T he beginning of our parasha , Shelach, offered the possibility of the immediate implementation of Judaism’s ultimate goals: Moshe would have been the Mashiach who led our people into Eretz … more

The name,“Shabbat HaGadol” has captured the imagination of Torah exegetes since time immemorial. The second Bobover Rebbe, HaRav Ben-Zion Halberstam (1874-1941), begins his analysis of … more

A  great tragedy unfolded when Moses sinned at the Waters of Dispute (Mei Merivah). As the Torah states in our parasha, Pinchas: “You [Moses] disobeyed My command in the desert of Zin … more

Parashat Chukat contains a mysterious passage that focuses upon a well: “From there to the well, that is the well of which Hashem said to Moshe, Gather the people, and I will give them water. … more

The concluding verse of parashaBechukotai, and of seferVayikra, contains a phrase that is crucial for a holistic understanding of the Torah: “These are the commandments (aleh … more

This week’s parasha, Shelach, concludes with the well-known third paragraph of Kriat Shema whose focus is the mitzvah of Tzitzit. Its inclusion in the Shema during Tefilat Shacharit is … more

The Netaneh Tokef prayer is one of the most emotionally expressive tefilot in the machzorim, so much so that one of its passages brings many of us to tears each time it is recited: On Rosh … more

If you ask most Jews, “What is the name of the next holy day after Rosh Hashanah,” they would probably respond with, “Yom Kippur.” They would answer in this fashion, since it … more

The Ramban begins his analysis of our parasha, Mishpatim, by noting that mishpatim (ordinances and civil laws) are the first category of mitzvot presented. This contrasts with what took place at … more

Parashat Vayeshev concludes with the story of Yosef’s imprisonment in an Egyptian dungeon as a result of Potiphar’s wife’s false accusations. While incarcerated, Yosef rises to the … more