Shabbat Shalom: Balak (Numbers 22:2-25:9) By Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel – “There is no sorcery for Jacob, there is no magic for Israel.” (Numbers 23:23) What is the true message of an entire Torah portion dedicated to the hiring of a gentile soothsayer to curse the Israelite nation – but who instead becomes inspired to …
Shabbat Shalom: Chukat (Numbers 19:1-21:35) By Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel – “And he said to them: “Listen now rebels”…and he struck the rock twice.” (Numbers 20:10) Rabbi Nahman of Bratslav tells a tale of a king who was beside himself because his only son was behaving like a rooster: he divested himself of all …
Shabbat Shalom: Korach (Numbers 16:1-18:32) By Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel – “And Korach took…” ( Numbers 16:1) Is controversy a positive or a negative phenomenon? Since the ideal of peace is so fundamental to the Jewish ideal – to such an extent that we even greet and bid farewell to each other with the …
This week’s parsha commentary has been sponsoredby the Charif family of Sydney, Australia in memory of Bryna (Bertha) bat Nottel Noteh Charif whose 5th Yartzheit was on 21 Sivan. Shabbat Shalom: Shelach Lecha (Numbers 13:1-15:41) By Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel – “And God spoke unto Moses saying, ‘Send out men for yourself to spy …
Shabbat Shalom: Behaalotcha (Numbers 8:1-12:16) By Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel – “And it came to pass, when the Ark traveled forward, that Moses said, “Rise up O God, and scatter Your enemies; and let them that hate You flee before You.” And when it rested he said, “Return O God, unto the myriads of the …
Shabbat Shalom: Naso (Numbers 4:21-7:89) By Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel – “When a man or woman shall commit any sin that people may commit, to do a trespass against the Lord, and that person be guilty; then they shall confess their sin which they have committed…” (Numbers 5:6–7) According to Maimonides, this verse, which …
Shabbat Shalom: Bamidbar (Numbers 1:1-4:20) By Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel- “…by their families, by their parents’ houses.” (Numbers 1:2 ) Early in the book of Numbers the Torah records the first census in the history of the Jewish people: “Count the heads of the entire witness community of the children of Israel, by their …
Shabbat Shalom: Bechukotai (Leviticus 26:3-27:34) By Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel – “And I will grant peace in the land, and you shall lie down, and none shall make you afraid. And I will cause evil beasts to cease from the land; neither shall the sword go through your land.” (Leviticus 26:6) What kind of world …
Shabbat Shalom: Behar (Leviticus 25:1-26:2) By Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel – “God spoke to Moses at Mount Sinai, telling him to speak to the Israelites and say to them: When you come to the land that I am giving you, the land must be given a rest period, a sabbath to God. For six …
Shabbat Shalom: Emor (Leviticus 21:1-24:23) By Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel – “And the Lord said to Moses, Speak to the priests, the sons of Aaron, and say to them…” (Leviticus 21:1) What is the major task of a religious leader, a community rabbi or the dean of a day school? This is a question …
Shabbat Shalom: Kedoshim (Leviticus 19:1-20:27) By Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel – Speak unto all the congregation of the children of Israel and say to them: You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy. (Leviticus 19:2) Holiness is certainly a “religious” word expressing a worthy ideal, if not the worthiest of …
Shabbat Shalom: Parshat Acharei Mot (Leviticus 16:1 – 18:30) By Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel – “And God spoke to Moses after the death of the two sons of Aaron, when they came near before the Lord and died.” (Leviticus 16:1) Which is the greater evil in God’s eyes – hot sins of passion or …
