years later and I still cannot get the vision out of my mind. In the tragic aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, the New York Times ran a story about a corpse that remained on the street for days, without anybody giving it much more […]