#torah
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.
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Jonathan Sacks – Spirits in a Material World וארא
Jonathan Sacks – Spirits in a Material World וארא Rabbi Sacks Web Site The Torah sometimes says something of fundamental importance in what seems like a minor and incidental comment. There is a fine example of this near the beginning of this par
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.
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Jonathan Sacks -Turning Curses into Blessings שמות
Jonathan Sacks -Turning Curses into Blessings שמות Genesis ends on an almost serene note. Jacob has found his long lost son. The family has been reunited. Joseph has forgiven his brothers. Under his protection and influence the family has settled in G
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.
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RAV KOOK ON CHANUKAH: KINDLING THE INDIVIDUAL AND UNIVERSAL LIGHT
RAV KOOK ON CHANUKAH: KINDLING THE INDIVIDUAL AND UNIVERSAL LIGHT The people of Israel are lighting the eight lights of Chanukah everywhere. The Talmud recounts the original disagreement between the schools of Shammai and Hillel about the proper order of
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RAVKOOK ON PARSHAT VAYESHEV: THE DIVINE COINCIDENCES THAT MOVE HISTORY TO ABSOLUTE GOOD
RAVKOOK ON PARSHAT VAYESHEV: THE DIVINE COINCIDENCES THAT MOVE HISTORY TO ABSOLUTE GOOD “אֵ֣לֶּה ׀ תֹּלְד֣וֹת יַעֲקֹ֗ב יוֹסֵ֞ף-These are the chronicles of Yaakov:Yosef…” (Breishit 37:2) Thus the Torah begi
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RAV KOOK ON PARSHAT VAYISHLACH:RESTORING THE BROTHERLY LOVE OF YAAKOV AND ESAU
RAV KOOK ON PARSHAT VAYISHLACH:RESTORING THE BROTHERLY LOVE OF YAAKOV AND ESAU “וַיִּשְׁלַ֨ח יַעֲקֹ֤ב מַלְאָכִים֙ לְפָנָ֔יו אֶל־עֵשָׂ֖ו אָחִ֑יו אַ֥רְצָה שֵׂעִ֖יר שְׂדֵ֥ה א
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
6 Lessons From Jacob’s Wrestling With the Angel
We also wrestle with spiritual doubts and conflicts.
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RAV KOOK ON PARSHAT VAYETZEH: THE HOUSE OF JACOB’S UNIVERSAL MISSION
RAV KOOK ON PARSHAT VAYETZEH: THE HOUSE OF JACOB’S UNIVERSAL MISSION “וַיֵּצֵ֥א יַעֲקֹ֖ב מִבְּאֵ֣ר שָׁ֑בַע וַיֵּ֖לֶךְ חָרָֽנָה׃ Jacob left Beer-sheba, and set out for Haran” (Breishit 28:10) An
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.
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Jonathan Sacks z”l – A Father’s Love – Toldot
Jonathan Sacks z”l – A Father’s Love – Toldot In this week’s sedra, we see Isaac as the parent of two very different sons. “The boys grew up. Esau became a skilful hunter, a man of the outdoors; but Jacob was a mild man who stayed
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Rav. Sacks z”l Beginning the Journey & Rav Kook z”l Becoming Heroes of Kindness
Rav. Sacks z”l Beginning the Journey & Rav Kook z”l Becoming Heroes of Kindness Rabbi Jonathan Sacks z”l Jonathan Sacks z”l – Beginning the Journey Chayei Sarah 5781 Rabbi Sacks z’’l had prepared a full year of Cove
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RAV KOOK ON PARSHAT VAYERA: PERFECTING THE WORLD DOING RIGHTEOUSNESS AND JUSTICE
RAV KOOK ON PARSHAT VAYERA: PERFECTING THE WORLD DOING RIGHTEOUSNESS AND JUSTICE וְאַ֨בְרָהָ֔ם הָי֧וֹ יִֽהְיֶ֛ה לְג֥וֹי גָּד֖וֹל וְעָצ֑וּם וְנִ֨בְרְכוּ־ב֔וֹ כֹּ֖ל גּוֹיֵ֥י
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RAV KOOK ON LECH LECHA: THE UNIVERSAL AVRAHAM AND ISRAEL
RAV KOOK ON LECH LECHA: THE UNIVERSAL AVRAHAM AND ISRAEL RAV KOOK ON LECH LECHA: THE UNIVERSAL AVRAHAM AND ISRAEL ויֹּ֤אמֶר ה֙’ אֶל־אַבְרָ֔ם לֶךְ־לְךָ֛ מֵאַרְצְךָ֥ וּמִמּֽוֹלַדְתְּךָ֖ וּמ
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.
