In Parshas Beshalach, God frees the Jewish people from Egypt, and they travel towards the Yam Suf, the Sea of Reeds. The Torah [Shemos 13:18] describes the Jews as leaving Egypt “Chamushim.” What does this Hebrew term represent and what deeper ideas are hidden within
Rabbi Yehoshua Pffefer writes, “In Parashas Vayeishev we begin to learn about the importance of dreams. Yaakov Avinu, the Torah informs us, “kept the matter” of Yosef’s prophetic dreams, anticipating their future fulfillment. Ultimately, the dreams were realized when Yaakov and his sons were brought before Yosef, the
It was in the first month of the second year on the first of the month that the Mishkan was erected. (Shemos 40:17) The concept of sacrificial offerings may conjure up images of ancient, primitive cultures. Yet, when we read the Torah, the timeless guide for life, we are struck with the predominant emphasis it... Read more »
Throughout world history, the Jewish people have endured severe ongoing hate, persecution, exile, violence and genocide. Although in recent decades American Jews have not experienced much anti-Semitism, anti-Semitic incidents in the U.S. increased more than one-third in 2016 reflected by assaults, vandalism, and
In Parshas Shemos, God chooses Moshe Rabbeinu to become the leader of Klal Yisroel. The importance of leadership in government, business, and every facet of society cannot be overstated. The shelves of our bookstores
The Shabbos Project, when Jews worldwide will experience one complete Shabbos together, is this coming Shabbos – Parshas Vayeira, November 15-16, 2019. For more details see The Shabbos Project website here. Rabbis and educators around the globe
In Parshas Va’eira, God sends Moshe and Aaron to warn Pharaoh in advance of each of the first seven plagues to free Bnei Yisroel from Mitzraim. Since Pharaoh refused to send out the Jewish people after each of the first five plagues, God then withdrew Pharaoh’s free will and sent the
Everyone is curious and interested to know about the nature of the afterlife and if it even exists at all. If people were sure that there is life after their existence in this world, then many individuals would behave quite differently. And if it could be proved that there is absolutely no existence beyond this world, then many
The moral questions regarding euthanasia and abortion are very sensitive issues which are discussed by all segments of society today. Much has already written about these topics in Jewish law. Therefore, the purpose here is not to deal with the Jewish legal issues themselves, but, rather, to give the general Jewish
According to most reports, more than 50% of people with illnesses today seek out medications and physicians that are not conventional. These include medicines that are called “alternative,” “complementary,” “integrative,” or “holistic.” The alternative therapies include acupuncture,
