#Torah

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Jonathan Sacks : God’s Shadow VAYAKHEL

Jonathan Sacks: God’s Shadow VAYAKHEL In Vayakhel we meet, for the second time, the man who became the symbol of the artist in Judaism, a man by the name of Betzalel. Then Moses said to the Israelites, “Know that the Lord has chosen Betzalel son of Ur

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Jonathan Sacks Between Truth and Peace KI TISSA

Jonathan Sacks Between Truth and Peace KI TISSA Ki Tissa tells of one of the most shocking moments of the forty years in the wilderness. Less than six weeks after the greatest revelation in the history of religion – Israel’s encounter with God at Moun

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RAV KOOK ON PARSHAT TETZAVEH: HOW TO ILLUMINATE LIFE

RAV KOOK ON PARSHAT TETZAVEH: HOW TO ILLUMINATE LIFE  RAV KOOK ON PARSHAT TETZAVEH:      HOW TO ILLUMINATE LIFE וְאַתָּ֞ה תְּצַוֶּ֣ה ׀ אֶת־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וְיִקְח֨וּ אֵלֶ֜יךָ שֶׁ֣מ

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RAV KOOK ON PARSHAT TRUMA: HOW TO LIVE IN THE Divine PRESENCE OF THE SHECHINA

RAV KOOK ON PARSHAT TRUMA: HOW TO LIVE IN THE Divine PRESENCE OF THE SHECHINA RAV KOOK ON PARSHAT TRUMA: HOW TO LIVE IN THE DIVINE PRESENCE OF THE SHECHINA “דַּבֵּר֙ אֶל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל וְיִקְחוּ־לִ֖י תּ

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Jonathan Sacks – Building Builders TERUMAH

Jonathan Sacks – Building Builders TERUMAH As soon as we read the opening lines of Terumah we begin the massive shift from the intense drama of the Exodus with its signs and wonders and epic events, to the long, detailed narrative of how the Israeli

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RAV KOOK ON MISHPATIM: THE ISRAELITE WAY OF LIVING LAWFULLY

RAV KOOK ON MISHPATIM: THE ISRAELITE WAY OF LIVING LAWFULLY RAV KOOK ON MISHPATIM: THE ISRAELITE WAY OF LIVING LAWFULLY “וְאֵ֨לֶּה֙ הַמִּשְׁפָּטִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר תָּשִׂ֖ים לִפְנֵיהֶֽם:-And these are the la

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Jonathan Sacks – God’s Nudge MISHPATIM

Jonathan Sacks – God’s Nudge MISHPATIM First in Yitro there were the Aseret Hadibrot, the “Ten Utterances”, the Ten Commandments, expressed as general principles. Now in Mishpatim come the details. Here is how they begin: If you buy a Hebr

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RAV KOOK ON PARSHAT YITRO: BECOMING A HOLY NATION BY ESTABLISHING A HOLY GOVERNMENT

RAV KOOK ON PARSHAT YITRO: BECOMING A HOLY NATION BY ESTABLISHING A HOLY GOVERNMENT “וְאַתֶּ֧ם תִּֽהְיוּ־לִ֛י מַמְלֶ֥כֶת כֹּֽהֲנִ֖ים וְג֣וֹי קָד֑וֹשׁ” “And you will be a kingdom of priests a

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Jonathan Sacks – Deed and Creed YITRO

Jonathan Sacks – Deed and Creed YITRO The parsha of Yitro records the revolutionary moment when God, Creator of Heaven and Earth, entered into a mutually binding agreement with a nation, the Children of Israel, an agreement we call a brit, a covena

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Jonathan Sacks: The Power of Ruach BESHALLACH

Jonathan Sacks: The Power of Ruach BESHALLACH In September 2010, BBC, Reuters, and other news agencies reported on a sensational scientific discovery. Researchers at the US National Center for Atmospheric Research and the University of Colorado were able

