Parshat Devarim (Deuteronomy 1:1-3:22) Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel — “How (eichah) am I able to bear your contentiousness, your burdens and your quarrels?!” [Deut. 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 caused …
This week’s edition is dedicated in loving memory of Hymie Charif – Refael Chaim Yeshayahu, z”l on the occasion of his 2 Av Yahrzeit by his family in Sydney, Australia Parshat Matot-Masei (Numbers 30:2-36:13) Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel – “This is the matter that the LORD has commanded concerning the …
Parshat Pinchas (Numbers 25:10-30:1) 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 …
Parshat Balak (Numbers 22:2-25:9) 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” [Micah 6:5] Who, or what, defines Israel, and why does it matter? If deeply concerning …
Parshat Chukat (Numbers 19:1-22:1) Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel — “And Moses and Aaron assembled the assemblage [kehal] before the rock; and said to them, “Listen now, rebels, from this rock shall we extract water for you?” And Moses lifted his hand, struck the rock twice with his staff, and abundant water emerged to give drink to …
Parshat Korach (Numbers 16:1-18:32) 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 both logical …
This week’s edition is dedicated in loving memory of JOHN BRUSTMAN, z”l – YOHEL BEN YITZHAK HA LEVY – on the occasion of his 8th Yahrzeit. Parshat Shlach (Numbers 13:1-15:41) 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 …
This week’s edition is dedicated in honor of the 3rd Yahrzeit (21 Sivan) of Bertha Charif – Bryna bat Natan Noteh z”l – by her family in Sydney, Australia Parshat Behaalotcha (Numbers 8:1-12:16) Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel – The Jewish people seemed poised for entry into the Promised Land when suddenly; “The …
Parshat Naso (Numbers 4:21-7:89) 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 role? In our Biblical …
Parshat Bamidbar (Numbers 1:1-4:20) Rabbi Shlomo Riskin Efrat, Israel –“And God spoke to Moses in the Sinai Desert, in the tent of meeting, on the first day of the second month, in the second year after they left the Land of Egypt.” [Num. 1:1] How can we transform a no man’s land into a domain of sanctity? The Book of Numbers, which we …