The Sedra Vayelech 5782
As we approach the end of the year and prepare for the transition into Rosh Hashanah, we find ourselves at Parshat Vayelech. This is the shortest parsha in the Torah, yet it carries some of the most profound messages about leadership and the future of the Jewish people. We see Moshe Rabbeinu at one hundred and twenty years old, preparing to hand the mantle to Yehoshua. He gives us the final mitzvot, including the beautiful commandment of Hakhel and the writing of the Torah as a song. In this video, I want to explore what it means to move forward [...]
The Sedra Ki Tavoh 5781
This week we find ourselves in Parshat Ki Tavoh. Many people today use the term off the derek to describe someone who has left the path of Torah, but we must ask ourselves: what is this path? In the Book of Devarim, we are repeatedly warned not to deviate to the right or to the left. As we delve into the verses, we discover that there are actually two distinct paths discussed. The first is the path of monotheism, which represents our absolute commitment to serving God alone and rejecting all forms of idolatry. The second is the path of [...]
The Sedra Ki Tietzeh 5781
This week we find ourselves in Parshat Ki Tietzeh, where we encounter a vast array of mitzvot that teach us how to live a holy life. Among these is the command to build a fence around your roof to ensure that no one falls and suffers harm. Rashi points out a fascinating connection between this mitzvah and the command to send away the mother bird before taking her eggs. He teaches us that if we fulfill the easy mitzvah of sending the bird away, we will eventually be privileged to build a new house and fulfill the mitzvah of the [...]
The Sedra Devarim 5781
This week we begin Sefer Devarim, the final book of the Torah. We find Moshe Rabbeinu delivering his powerful farewell address, reviewing the history of Bnei Yisrael with honesty and conviction. In this week's portion, Moshe recalls the tragic episode of the spies and highlights a shocking accusation made by the people. They claimed that God brought them out of Egypt because He hated them. As Rashi explains through a parable, the people preferred the easy irrigation of Egypt over the arid, rain dependent land of Canaan. They viewed the necessity of hard work as a sign of divine rejection. [...]
The Sedra Behar 5781
In this week's video for Parshat Behar, we explore the profound commandment of Shemitah. The Torah uses a unique double expression, Shabbat Shabbaton, a Sabbath of complete rest, to describe this seventh year when the land must lie fallow. While Hebrew rarely repeats words for emphasis, this phrase signals something extraordinary. Commentators like the Ibn Ezra and the Sforno explain that this isn't just a physical break for the soil, but a total rest for both body and soul. Much like our weekly Shabbat, the Shemitah year serves to fix the reality of God as Creator in our hearts. By [...]
A Unique Telling of the Purim Story Politics and Intrigue
Today we are looking at the Purim story through a lens of politics and intrigue. We often think of Purim as just a story of miracles, but it is also a story of careful maneuvering and understanding human nature. From King Ahashverosh's deep paranoia to Haman's dangerous ego, the megillah is filled with political strategy. We will see how God provides the medicine before the illness by placing Esther in the palace exactly when she is needed. We'll also discuss Mordechai's genius in saving the king without asking for a reward, ensuring the king remained in his debt. This history [...]