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Jonathan Sacks – The Birth of History – VAERA

Jonathan Sacks – The Birth of History – VAERA The parsha of Vaera begins with some fateful words. It would not be too much to say that they changed the course of history, because they changed the way people thought about history. In fact, they

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Jonathan Sacks – The Challenge of Jewish Leadership SHEMOT

Jonathan Sacks – The Challenge of Jewish Leadership SHEMOT I used to say, only half in jest, that the proof that Moses was the greatest of the prophets was that when God asked him to lead the Jewish people, he refused four times: Who am I to lead? T

Health & Fitness | Body & Torah

Many of us deal with undesevered guilt/shame when we are good to ourselves. We may do the basics re hygeine and cleanliness, even look fit, stay fit but there is more to care for our body, mind, and soul.
Hashem wants us to care for ourselves. A gift for me was when i was told the best prayer re our lives, health is when we pray for ourselves. i had been taught otherwise, and felt guilty or selfish if i prayed for myself. So if you deal with some of these issues, i hope what i wrote and the text from Sefaria helps.

פרשת מסעי, In this portion the Torah discusses matters that help perfect one's body. The body viewed as the sheath of the soul, has also been created in the image of G'd (Genesis 1,27). This is why if someone kills another creature created in G'd's image he himself will be killed as an appropriate act of retribution. By his deed he has separated a soul from its body, (sheath), hence his own soul will be separated from its body
From Sefaria

A source sheet created with Sefaria's Source Sheet Builder

Body Image by Rabbi Marina Yergin

RABBI ELYSE GOLDSTEIN [Author, director of Kollel- The Adult Centre for Liberal Jewish Learning, Toronto, ON]... Shmirat HaGuf - taking care of your body - is viewed as a spiritual as well as a physical act. The wellbeing of the body has to be maintained as the vessel of the soul, the repository of that which most closely connects us with God. Our body is a gift from God, a divine creation which is to be respected, cherished and cared for as long as we are in this world. With awareness of Shmirat HaGuf, even the simplest activities, such as eating, walking, or washing one’s hands, become acts of holiness.

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Jonathan Sacks – Grandparents VAYECHI

Jonathan Sacks – Grandparents VAYECHI Every Friday night we re-enact one of the most moving scenes in the book of Bereishit. Jacob, reunited with Joseph, is ill. Joseph comes to visit him, bring bringing with him his two sons, Manasseh and Ephraim.

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Jonathan Sacks – The Space Between VAYIGASH

Jonathan Sacks – The Space Between VAYIGASH “What do porcupines do in winter?” asked Schopenhauer. “How can they stay warm?” If they come too close to one another, they will injure each other. If they stay too far apart, they will freeze. Li

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Jonathan Sacks – Sibling Rivalry MIKKETZ

Jonathan Sacks – Sibling Rivalry MIKKETZ Listen to these words that are among the most fateful and reverberating in all of Jewish history: Joseph recognised his brothers, but they did not recognise him. Gen. 42:8 The Torah is a deep book. We make a

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Jonathan Sacks – Speech Therapy VAYESHEV

Jonathan Sacks – Speech Therapy VAYESHEV From Vayeshev to the end of the book of Bereishit we read the story of Joseph and his brothers. From the very beginning we are plunged into a drama of sibling rivalry that seems destined to end in tragedy. Al

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Jonathan Sacks – Collective Responsibility VAYISHLACH

Jonathan Sacks – Collective Responsibility VAYISHLACH By any standards it was a shocking episode. Jacob had settled on the outskirts of the town of Shechem, ruled by Hamor. Dina, Jacob’s daughter, goes out to see the town. Shechem, Hamor’s son,

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Jonathan Sacks – Why Did Isaac Love Esau? TOLDOT

Jonathan Sacks – Why Did Isaac Love Esau? TOLDOT   Even before they were born, Jacob and Esau struggled in the womb. They were destined, it seems, to be eternal adversaries. Not only were they were different in character and appearance. They al

