Parshat Vaetchanan (Deuteronomy 3:23 – 7:11) By Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel – “Comfort you comfort you my nation, says the Lord your God.” (Isaiah 40: 1) This Shabbat takes its name from our prophetic reading (Shabbat Nachamu, the Sabbath of comfort.) Indeed, the entire month is known as Menachem Av, the comforting month of …
This week’s Shabbat Shalom has been sponsored by Blima and Joel Abramson on the occasion of the Yahrzait of Blima’s mother Sara Ester bat Yehoshua Ha’Cohen Parshat Devarim (Deuteronomy 1:1 – 3:22) By Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel – The biblical reading of Devarim always falls out on the Sabbath preceding Tisha Be’av, the fast …
This week’s parsha commentary has been sponsored by the Charif family of Sydney, Australiain memory of Hymie Charif(Refael Chaim Yishayahu ben Yitzchak) whose 25th yartzheit is on 2 Av Parshat Matot-Masei (Numbers 30:2 – 36:13) By Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel – “And Moses recorded the places of origin toward the places of destination… and these …
Parshat Pinchas (Numbers 25:10 – 30:1) By Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel – “And the Lord said to Moses, ‘Take for yourself Joshua the son of Nun, an individual who has spirit within him, and lay (or lean) your hand upon him. Stand him up before Elazar the Priest and before the entire congregation, and …
Parshat Balak (Numbers 22:2 – 25:9) By Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel – “My nation, remember what Balak the king of Moab advised and what Bil’am the son of Be’or…answered him in order that you may know the compassionate righteousness of the Lord” [Micha. 6:5]. Who, or what, defines Israel, and why does it matter? If …
Parshat Chukat (Numbers 19:1 – 22:1) By Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel – “God spoke to Moses and Aaron, saying, ‘This is the ordinance (chukat) of the Torah which God has commanded, saying, ‘Speak unto the children of Israel, that they bring a completely red heifer, which has no blemish, and which has never had a …
Parshat Korach (Numbers 16:1 – 18:32) By Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel – “…for the entire congregation are all holy, and God is in their midst. So why do you raise yourselves above God’s assembly?” [Num. 16:3]. Where did Korach err in his rebellion against Moses and Aaron? On the surface, his argument appears to be …
Parshat Shelach Lecha (Numbers 13:1 – 15:41) By Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel – “Send, for yourselves, men, who will seek out [vayaturu] the Land of Canaan that I am giving to the People of Israel” [Num. 13:2]. Of the sins that the People of Israel commit in the Bible, the most serious of all …
This week’s parsha commentary has been sponsoredby the Charif family of Sydney, Australiain memory of Bryna (Bertha) bat Nottel Noteh Charifwhose yartzheit is on 21 Sivan Shabbat Shalom: Behalotcha (Numbers 8:1 – 12:16) By Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel –– The Jewish people seemed poised for entry into the Promised …
Parshat Naso (Numbers 4:21 – 7:89) By Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel – What is the real meaning of love? And why is it that the Priest-Kohanim, the ministers of the Holy Temple and Torah teachers of the nation, must administer their priestly benediction “with love”? What has “love” to do with their specific leadership …
Parshat Bamidbar (Numbers 1:1 – 4:20) By Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel – “And these are the names of the men that shall stand with you: of Reuven, Elizur the son of Shedeur. Of Shimon, Shelimuiel the son of Zurishaddai. Of Judah, Nachshon the son of Aminadav…” (Numbers 1:5-7) For as long as I can remember, …
Parshat Behar-Bechukotai (Leviticus 25:1 – 27:34) By Rabbi Shlomo Riskin These words were written before the unbearable tragedy in Meron. Rabbi Riskin hopes to address the theological understanding of what happened after the Shloshim. Our hearts go out to all that mourn; may the Almighty Comforter bring healing to their souls. Efrat, Israel – “I am …