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Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z”l – How This Jewish Holiday Decodes the Secret to Happiness
Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z”l – How This Jewish Holiday Decodes the Secret to Happiness ABOUT JLI Serving learning centers in over 1,800 communities and on the internet, the Rohr Jewish Learning Institute (JLI) is the world’s pree
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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 | 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
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RAV KOOK ON ROSH HASHANA: RENEWING THE POWER OF RENEWAL
RAV KOOK ON ROSH HASHANA: RENEWING THE POWER OF RENEWAL RAV KOOK ON ROSH HASHANA: RENEWING THE POWER OF RENEWAL We are beginning the 5783’rd year of our human historical experience. Our personal and collective behavior has resulted in a planetary exis
Miscellaneous | Judaism
When Blessings Come Cloaked in Darkness
A distillation of the Rebbe's talk on Jewish indignation, 1966.
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Jonathan Sacks z”l – To Lead is to Listen Eikev 5781
Jonathan Sacks z”l – To Lead is to Listen Eikev 5781 “If only you would listen to these laws…” (Deut. 7:12). These words with which our parsha begins contain a verb that is a fundamental motif of the book of Devarim. The verb is sh-m-a. It occ
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.
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MASEI-Rabbi Sacks: Retribution and Revenge – Rav Kook: ISRAEL’S RESPONSIBILITY TO UNITE THE WORLD
MASEI-Rabbi Sacks: Retribution and Revenge – Rav Kook: ISRAEL’S RESPONSIBILITY TO UNITE THE WORLD Rabbi Sacks: Retribution and Revenge Near the end of the book of Bamidbar, we encounter the law of the cities of refuge: three cities to the east of
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
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PARSHAT PINCHAS: RAV KOOK ON HOW TO BE A HOLY ZEALOT.
PARSHAT PINCHAS: RAV KOOK ON 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 E
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.
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PARSHAT CHUKAT: RAV KOOK ON MOSES’S FATAL ANGRY ERROR AT THE WATERS OF DISPUTATION AND WHAT WE MUST DO TO FIX IT
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
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PARSHAT KORACH: RAV KOOK ON ‘KORACH INTERNATIONAL’
PARSHAT KORACH: RAV KOOK ON ‘KORACH INTERNATIONAL’ “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 wit
Miscellaneous | Judaism
Moses vs. the Gaslighter - Guest Columnists - Parshah
The people in the desert were being gaslit, and big time.
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PARSHAT SHLACH: RAV KOOK ON “OVERCOMING SPYFULNESS”
PARSHAT SHLACH: RAV KOOK ON “OVERCOMING SPYFULNESS” “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 full of li
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Shavuot: Rav Kook On Why The Creator Spoke To Israel
Shavuot: Rav Kook On Why The Creator Spoke To Israel “Anochi/I Am YHVH Your Elohim Who has taken you out of the narrow land of Egypt, from the house of slavery.” (Shmot 20:2) Thus begins the most extraordinary moment in world history. The Creator of
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RAV KOOK ON JERUSALEM AS THE GATEWAY TO EDEN
RAV KOOK ON JERUSALEM AS THE GATEWAY TO EDEN Torat HaRav Kook In Honor of Yom Yerushalayim/Jerusalem Day “Yerushalayim, and Zion in particular, is a teaching about the return of humankind to its highest status -to the point that all the nations who divi
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.
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Jonathan Sacks z”l – From Priest to People: Kedoshim
Jonathan Sacks z”l – From Priest to People: Kedoshim My wife and I had the blessing to have met Rabbi Sacks z”l with his wife while we were walking on the Promanade in Tel Aviv a number of years ago. We met and introduced ourselves to th
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Jonathan Sacks z”l covenant and conversations: Not All as it Seems