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Jonathan Sacks – Abraham: A Life of Faith CHAYEI SARAH

Jonathan Sacks – Abraham: A Life of Faith CHAYEI SARAH Abraham, the Sages were convinced, was a greater religious hero than Noah. We hear this in the famous dispute among the Sages about the phrase that Noah was “perfect in his generations,” mea

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Jonathan Sacks – The Binding of Isaac: A New Interpretation

Jonathan Sacks – The Binding of Isaac: A New Interpretation   It is the hardest passage of all, one that seems to defy understanding. Abraham and Sarah have waited years for a child. God has promised them repeatedly that they would have many de

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Prof. Sam Lehman-Wilzig: Israel and its Arab Neighbors in Light of the Book of Genesis

Prof. Sam Lehman-Wilzig: Israel and its Arab Neighbors in Light of the Book of Genesis Jews and Muslims consider the Bible to be a major source for teaching personal and national behavior. Unfortunately, Israeli Jews and their Muslim neighbors aren’t re

Miscellaneous | Judaism

It Is Time to Declare the Truth About the Jews and Israel

The Torah grants Israel to the Jews and obligates them to protect her people

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Jonathan Sacks – On Being a Jewish Parent LECH LECHA

Jonathan Sacks – On Being a Jewish Parent LECH LECHA The most influential man who ever lived does not appear on any list I have seen of the hundred most influential men who ever lived. He ruled no empire, commanded no army, engaged in no spectacular

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THE LIGHTS OF RAV KOOK: SUKKOT JOY AND UNIVERSALITY

THE LIGHTS OF RAV KOOK: SUKKOT JOY AND UNIVERSALITY THE LIGHTS OF RAV KOOK: SUKKOT JOY AND UNIVERSALITY “Radiant is the world soul, Full of splendor and beauty, Full of life,  Of souls hidden, Of treasures of the holy spirit, Of fountains of strength,

Miscellaneous | Judaism

What Is Sukkot?

Sukkot is a Jewish holiday celebrated by taking off work, celebrating in a hut, and waving unusual bouquets. This video will give you the whole story.

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Jonathan Sacks – The Spirituality of Song HA’AZINU

Jonathan Sacks – The Spirituality of Song HA’AZINU With Ha’azinu we climb to one of the peaks of Jewish spirituality. For a month Moses had taught the people. He had told them their history and destiny, and the laws that would make theirs a

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RAV KOOK ON YOM HAKIPPURIM: THE DAY OF AT-ONE-MENT

RAV KOOK ON YOM HAKIPPURIM: THE DAY OF AT-ONE-MENT RAV KOOK ON YOM HAKIPPURIM: THE DAY OF AT-ONE-MENT “In the depths of the human soul the voice of God calls ceaselessly. The tumult of life can confuse the person so that most of the time they will not h

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RAV KOOK ON ROSH HASHANA: RENEWING THE POWER OF RENEWAL

RAV KOOK ON ROSH HASHANA: RENEWING THE POWER OF RENEWAL  We are beginning the 5784’th year of our human historical experience. Our personal and collective behavior has resulted in a planetary existence that has much good and much bad, many blessings an

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Prof. Sam Lehman-Wilzig – The Time has Arrived for the Fast of Yitzchak (instead of Gedaliah)

Prof. Sam Lehman-Wilzig – The Time has Arrived for the Fast of Yitzchak (instead of Gedaliah) The day after Rosh Hashana, the Jewish calendar commemorates the Fast of Gedaliah. Yet, how many Jews know anything about who he was or why we have a Fasti

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Jonathan Sacks z”l – To Renew our Days NITZAVIM, VAYELECH

Jonathan Sacks z”l – To Renew our Days NITZAVIM, VAYELECH The moment had come. Moses was about to die. He had seen his sister Miriam and brother Aaron pre-decease him. He had prayed to God – not to live forever, not even to live longer, but

