The Sedra Eikev 5779
This week we find ourselves in Parshat Eikev, where we discover that the Almighty uses a beautiful literary symmetry in the Torah to draw us closer to His mitzvot. The portion opens by promising that if we listen to, observe, and perform these rules carefully, God will maintain His covenant of kindness. Our scholars explain that each of these three actions corresponds directly to a specific divine reward. For listening to God, even when others might scoff at the commands, He promises to love us as a father loves his children. For studying the Torah and observing its laws, He [...]
The Sedra Bechukosi 5775
In this week's video for Parshat Bechukosai, we look at the beautiful blessings God promises to the Jewish people. Specifically, we focus on the promise of peace in the land. To explore this, I share a story about a rabbi named Rabbi Bergman, who searched for a way to bring his community together. While many of us dream of peace from our external enemies, the Ramban offers a striking and profound insight. He teaches that the true crux of a Jewish utopia is not just the absence of war with those who wish us harm, but actual peace among ourselves [...]
The Sedra Pesach 5775
As we prepare for the holiday of Pesach, I want to share a powerful lesson from the story of the Ten Plagues. Specifically, we look at the plague of the frogs and the reaction of Pharaoh's advisors. While the Egyptian illusionists claimed they could replicate the miracle, Pharaoh soon realized the vast difference between their small scale tricks and the divine power manifested through Moshe. This story teaches us about the danger of seeking the supernatural to escape the responsibilities of our natural world. In real life, cause and effect guide us, and we cannot afford to be fooled by [...]
The Sedra Vayishlach 5773
This video explores the curious story of Yaakov (Jacob) renaming his newborn son, Benyamin, in Parshat Vayishlach. While his wife Rachel gave the child the name Ben Oni (Son of my pain) on her deathbed, Yaakov quickly changed it to Benyamin (Son of my right hand/treasure). Through this narrative, the speaker examines the profound significance of naming in both biblical contexts and modern life, comparing it to how companies name websites for a specific mission. The video aims to show how differing perspectives on values and legacies can lead to healthy disagreements, offering a solution to these conflicts and a [...]
The Sedra Shelach 5772
This week we read Parshat Shelach, a portion that contains one of the most remarkable moments in the entire Torah: a genuine debate between Moshe Rabbeinu and God. While we often see negotiation in the Torah, here we witness Moshe actually winning an argument with the Almighty. Following the tragic report of the spies and the subsequent rebellion of the people, God proposes to start over by making Moshe into a great nation. Moshe, however, looks at the situation from a different perspective. He argues that destroying the people would lead to a desecration of God's name among the nations [...]
