This week Israeli President Isaac Herzog visited with USA President Joe Biden in the Oval Office. This honor is usually reserved for the Prime Minister of a newly elected government of Israel who is the true political leader of the State of Israel. The President of Israel is a ceremonial position that is supposed to […]
Terrorizing the Terrorists
Last week we learned in the Torah portion Balak, about how the Midianites seduced the Jewish men and caused them to sin with the women of Moab and worship their idol Peor. In the end, the Princess of the Midianites, Cozbi, had relations with Zimri, head of the Tribe of Shimon in front of the […]
What is Tiberias Biblical Name? Should we use it?
Shalom from Tiberias, Tiveryah, Rakkath, Hammath! Recently I wished my FB Friends “Shabbat Shalom from Tiberias, Israel!” Pretty quickly I received a message in reply, “Good Shabbos to RAKKAH, Israel… the more Rakkah is used, more people will acknowledge the truth and use this REAL NAME [for Tiberias] = RAKKAH, Israel.” (sic) Well I appreciate […]
Judah means “Thanksgiving”
Our Matriarch Leah not only taught us about “Thanksgiving” but she understood that the essence of the of the mission of the 12 tribes would depend on “acknowledging that everything comes from God — there is no other power or source of blessing other than God. There is no real word in Hebrew for “thank.” […]
“My Son, My Firstborn… is Israel!”
This week’s Torah portion begins the book of Exodus (Shemot) The book of Genesis details the beginnings of the Family of Israel. In Exodus, we will be forged into the Nation of Israel, after passing through the iron furnace of Egyptian slavery. At the “burning bush” the Almighty reaches out to Moshe and explains to […]
The Torah’s View on Marriage
The Torah Model for Marriage This is a presentation of the Jewish approach to marriage and sexuality, highlighting the benefits of entering into a monogamous heterosexual relationship for life, without having premarital relations.
Keep Shabbat or Die???!!!
We have a saying… “More than the Jewish People have kept the Shabbat, the Shabbat has kept the Jews…” Every week, in an unbroken chain for over 3,300 years, Torah Observant Jews around the world have been keeping Shabbat. It is a beautiful experience to take a day off, and sanctify the Shabbat by reciting […]
Barriers to Freedom
Freedom from physical slavery is the first exodus. Then comes freedom from psychological enslavement. Passover shows us how to break lose from our mental chains.
An Eye for and Eye? Really?
Misunderstanding and its Consequences This week’s Torah portion, Mishpatim (Exodus 21:1-124:18) has one of the most often quoted yet misunderstood verses in the Torah. And this misunderstanding has had serious consequences about how non-Jews view the “Old Testament” and Orthodox Judaism.
What’s in a Name anyway?
This week’s Torah portion, Vaera (Exodus 6:2-9:35) begins in a very confusing way… וַיְדַבֵּר אֱלֹקים אֶל־מֹשֶׁה וַיֹּאמֶר אֵלָיו אֲנִי יְקוָק׃ And God (ELO-HIM) spoke to Moses and said to him, “I am YHVH“. Did you catch that? God, whom the Torah calls ELO-HIM, is speaking to Moses, and telling Moses that He, ELO-HIM is YHVH […]