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Jonathan Sacks z”l – We Are What We Remember KI TAVO

Jonathan Sacks z”l – We Are What We Remember KI TAVO One reason religion has survived in the modern world despite four centuries of secularisation is that it answers the three questions every reflective human being will ask at some time in his

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Jonathan Sacks z”l – The Limits of Love KI TEITSE

Jonathan Sacks z”l – The Limits of Love KI TEITSE In a parsha laden with laws, one in particular is full of fascination. Here it is: If a man has two wives, one loved, the other unloved [senuah, literally “hated”], and both the loved an

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Jonathan Sacks z”l – The Greatness of Humility SHOFTIM

Jonathan Sacks z”l – The Greatness of Humility SHOFTIM At a dinner to celebrate the work of a communal leader, the guest speaker paid tribute to his many qualities: his dedication, hard work, and foresight. As he sat down, the leader leaned ov

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RAV KOOK ON PARSHAT RE’EH-HOW TO BE BLESSEDLY HAPPY

RAV KOOK ON PARSHAT RE’EH-HOW TO BE BLESSEDLY HAPPY RAV KOOK ON PARSHAT RE’EH-HOW TO BE BLESSEDLY HAPPY    “Behold- I am placing before you a ברכה-blessing and a קללה-curse. The blessing will come if you obey the directives of YHVH, your E

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Jonathan Sacks z”l – The Deep Power of Joy – RE’EH

Jonathan Sacks z”l – The Deep Power of Joy – RE’EH On 14 October 1663, the famous diarist Samuel Pepys paid a visit to the Spanish and Portuguese Synagogue in Creechurch Lane in the city of London. Jews had been exiled from England

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Jonathan Sacks z”l – The Spirituality of Listening – EIKEV

Jonathan Sacks z”l – The Spirituality of Listening – EIKEV It is one of the most important words in Judaism, and also one of the least understood. Its two most famous occurrences are in last week’s parsha and this week’s: “Hear O

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RAV KOOK ON PARSHAT EKEV: HOW TO FEAR HASHEM FEARLESSLY

RAV KOOK ON PARSHAT EKEV: HOW TO FEAR HASHEM FEARLESSLY In Parshat Ekev- Moshe Rabbenu continues to recount the tumultuous history of Israel and the significant contribution of the Torah’s ‘mitzvot-commandments’ in directing Israel in the path of go

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HARAV KOOK ON TISHA B’AV: REPAIRING THE WORLD WITH THE POWER OF UNCONDITIONAL LOVE

HARAV KOOK ON TISHA B’AV: REPAIRING THE WORLD WITH THE POWER OF UNCONDITIONAL LOVE “If we  destroyed [the second Temple], and the world with us, through needless hatred, we will rebuild [the third Temple] and the world with us, through unconditional

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Jonathan Sacks – Seven Principles for Maintaining Jewish Peoplehood

Jonathan Sacks – Seven Principles for Maintaining Jewish Peoplehood “Hope rebuilds the ruins of Jerusalem. The Jewish people kept hope alive and hope kept the Jewish people alive. That is the message of Tisha B’Av.” ~ Rabbi Sacks    

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Jonathan Sacks – To 120: Growing Old, Staying Young DEVARIM

Jonathan Sacks – To 120: Growing Old, Staying Young DEVARIM On 27 March 2012, to celebrate the diamond jubilee of the Queen, an ancient ceremony took place at Buckingham Palace. A number of institutions presented Loyal Addresses to the Queen, thanki

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RAV KOOK ON ISRAEL’S RESPONSIBILITY TO UNITE THE WORLD:PARSHAT MASEI

RAV KOOK ON ISRAEL’S RESPONSIBILITY TO UNITE THE WORLD:PARSHAT MASEI What does Torat HaRav Kook teach us about Parshat Masei’s significance for our day? The Parsha recounts the Children of Israel’s 42 step 40 year journey from the enslavement of Egy

