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

Listen to these words that are among the most fateful and reverberating in all of Jewish history: Joseph recognized his brothers, but they did not recognize him. Gen. 42:8 The Torah is a … more

By Rabbi Avi Billet Issue of September 18, 2009/ 29 Elul 5769 Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik recounted a personal episode that took place shortly after his wife passed away. As the rain … more

Parshat Vayechi By Rabbi Avi Billet Issue of January 1, 2010/ 15 Tevet 5770 Many years ago I saw a movie called “Glengarry Glen Ross” which is based on a play by David Mamet. Mamet is … more

Parshat Shmini by Rabbi Avi Billet Issue of April 8, 2010/ 24 Nissan 5770 Most blessings in the Torah are directed from either G-d to man or from man to G-d. There are a few exceptions, … more

Thousands of feet up in freefall, travelling over 100 miles an hour, Yosef Goodman had only seconds to make a decision. His parachute had become tangled in his commander’s chute above him, … more

Some years ago, I attended a conference that attracted rabbis and academics. At lunch, I found myself sitting next to a gentleman whose nametag indicated that he was a “Professor.” Given … 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

By Rabbi Avi Billet Issue of June 19, 2009 / 27 Sivan 5769 In the midst of the crisis of the spies, a seeming throwaway line is almost completely ignored by the commentaries. As Kalev and … more