Fertility of Mankind and Fruitfulness of Soil Rabbanit Amira Raanan teaches Halakha and Responsa Literature at the Robert M. Beren Machanaim Hesder Yeshiva The portion of Ekev begins: “And it shall come to pass, because you harken to these laws, and keep, and do them, that the Lord your God shall keep with you the …
Shabbat Shalom: Parshat Ekev (Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25) By Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel – “And it shall come to pass, because you hearken to these laws, safeguarding and keeping them, that the Lord your God shall keep the covenant with you and the mercy that He swore unto your ancestors, and He will love you, and …
The Secret to Jewish Continuity Rabbi David Brofsky is a Ra’M at Midreshet Lindenbaum In this week’s parasha, Parshat Va’etchanan, the Torah relates Moshe Rabbeinu’s final words to the Jewish people, before they enter the land of Israel. Moshe instructs the people to follow the commandments of the Torah: “And now, O Israel, give heed …
Shabbat Shalom: Parshat Va’etchanan (Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11) By Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel – “And we dwelt in the valley, opposite the Temple of Peor” (Deuteronomy 3:29) The contents of the final book of the Pentateuch, Deuteronomy, are almost sandwiched between two curious references to a detestable idol: Ba’al Peor. At the conclusion of the first …
Shabbat Shalom: Parshat Devarim (Deuteronomy 1:1 – 3:22) By Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel – “How (eichah) am I able to bear your contentiousness, your burdens and your quarrels?!” (Deuteronomy 1:12) Just prior to the conclusion of the 1978 Camp David Accords, U.S. President Jimmy Carter submitted a letter for Prime Minister Menachem Begin that …
“And these are the words which Moshe spoke” – Moshe’s spiritual legacy to the People of Israel Rabbanit Renana Birnbaum is the director of Ohr Torah Stone’s Conversion Institute for Spanish Speakers The portion of Devarim opens the fifth and final book of the Torah, the Written Law, and focuses largely on Moshe’s departure from …
Putting Things in Writing Before Entering the Land of Israel Miri Westreich teaches literature, Tanach and midrash at Midreshet Lindenbaum-Lod Parshat Masei, which is the final portion of the Book of Bamidbar, marks the seamline between the desert and the entrance into the Land of Israel. It is a moment of transition which constitutes a …
Shabbat Shalom: Parshat Matot-Masei (Numbers 30:2- 36:13) By Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel – “This is the matter that the LORD has commanded concerning the daughters of Tzelofhad, saying: Let them be married to whom they think best… Just as the LORD commanded Moses, so did the daughters of Zelophehad” (Numbers 36:6,10). What can we …
Victory by Force of Arms vs. a Victory of the Spirit Rabbi Dr. Michael Ben Admon is the Director of the Maarava Program for Rabbinical Emissaries to Sephardic Communities A quick peek into human history suffices to show that human beings are unable to conduct their lives without engaging in war. Conflicts come about for a …
Shabbat Shalom: Parshat Pinchas (Numbers 25:10-30:1) By Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel – “Do battle against the Midianites and smite them. They are your enemies because of the plot which they plotted against you concerning the incident involving Pe’or and the incident involving Kozbi the daughter of the Prince of Midian, their sister, who was …
Miriam as an Example of a Successful Educator Zion Rosner is a teacher at the Oriya High School for Girls The summer vacation is finally upon us, during which time most schoolchildren are not in any formal educational setting; however, they do make up their own daily schedule, which is largely characterized by the habits …
Shabbat Shalom: Parshat Balak (Numbers 22:2- 25:9) By Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel – “God said to Balaam, ‘You shall not go with them; you shall not curse this nation because it is blessed’” (Numbers 22:12) The Balaam/Balak episode in this week’s portion naturally leads us to a discussion of the relationship between God’s will and …
