The world through the lens of Torah
Shalom from Tiveryah! US President Biden announced a Student Loan forgiveness plan which has stirred up quite a storm in America. There are passionate supporters for the program, and passionate opinions against. Economic repercussions as well as moral and ethical issues are being argued. As an Israeli, I don’t have a horse in this race, […]
According to the US Constitution, a candidate for President (and Vice President) must be a “natural born citizen.” But the constitution does not define the term. So what did the the drafters of the Constitution have in mind? And did the Torah’s requirements for eligibility to be the King of Israel influence their decision? Does […]
Motzei Shabbat – Saturday night is a time many residents and tourists choose to visit the Old City of Jerusalem and pray at the Western Wall. Saturday night, August 13 2022, as Jewish families were boarding a public bus just outside the Old City gate near the Western Wall, a local Arab terrorist opened fire […]
Since last week’s newsletter there were two major events here in Israel…. we observed the fast of Tisha B’av on Shabbat and Sunday and we had a war that started and ended over the same “long” weekend. RECAP OF EVENTS Last Monday, a PIJ (Palestinian Islamic Jihad) leader was arrested by the IDF in Jenin […]
What is the Torah definition of prayer? Are we trying to get God to change his mind?!! What is the difference between private and communal prayer? Why do we need both? Doesn’t fixed language in a prayer book limit us? Join us as we delve into this seemingly simple, yet complex subject… Notes and sources […]
WHO SAW IT COMING? The world was stunned by the first images coming from the James Webb space telescope. Never before had we seen images with such clarity and from so deep into space. In fact the headlines screamed, “James Webb telescope takes us to the edge of the universe!” Does this present us with […]
The visit is over and a collective sigh of relief could be heard in much of Israel. Some journalists did their best to try and spin this an important Presidential visit. Many, including Israelis, Saudis and Palestinians couldn’t wait for it to end. BLESSING ISRAEL’S ENEMIES From the Israeli side, the President pandered unnecessarily to […]
President Biden is arriving in Israel this week for an official visit. Originally he was going to be meeting with Prime Minister Bennett pictured above with Biden and UK PM Boris Johnson, but Bennett was forced to resign a couple of weeks ago. Instead, Biden will meet with interim Prime Minister Yair Lapid who will […]
God “rests” after creating humanity at the beginning of Genesis… but in Exodus at Sinai, the Nation of Israel are given Shabbat as a sign between God and the Jewish people. Is Shabbat for Everyone or just the Nation of Israel? What does it mean to “rest from work”? What does the Hebrew word “Shabbat” […]
We say it all the time. What are we doing when we say, “Amen?”
