In Avraham’s relationship with the Almighty, their connection is described in different ways in the Torah. In the beginning of Lekh Lekha, He is “Hashem who appeared to him” … more

Avraham and Sarah are both given the same information. A child will be born when you are 100 and 90, respectively. He laughs … more

Rabbi Menachem Recanati, the 13th century Italian commentator, quotes the Zohar in making what is seemingly a bizarre claim — that until Avraham was circumcised, he was never intimate with … more

When we are introduced to Noach at the beginning of the parsha, Rashi notes that his being called a tzaddik (righteous man) “in his generation” could be interpreted either … more

For several decades, Israel’s enemies have actively and willfully defamed the Jewish state by comparing its actions to the atrocities committed by the worst villains in recent … more

In one of his Yom Kippur addresses, Rabbi Joseph Hertz expressed that “Avinu Malkeinu Chatanu L’fanekha” is the prayer most reflective of our Yom Kippur goals. In it, we recognize a few very important truths about our relationship with G-d, and about ourselves. more

“This day G-d commands you to fulfill [all the laws], and you should do them with all your heart, and with all your soul.” (26:16) The Midrash Tanaim jumps on the classic interpretation (see also Tanchuma 1) that when Moshe says “This day” with reference to mitzvah observance, he is noting that any demonstration of following the Torah creates a visual for G-d as if the Jewish people have accepted the Torah on that day. more

From the one time in Re’eh to the three times in Shoftim to the five times in Ki Tetze, the Torah tells us nine times to eradicate evil – “Uvi’arta hara” – from either amongst you, or amongst all of Israel. It would seem that in most of these cases, as well as others in our parsha, the Torah is advocating for a death penalty kind of punishment for those who are either guilty of a crime, or are in violation of a mitzvah. more

On July 25, Brett Stevens (not to be confused with Bret Stephens) wrote on amerika.org that the Israel-Hamas conflict shows the true nature of liberalism. more

The instructions given to the generation entering the land of Canaan are clear: “Do away with all the places where the nations whom you are driving out worship their gods, [whether they are,] on the high mountains, on the hills, or under any luxuriant tree. You must tear down their altars, break up their sacred pillars, burn their Asherah trees, and chop down the statues of their gods, obliterating their names from that place.” more