Jonathan Sacks z”l covenant and conversations: Not All as it Seems Excerpt from the book of Leviticus weekly reading: from Shemini We err if we think of God as capricious, jealous, angry: a myth spread by early Christianity in an attempt to define itsel
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Jonathan Sacks z”l – Fire: Holy and Unholy Shemini
Jonathan Sacks z”l – Fire: Holy and Unholy Shemini The shock is immense. For several weeks and many chapters – the longest prelude in the Torah – we have read of the preparations for the moment at which God would bring His Presence to rest
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Jonathan Sacks z”l – Violence and the Sacred (TZAV)
The Rabbi Sacks Legacy Trust · Violence and the Sacred(Rabbi Sacks on Tzav, Covenant & Conversation) Jonathan Sacks z”l – Violence and the Sacred (TZAV) Why sacrifices? To be sure, they have not been part of the life of Judaism since t
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Jonathan Sacks z”l – Why Do We Sacrifice? Vayikra-5782
Jonathan Sacks z”l – Why Do We Sacrifice? Vayikra-5782 The laws of sacrifices that dominate the early chapters of the Book of Leviticus are among the hardest in the Torah to relate to in the present. It has been almost two thousand years since
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RAV KOOK SAYS WE MUST DO IMMEDIATELY TO FIX THE WORLD: STEP 3-DEVELOP UNIVERSAL CONSCIOUSNESS
RAV KOOK SAYS WE MUST DO IMMEDIATELY TO FIX THE WORLD: STEP 3-DEVELOP UNIVERSAL CONSCIOUSNESS We must repair this world that we have broken and are breaking. Rav Avraham Yitzchak HaCohen Kook wrote his masterwork “Orot HaTshuva-The Lights of Return/Repa
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WHAT RAV KOOK SAYS WE MUST DO IMMEDIATELY TO FIX THE WORLD: Step 2- FIX FAITH, REFINE RELIGION
WHAT RAV KOOK SAYS WE MUST DO IMMEDIATELY TO FIX THE WORLD: Step 2- FIX FAITH, REFINE RELIGION The suffering of human beings and other living species is immense. Disease, war and violence everywhere. We are spoiling and destroying the world. We must stop
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RAV KOOK ON TETZAVEH: HOW TO ILLUMINATE EXISTENCE
RAV KOOK ON TETZAVEH: HOW TO ILLUMINATE EXISTENCE וְאַתָּ֞ה תְּצַוֶּ֣ה ׀ אֶת־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֗ל וְיִקְח֨וּ אֵלֶ֜יךָ שֶׁ֣מֶן זַ֥יִת זָ֛ךְ כָּתִ֖ית לַמָּא֑וֹר
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RAV KOOK’S ILLUMINATED GUIDE TO ENLIGHTENMENT: Step 1- A CALL TO HIGHER CONTEMPLATION
RAV KOOK’S ILLUMINATED GUIDE TO ENLIGHTENMENT: Step 1- A CALL TO HIGHER CONTEMPLATION “Radiant is the world soul, full of splendor and beauty, full of life…. Proudly I ascend to the heights of the world soul That gives life to the universe. How maje
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RAV KOOK ON MISHPATIM: THE ISRAELITE WAY OF LIVING LAW
RAV KOOK ON MISHPATIM: THE ISRAELITE WAY OF LIVING LAW “וְאֵ֨לֶּה֙ הַמִּשְׁפָּטִ֔ים אֲשֶׁ֥ר תָּשִׂ֖ים לִפְנֵיהֶֽם:-And these are the laws that you will place before them” (Exodus 21:1) The Children
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.
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RAV KOOK ON PARSHAT CHAYEI SARAH: BECOMING HEROES OF KINDNESS
RAV KOOK ON PARSHAT CHAYEI SARAH: BECOMING HEROES OF KINDNESS Parshat Chayei Sarah begins with the passing of Sarah Imenu and documents the transition from the generation of Avraham and Sarah to Yitzchak and Rivkah. Rabbi Avraham Yitzchak HaCohen Kook Z
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RAV KOOK ON PARSHAT VAYERA: PERFECTING THE WORLD DOING RIGHTEOUSNESS AND JUSTICE
RAV KOOK ON PARSHAT VAYERA: PERFECTING THE WORLD DOING RIGHTEOUSNESS AND JUSTICE וְאַ֨בְרָהָ֔ם הָי֧וֹ יִֽהְיֶ֛ה לְג֥וֹי גָּד֖וֹל וְעָצ֑וּם וְנִ֨בְרְכוּ־ב֔וֹ כֹּ֖ל גּוֹיֵ֥י
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RAV KOOK ON PARSHAT NOACH
RAV KOOK ON PARSHAT NOACH “אֵ֚לֶּה תּוֹלְדֹ֣ת נֹ֔חַ נֹ֗חַ אִ֥ישׁ צַדִּ֛יק תָּמִ֥ים הָיָ֖ה בְּדֹֽרֹתָ֑יו אֶת־הָֽאֱלֹהִ֖ים הִֽתְהַלֶּךְ־נֹֽחַ׃” “T
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
The End of Torah - From the Chassidic Masters - Parshah
What did Moses accomplish by shattering the tablets?