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Jonathan Sacks – The Complexity of Human Rights MATOT-MASEI

Jonathan Sacks – The Complexity of Human Rights MATOT-MASEI The book of Bamidbar comes to a close that is very strange indeed. Earlier in the parsha of Pinchas we read of how the five daughters of Tzelophehad came to Moses with a claim based on just

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RAV KOOK ON PARSHAT PINCHAS: HOW TO BE A HOLY ZEALOT

RAV KOOK ON PARSHAT PINCHAS: HOW TO BE A HOLY ZEALOT Parshat Pinchas begins by honoring Aaron’s grandson, Pinchas  for his zealous and immediate response to the Israelite male sinning in public view with the Midianite female. “When Pinchas, son of El

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Jonathan Sacks – Moshe’s Disappointment – PINCHAS

Jonathan Sacks – Moshe’s Disappointment – PINCHAS Hidden beneath the surface of parshat Pinchas, the Sages uncovered a story of great poignancy. Moses, having seen his sister and brother die, knew that his own time on earth was coming to a c

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Jonathan Sacks z”l – What Makes God Laugh – BALAK

Jonathan Sacks z”l – What Makes God Laugh – BALAK There is an old saying that what makes God laugh is seeing our plans for the future.[1] However, if Tanach is our guide, what makes God laugh is human delusions of grandeur. From the van

Miscellaneous | Judaism

Judaism's Stance on Gender Is Clear, Despite Attempts To Rewrite Torah

Judaism teaches that G-d Created male and female so that they might partner with Him in creating a next generation.

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Rav Kook's Illuminated Torah Understanding on Moses's Fatal Error in Parshat Chukat

RAV KOOK ON MOSES’S FATAL ANGRY ERROR AT THE WATERS OF DISPUTATION AND WHAT WE MUST DO TO FIX IT RAV KOOK ON PARSHAT CHUKAT: In Parshat Chukat, we read: “The Israelites arrived at the wilderness of Zin on the first new moon, and the people stayed at K

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Jonathan Sacks z”l – Healing the Trauma of Loss CHUKAT

Jonathan Sacks z”l – Healing the Trauma of Loss CHUKAT It took me two years to recover from the death of my father, of blessed memory. To this day, almost twenty years later, I am not sure why. He did not die suddenly or young. He was well int

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PARSHAT KORACH: RAV KOOK ON the dangers of KORACHISM

PARSHAT KORACH: RAV KOOK ON the dangers of KORACHISM “Now Korach, son of Izhar son of Kohath son of Levi, betook himself, along with Dathan and Abiram sons of Eliab, and On son of Peleth—descendants of Reuben—to rise up against Moses, together with

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Jonathan Sacks z”l – Hierarchy and Politics: The Never-Ending Story KORACH

Jonathan Sacks z”l – Hierarchy and Politics: The Never-Ending Story KORACH It was a classic struggle for power. The only thing that made it different from the usual dramas of royal courts, parliamentary meetings, or corridors of power was that

Miscellaneous | Judaism

18 Facts About the “12 Spies”

Moses sent 12 spies to Canaan; 10 gave negative reports, causing 40 years of wandering.

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Rav Kook – ON “OVERCOMING SPYFULNESS” PARSHAT SHLACH

Rav Kook – ON “OVERCOMING SPYFULNESS” PARSHAT SHLACH “A world of empty chaos preceded the world of building. And light came out of the darkness- ‘And the Creator said ‘Let there be light’ ” (Notebook 3:87) And hence “Existence is ful

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Jonathan Sacks z”l – Two Kinds of Fear SHELACH LECHA

Jonathan Sacks z”l – Two Kinds of Fear SHELACH LECHA One of the most powerful addresses I ever heard was given by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, on this week’s parsha: the story of the spies. For me, it was nothing

Miscellaneous | Judaism

Who Made G-d? - The Classic Jewish Answer in Clear Modern English

The Creator of all boundaries is unbounded by any definition. Otherwise, He too would require a creator.

