Parshat Beshalach: Jewish Unity is not Jewish Uniformity
Parashat Beshalach: Jewish Unity is not Jewish Uniformity People generally expect to achieve unity by thinking and doing the same thing. But even during the splitting of the Red Sea, the children of Israel didn’t walk in a single path. “If only we were to come together”… “If only there were unity in this nation”… We… Continue Reading Parshat Beshalach: Jewish Unity is not Jewish Uniformity
“Shabbat Shalom” – Beshalach 5779
This week’s “Shabbat Shalom” has been dedicated by Sylvia and Avi Tuchman in honor of their grandchildren Shabbat Shalom: Parshat Beshalach (Exodus 13:17-17:16) By Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel – “This is my God ve-anveihu, my father’s God, and I will exalt Him.” (Exodus 15:2) What is the best way to give thanks to God?… Continue Reading “Shabbat Shalom” – Beshalach 5779
“Torah Lights” – Bo 5779
“Hardening the Heart: Why Can’t Pharaoh Change?”
Rabbi Shlomo Riskin’s Insights into Parshat Bo
Parshat Bo: The Internal Process in the Exodus from Egypt
Parashat Bo: The Internal Process in the Exodus from Egypt Every external process starts with an internal process. The question here isn’t merely what a person is prepared to exhibit, out in the open. It’s mainly about how much that person is prepared to expose inwardly, or, in other words, a person’s self-identification and self-determination.… Continue Reading Parshat Bo: The Internal Process in the Exodus from Egypt
“Shabbat Shalom” – Bo 5779
Shabbat Shalom: Parshat Bo (Exodus 10:1-13:16) By Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel – “And God said unto Moses: ‘Go in unto Pharaoh, for I have hardened his heart, and the heart of his servants, that I might show these My signs in the midst of them.’” (Exodus 10:1) Why does God declare that He has “hardened Pharaoh’s heart”… Continue Reading “Shabbat Shalom” – Bo 5779
Parshat Vaera: Nature, Human Nature, and the Power of Flexibility
Parashat Vaera: Nature, Human Nature and the Power of Flexibility By Rabbi Shmuel Klitsner, Chairman of OTS’s Susi Bradfield Women’s Institute of Halakhic Leadership At times, difficulty in interpreting a specific issue in the verses of the Torah can allow us to explore a broader issue in Jewish teachings on life. I feel that this… Continue Reading Parshat Vaera: Nature, Human Nature, and the Power of Flexibility
“Shabbat Shalom” – Va’era 5779
This week’s “Shabbat Shalom” has been dedicated in memory of Florence Bryskin, Tziporah bas Mayer Yitzchok on the occasion of her yahrzeit – 22 Tevet Shabbat Shalom: Parshat Va’era (Exodus 6:2-9:35) By Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel – “And God spoke to Moses and said unto him, I am the Lord, and I appeared unto… Continue Reading “Shabbat Shalom” – Va’era 5779
“Torah Lights” – Shemot 5779
“Heavy of Speech:
Moshe’s Leadership”
Rabbi Shlomo Riskin’s Insights into Parshat Shemot
Parshat Shemot: The Birth of a Nation
Parashat Shemot: The Birth of a Nation By Michal Groushko Taitel, Prinicipal of OTS’s Jennie Sapirstein High School for Girls in Ramot, Jerusalem Dr. Orit Avneri shared some beautiful new ideas on Parashat Shemot in her writing, which I summarize below. In the first few verses of the Book of Exodus, we encounter several expressions… Continue Reading Parshat Shemot: The Birth of a Nation
“Shabbat Shalom” – Shemot 5779
Shabbat Shalom: Parshat Shemot (Exodus 1:1-6:1) By Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel – “Blessed art Thou, Lord our God, and God of our fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, the God of Jacob…” (The Opening Blessing of the Amida) The opening of the Amida prayer stops with Jacob’s name. But why should… Continue Reading “Shabbat Shalom” – Shemot 5779
“Torah Lights” – Vayechi 5779