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Jonathan Sacks z”l – A Leader’s Call to Responsibility Ha’azinu 5782
Jonathan Sacks z”l – A Leader’s Call to Responsibility Ha’azinu 5782 Rabbi Sacks zt’’l had prepared a full year of Covenant & Conversation for 5781, based on his book Lessons in Leadership. The Rabbi Sacks Legacy Trust will continue t
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Jonathan Sacks Z”l – Consensus vs. Command? Vayelech 5782
Jonathan Sacks Z”l – Consensus vs. Command? Vayelech 5782 What do you say to your successor? What advice do you give them? Vayelech is the place to look for the answer, because it is here that Moses finally handed the reins over to Joshua, a
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Jonathan Sacks Z”l – Defeating Death Nitzavim 5781
Jonathan Sacks Z”l – Defeating Death Nitzavim 5781 Only now, reaching Nitzavim, can we begin to get a sense of the vast, world-changing project at the heart of the Divine-human encounter that took place in the lifetime of Moses and the birth
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Jonathan Sacks z”l – A Nation of Storytellers Ki Tavo 5781
Jonathan Sacks z”l – A Nation of Storytellers Ki Tavo 5781 Howard Gardner, professor of education and psychology at Harvard University, is one of the great minds of our time. He is best known for his theory of “multiple intelligences,” the
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ELUL-TORAT HARAV KOOK ON ‘TSHUVA/RETURN’
ELUL-TORAT HARAV KOOK ON ‘TSHUVA/RETURN’ Rav. Kook “When one forgets the essence of one’s own soul, when one distracts their mind from attending to the substantive content of their own inner life, everything becomes confused and uncertain. The pr
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Jonathan Sacks z”l – Against Hate Ki Teitse 5781
Jonathan Sacks z”l – Against Hate Ki Teitse 5781 Ki Teitse contains more laws than any other parsha in the Torah, and it is possible to be overwhelmed by this embarrass de richesse of detail. One verse, however, stands out by its sheer count
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Jonathan Sacks z”l – Learning and Leadership Shoftim 5781
Jonathan Sacks z”l – Learning and Leadership Shoftim 5781 The parsha of Shoftim is the classic source of the three types of leadership in Judaism, called by the Sages the “three crowns”: of priesthood, kingship and Torah.[1] This is the
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PARSHAT RE’EH: RAV KOOK ON ‘HOW TO BE HAPPY’
PARSHAT RE’EH: RAV KOOK ON ‘HOW TO BE HAPPY’ The choice is ours: “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 Elohim, which I am prescribing to you t
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Jonathan Sacks z”l – Defining Reality Re’eh 5781
Jonathan Sacks z”l – Defining Reality Re’eh 5781 One of the gifts of great leaders, and one from which each of us can learn, is that they frame reality for the group. They define its situation. They specify its aims. They articulate its
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Jonathan Sacks z”l – To Lead is to Listen Eikev 5781
Jonathan Sacks z”l – To Lead is to Listen Eikev 5781 “If only you would listen to these laws…” (Deut. 7:12). These words with which our parsha begins contain a verb that is a fundamental motif of the book of Devarim. The verb is sh-m-a
News | News
PARSHAT EKEV: RAV KOOK ON ‘FEARING GOD FEARLESSLY’
PARSHAT EKEV: RAV KOOK ON ‘FEARING GOD FEARLESSLY’ www.haorot.com 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
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Jonathan Sacks z”l – The Fewest of All Peoples Va’etchanan 5781
Jonathan Sacks z”l – The Fewest of All Peoples Va’etchanan 5781 Buried inconspicuously in this week’s parsha is a short sentence with explosive potential, causing us to think again about both the nature of Jewish history and the Jewish tas
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Jonathan Sacks z”l – The Leader as Teacher Devarim 5781
Jonathan Sacks z”l – The Leader as Teacher Devarim 5781 It was one of the great moments of personal transformation, and it changed not only Moses but our very conception of leadership itself. By the end of the book of Bamidbar, Moses’ career
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Jonathan Sacks z”l – Conflict Resolution Matot-Masei 5781
Jonathan Sacks z”l – Conflict Resolution Matot-Masei 5781 One of the hardest tasks of any leader – from Prime Ministers to parents – is conflict resolution. Yet it is also the most vital. Where there is leadership, there is long-term cohes
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Jonathan Sacks z”l – Lessons of a Leader Pinchas 5781
Jonathan Sacks z”l – Lessons of a Leader Pinchas 5781 The parsha of Pinchas contains a masterclass on leadership, as Moses confronts his own mortality and asks God to appoint a successor. The great leaders care about succession. In parshat Cha
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Jonathan Sacks z”l – Leadership and Loyalty Balak 5781
Jonathan Sacks z”l – Leadership and Loyalty Balak 5781 Rabbi Sacks zt’’l had prepared a full year of Covenant & Conversation for 5781, based on his book Lessons in Leadership. The Rabbi Sacks Legacy Trust will continue to distribute these
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
Judaism: What Does ‘Eye for an Eye’ Really Mean?
Does Torah want us to poke out the eye of an eye-poker?
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.
News | Jewish Community
How ‘Torah Breaks’ Help One COVID Nurse Draw Strength and Calm in Chaos
Long Island cardiology assistant Elisheva Gilman-Smith on coping with crisis
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.
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.