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Jonathan Sacks z”l – From Despair to Hope BEHA’ALOTECHA

Jonathan Sacks z”l – From Despair to Hope BEHA’ALOTECHA There have been times when one passage in this week’s parsha was, for me, little less than lifesaving. No leadership position is easy. Leading Jews is harder still. And spiritual

Miscellaneous | Judaism

How the Universe Came to Be: Torah and Science

Religion is often accused of explaining a scientific discovery after the
fact. But the record on how the universe came to
be presents a different sequence of events.

Miscellaneous | Judaism

10 Songs in Jewish History

The Midrash tells us that there are 10 songs of praise (shirot) in the history of our people, culminating with the song of the Final Redemption.

Miscellaneous | Judaism

What the 10 Plagues Teach Us About Dealing With Difficult People

Expressing anger not only hurts others but destroys the person who is expressing anger.

Miscellaneous | Judaism

Total Transformation: The Shema Prayer Meditation - Chabad

While the prayers preceding the Shema are important, it is the Shema prayer itself that transforms the animal soul into loving G‑d.

Miscellaneous | Judaism

What Is the Authentic Ancient Hebrew Alphabet? - Ketav Ivri vs. Ketav Ashurit

I recently read about some ancient writings that were in a
script called Proto-Hebrew, which the Jews supposedly used to write in before
the current Hebrew script.

Miscellaneous | Judaism

How Do Mezuzahs Work? - Chabad

How on earth does a parchment scroll with Hebrew inscriptions increase your personal safety? Here is how the great rabbis understood it.

Miscellaneous | Jewish Wisdom

How Much Is G-d Involved in Our Lives?

Our journey has value—not merely as a means to a greater end, but in and of itself.

Miscellaneous | Judaism

Jewish Wisdom: Joseph's Message - Vayigash

It was not enough for Jacob to discover that Joseph was still alive physically. He needed to hear that he was also alive spiritually.

Miscellaneous | Judaism

Antisemitism: Why the Jews?

Over the centuries, numerous “reasons” have been advanced to explain the phenomenon of Antisemitism. But perhaps there is no reason!

Miscellaneous | Judaism

Can There Be Judaism Without Torah?

Other than Torah observance, what can we teach the next generation to inspire them to stay Jewish?

Miscellaneous | Judaism

What Does Jacob’s Ladder Symbolize?

Jacob’s simple ladder foreshadows the trajectory of human development.

Miscellaneous | Jewish Wisdom

My Strategy for Avoiding Drowning in Stress

When I leave the ark of my morning prayers, it’s a beautiful world—one that I can work with and add light to.

Miscellaneous | Jewish Life

Torah scroll in memory of the million and a half children killed in the Holocaust

The woman whose three siblings were murdered in the Holocaust is going on a mission to memorialize them

Miscellaneous | Judaism

When Blessings Come Cloaked in Darkness

A distillation of the Rebbe's talk on Jewish indignation, 1966.

Miscellaneous | Judaism

Can You Travel Back in Time? Kind Of… - Parshah

One of the most powerful tools we humans possess is the ability to rewrite our own past by reframing the story.

Miscellaneous | Judaism

How Were the Priests Divided? - On the 24 Clans of Kohanim

The Torah dictates that the descendants of Aaron (the Kohanim) be separated from within the tribe of Levi and be prepared to serve in the Holy Temple (or Tabernacle).1

Miscellaneous | Judaism

Judaism: 14 Facts About the Book of Psalms

Psalms is a most beloved book, filled with prayers, praises, and prose. Compiled by David, it is an essential part of the Jewish Canon.

Miscellaneous | Judaism

Is There a Flawless Proof That Torah Is True?

Years ago I attended a seminar where we were presented with logical proofs that the Torah was delivered to us by Moses at Sinai. I was convinced and began a path towards complete Jewish observance.

