This week’s parsha has been dedicated by Eric Jankelovits in memory of Erna Jankelovits, רחל בת אריה ז״ל an אשת חייל and a wonderful loving mother Parshat Ki Tisa (Exodus 30:11 – 34:35) By Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel – “Lord, Lord a God of Compassion…” (Exodus 34:6) It is difficult to imagine the profound disappointment and …
Parshat Ki Tisa: Beams of Light Rabbi Gideon Sylvester is the British United Synagogue’s rabbi in Israel. He studied at Yeshivat Hamivtar (1985-86 and 1990-91) and received semicha from the Joseph & Gwendolyn Straus Rabbinical Seminary How close to God can we get? And what effect do our spiritual journeys have on our personalities …
Parshat Tetzaveh: Moshe and Aharon, The Dream Team Dr. Julie Lieber (Midreshet Lindenbaum 1993-95) currently serves as the Chief Jewish Life and Engagement Officer at Jewish Colorado Moshe and Aharon were more than siblings. They were a team. After all, it is Aharon that paves the way for Moshe’s reluctantly conceding to lead B’nai Yisrael …
Shabbat Shalom: Tetzaveh (Exodus 27:20 – 30:10) By Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel — “Make a forehead-plate of pure gold, and engrave on it…’Holy to God’. Attach a twist of sky-blue wool to it” (Exodus 28:36-37) This week’s portion of Tetzaveh, wherein Moses’ name is not mentioned even once, exclusively …
Parshat Teruma: Finding Happiness in Siberia Rabbi Dr. David Rozenson learned at Yeshivat Hamivtar from 1994-2001, and received his semicha from the Joseph and Gwendolyn Straus Rabbinical Seminary. He is the Executive Director of Beit Avi Chai in Jerusalem. In the late 1990s, while still a student at Yeshivat Hamivtar, I had the unique …
Shabbat Shalom: Terumah (Exodus 25:1- 27:19) By Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel –– “They shall make an ark of acacia trees. Overlay it with pure gold— outside and inside—and you shall make upon it a gold crown all around. Cast for it four gold rings and place them on its four …
Parshat Mishpatim: Representing Godliness Shoshana Chanales (Midreshet Lindenbaum Overseas Program 2000-2002) teaches Tanakh and Jewish philosophy at Yeshivat Frisch. Following the revelation at Har Sinai and the aseret hadibrot (Ten Commandments), Parshat Mishpatim takes a different turn in commandments. While there is much discussion about the structure and sequence of the laws included in Mishpatim, …
Shabbat Shalom: Mishpatim (Exodus 21:1- 24:18) By Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel –– “When [Hebrew: ‘im’] you lend money to My people, to the poor person with you, you shall not behave toward him as a lender; you shall not impose interest upon him.” (Ex. 22:24) How can we ensure that Jewish ideals—such …
Parshat Yitro: How the Greatest Visionary Learned to Listen Rabbi Avi Bossewitch learned at Yeshivat Hamivtar from 1996-1998 and serves as the Dean of Education at the Hebrew Academy (RASG) in Miami Beach, FL The first phase of Moshe’s life is surrounded by sight and vision. This begins when we are first introduced to Moshe, …
Read moreParshat Yitro: How the Greatest Visionary Learned to Listen
This week’s column has been sponsored in honor of Ellie Yona Charif’s first birthday on 23 Shevatby the Charif family in Sydney, Australia Shabbat Shalom: Yitro (Exodus 18:1 – 20:23) By Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel –– “Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. Six days shall you …
This week’s parsha is dedicatedin memory of Shlomo Fredman z”lשלמה חיים אריה לייב בן שמואל נחמו הכהן, ז”ל Parshat Beshalach: A Test of Faith Tzipora (Fredman) Ross (Midreshet Lindenbaum Overseas Program ‘89-90; Bruria Scholars ‘94-95) is currently the Judaic Studies Coordinator and in her 24th year of teaching at Ramaz Middle School, New York, NY. …
Shabbat Shalom: Beshalach (Exodus 13:17 – 17:16) By Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel –– “And Moses brought the bones of Joseph with him, since [Joseph] had adjured the children of Israel to take an oath; [Joseph] had said, ‘God will surely remember you; bring up my bones with you from …
