In the Diaspora Parshat Acharei Mot-Kedoshim (Leviticus 16:1-20:27) Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel – “You must surely instruct your colleague, so that you not bear the brunt of his sin” (Lev. 19:17). Judaism teaches us that “every Israelite is responsible for the other.” Except for the State of Israel, where the Jewish population …
In the Diaspora Parshat Tazria-Metzora (Leviticus 12:1-15:33) Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel – “Then he shall sprinkle [the mixture] seven times upon the person being purified from the tzara’at; he shall purify him and set the live bird free upon the open field” (Leviticus 14:7). One of the strangest and most primitive-sounding rituals …
In the Diaspora Parshat Shemini (Leviticus 9:1-11:47) Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel – ‘And when Moses heard [Aaron’s argument] it found favor in his eyes’ (Leviticus 10:19). Our biblical portion opens with the exalting and exultant ceremonies of the consecration of the desert sanctuary, closely followed by a description of the tragic …
Pesach – Last Day Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel — “…God made the people take a roundabout path, by way of the desert…” [Ex. 13:18]. Having observed the Passover Seder just one week ago, we would do well to reflect back on that experience now in order to glean new insights for everyday life. For example, why did …
“May a Woman Conduct the Pesach Seder? Halakhic and Philosophical Implications on the Status of Women” Watch or listen to the audio file of Rabbi Shlomo Riskin’s Shabbat HaGadol 5778 drasha (in English), delivered in memory of Belda Kaufman Lindenbaum, z”l, at Midreshet Lindenbaum’s Chana and Yaakov Tilles Campus in Jerusalem (March …
Pesach – First Day Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel – The Passover Seder we will soon be celebrating is an evening dedicated first and foremost to the relationship between the generations, to parents communicating to their children the agony and the ecstasy of Egyptian enslavement and exodus – that seminal biblical drama which most profoundly …
Parshat Tzav – Shabbat Hagadol (Leviticus 6:1 – 8:36) Rabbi Shlomo Riskin The Sabbath before Pessah is called “The Great Sabbath” (Shabbat Hagadol) after the last verse of the reading from the prophets (haftara) for that day: “Behold I send you Elijah the Prophet before the coming of the great and awesome day of the Lord” …
Parshat Vayikra (Leviticus 1:1 – 5:26) Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel — “And (God) called to Moses, and the Lord spoke to him from the Tent of Meeting, saying, ‘Speak to the Children of Israel and say to them, anyone who brings a sacrifice to the Lord, from the animals, from the cattle and from the sheep you shall offer your …
Parshat Vayak’hel-Pekudei (Exodus 35:1 – 40:38) Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel — “He made the copper washbasin and its copper base out of the mirrors of the service women who congregated to serve at the entrance of the Tent of Meeting” [Ex. 38:8]. The Sanctuary and all of its furnishings are described in exquisite detail …
Parshat Ki Tisa (Exodus 30:11 – 34:35) Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel — “And God spoke unto Moses: Take sweet spices – nataf, shelet and helbena – these sweet spices with pure frankincense [levona], all of an equal weight” [Ex. 30:34]. Suddenly, I felt myself awakened during a flight by a rather startling question. …