Miscellaneous | Judaism

Understanding After Doing - The Daily Dose of Jewish Wisdom

At Sinai, we declared, “We will do and we will understand!”

Angels descended from heaven and placed two crowns upon our heads.

Miscellaneous | Jewish Wisdom

12 Women Who Impacted Torah Scholarship

Culled from the span of Jewish history, from the Talmudic era to pre-war Europe

Miscellaneous | Judaism

Why Did G-d Smite the Firstborn? - Parshah

Our job is to find the divine sparks hidden within each person, each object and each event, and let that shine.

History | Archeology

Has the location of Noah’s Ark finally been proven using 3D scans? - The Jerusalem Post

The Torah tells us that the Ark landed on the hills of Mt. Ararat, a dormant volcano near the east border of Turkey. The Durupinar site is approximately 30 km south of that mountain.

Miscellaneous | Judaism

Must One Honor Abusive Parents?

There are many kinds and levels of abuse, and different people can cope with and tolerate different situations and relationships.

Miscellaneous | Judaism

How Did the Mission of the Twelve Spies Go So Wrong?

Moses felt that the Israelites had no reason to fear the inhabitants, as they had all seen the great miracles wrought against the much more powerful Egyptians.

Miscellaneous | Judaism

13 Facts About Learning Torah - Mitzvahs & Traditions

Torah study occupies a central place in Jewish life, but how much do we really know about this activity?

Miscellaneous | Judaism

9 Facts You Should Know About Mount Sinai - Shavuot

Mount Sinai is where G‑d Himself descended and struck a deal with His chosen people.

Miscellaneous | Judaism

Torah Study: Does It Matter Which Words Rashi Quotes?

See how a nuance in a simple one-line Rashi can be examined, unpacked, and understood in an entirely new light.

Miscellaneous | Judaism

Is It Wrong to Like a Lot of Stuff? - Parshah

Is it OK to
enjoy a good shopping spree and to delight in yet another Amazon box at your
doorstep?

Miscellaneous | Judaism

Torah: What to Tell Yourself When Things Go Wrong

In the meantime, it’s dark, confusing, and difficult. That’s only because the process of getting to a deeper place can give space for negative consequences. But just around the bend is a time, a space that is even deeper and greater, that it will make thi

Miscellaneous | Judaism

Judaism: Perseverance Vs. Perfection - Vayigash

The Joseph-Judah relationship and the points at which their paths converge continue throughout history. From the sale of Joseph onward, Judah and Joseph constantly interact with each other, and their relationship continues in various forms. Here, in Parsh

Politics | Opinion

The Torah Versus the Left

Question: What book is the opposite of the left? Answer: the Torah. The Torah is the Hebrew name of the first five books of the Bible, the “Five Books of Moses.” The Torah is the foundation of the rest of the Bible and the rock on which both Judaism a

News | Israel & The Jewish Community

Join Us in Praying for (and Learning From) Rabbi Sacks

If you read Chabad.org, or if you follow the happenings of the Jewish world, it is virtually impossible for you not to have been touched by the writings, teachings or example of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, former chief rabbi of the British Commonwealth.

Miscellaneous | Judaism

Why Do Some Letters in the Torah Have ‘Crowns’?

Many of the letters are topped by
small spikes, called tagin or ketarim. Here is why.

Miscellaneous | Judaism

How Two-and-a-Half Tribes Ended Up East of the Jordan - Jewish History

Learn how Moses gave the land east of the Jordan to Reuben, Gad, and half of Manassah, on one condition.

Miscellaneous | Judaism

21 Talmud Facts Every Jew Should Know

The bulk of the Talmudic texts contain analysis of Biblical verses and Torah law, but it’s interspersed with everything from medical advice to stories, from folk sayings to fabric dying tips.

Miscellaneous | Judaism

Jewish History: Who Was Amram?

