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The Real Danger of “ September”

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The people of Israel have entered into the month of Elul and are preparing themselves for the introspection and soul searching of the Tishrei festivals. Yet around this land, dark clouds seem to be gathering. There is talk of massive uprisings and rioting by the Palestinians. Syria is dissolving into its different constituents and may … Read more

Parshat Teitzei

Parshat Teitzei

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Ki Teitzei (Deuteronomy 21:10-25:19) — The battles around us are intimately connected to the battle within us. The Shorashim Torah Study and Overview Guide. This Torah Portion returns to enumerate an array of differing commandments. In fact, this Torah portion includes seventy-four of the Torah’s 613 commandments. Why would Moshe interrupt his narrative of the … Read more

Justice and Trees

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Moshe Kempinski The beginning verses of the Torah portion of Shoftim become the clarion call for true justice amidst the people of Israel.” You shall not pervert justice; you shall not show favoritism, and you shall not take a bribe, for bribery blinds the eyes of the wise and perverts just words. “ Deuteronomy 16:19) … Read more

Parshat Shoftime

Parshat Shoftim

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Parshat Shoftim (Deuteronomy 16:18–21:9) — The struggle between thejudgment of the heavenly court and the final judgments of G-d. The Shorashim Torah Study and Overview Guide Moshe teaches the people of Israel to appoint judges and law-enforcement officers in every city. “Justice, justice shall you pursue,”That is to say that the important characteristics of a … Read more

Using One’s Eyes

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The portion of Re’eh begins with the words “Re’eh – See, I give you today a blessing and a curse (Deuteronomy 11:26). Of the five senses — sight, hearing, smell, taste, and touch — one would think that “sight” would be considered the lowest of all of them. All the others provide some measure of … Read more

Parshat Reeh

Parshat Re’eh

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Parshat Re’eh (Deuteronomy 11:26–16:17 — Demonstrates the power of vision and free choice. The Shorashim Torah Study and Overview Guide Moshe tells the people to use their power of sight and “see that I place before you today a blessing and a curse.” Why dose G-d tell them to use the power of sight if … Read more

An Attitude of Joy

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Our sages point to a similarity between two words in the Hebrew language that project very different messages and meaning. The word VaYehi Biyimei means ” And it was in the days of..”The other word, VeHaya means ” And it will be. ” It is the construction of these words that is most interesting.

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