Amram, son of Kehot, led the Jewish people in
Egypt and fathered three of the greatest leaders in Jewish history.

Miscellaneous | Judaism

What Is Tikkun Olam? - What does Tikkun Olam mean, who came up with it, and how do I do it?

Tikkun Olam: In Jewish teachings, any activity that improves the world, bringing it closer to the harmonious state for which it was created.

Miscellaneous | Judaism

A Rift Extending Across History - Chassidic Masters - Parshah

From the rivalry between Leah and Rachel, through the animosity between Joseph and his brothers, the clash between Saul and David, the split between Judah and Israel, to the dual nature of the messianic redemption—a rift and twinship that extends across h

Politics | Judea & Samaria

Jews Celebrate EPIC Building Dedication in Hebron - Beit HaShalom

It finally happened! The Jews have moved into Beit HaShalom (House of Peace), the four-story residential complex purchased by Jews in Hebron.

Family & Parenting | Jewish People

The 92-Year-Old Woman Who Who Stole the Show at Israel's Independence Day Ceremony

Marie Nachmias went up on stage to light a torch for Israel Independence Day. She did not speak, did not quote anybody, but simply said a prayer.

Miscellaneous | Judaism

Why Does Judaism Forbid Tattoos?

This prohibition applies to all tattoos besides those made for medical purposes . . .

Miscellaneous | Judaism

The Ark of the Covenant Explained

A golden box containing the tablets with the Ten Commandments, the ark stood in the Holy of Holies, the Temple’s innermost sanctum.

Miscellaneous | Torah

Rabbi Sacks: Why The Revelation at Mount Sinai Was the Creation of Freedom | Parshat Yitro

A Torah scroll. Photo: RabbiSacks.org. The revelation at Mount Sinai — the central episode not only of parshat Yitro, but …

Miscellaneous | Judaism

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks: The Consolations of Mortality

Before any of the deaths are mentioned we read about the strange ritual of the red heifer, which purified people who had been in contact with death – the archetypal source of impurity. That ritual, often deemed incomprehensible, is in fact deeply symbol

Miscellaneous | Judaism

Faith and Friendship - Covenant & Conversation - Parshah

After all that had happened – the miracles, the exodus, the division of the sea, food from heaven, water from a rock, the revelation at Sinai and the covenant that went with it – the people, yet again, were complaining about the food. And not because

Miscellaneous | Judaism

May I Join a Protest on Shabbat? - Questions & Answers

While an action may be halachically permitted, it may not be in keeping with the spirit of Shabbat and is therefore avoided.

News | Israel & The Jewish Community

Modern Technology Unlocks Secrets of a Damaged Biblical Scroll - The New York Times

Experts using a computer imaging program have virtually unwrapped a charred ancient scroll and recovered a fragment of the authoritative text of the Hebrew Bible.

History | Culture

Who Stood at Sinai? | Jlife

According to A midrash, “Every Jew who ever was, and ever will be born, stood together at Sinai when the mountain smoked and trembled and G-d revealed the law to them.” We assume that meant men, women and children. But not everyone sees it that way.

History | Culture

How to Grow A Mensch | Jlife

How do we grow a mensch? Inspire a generation of mensches? The Torah responds unequivocally: through education. We pass Jewish teachings from generation to generation to perpetuate a legacy of derech eretz, the value system that is imbued with Torah and secular education along with personal growth, self-discovery and insight into human relationships; values that our parents, grandparents and great grandparents modeled for generations.

History | Culture

A Work of Ark | Jlife

A look at the arks that have held the Torah through the ages.

Miscellaneous | Judaism

Why Is the World Blind?

Too many times over the last many weeks I felt like shouting, “Wake up, world! Can’t you see the difference between the good guys and the bad ones? Are you blind?!”

Miscellaneous | Judaism

Parshat Truma: Giving of ourselves

A person who gives of his strengths or of his money gives mainly of himself.