The Torah in this week’s portion narrates the monumental event where G-d proclaimed the Ten Commandments at Mount Sinai in the presence of the entire Jewish nation. The Ten Commandments are: To believe in G-d. 2. Not to worship idols. 3. Not to swear by G-d’s name in vain. 4. To remember and observe …
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Jan 24
Strong Winds!
Our Torah describes that the Jewish nation escaped the Egyptian army that was pursuing them by passing through the Red Sea on dry land after it split. This awesome event is forever etched into our imagination. The Torah also describes that after the salvation of the Jews and the destruction of the Egyptians at the …
Jan 18
Acceleration!
The Torah tells us that the Jews were in Egypt for 430 years. However, if one makes a simple calculation one can see that from the time our forefather Yaacov descended with his family to Egypt until they left was only 210 years. How do we reconcile this discrepancy? G-d in His compassion for His …
Jan 11
All About Me!
The Pharohs of Egypt were around for a long time, and already starting with our forefather Avraham and his wife Sarah, they interacted with us. The Torah relates that when Avraham traveled to Egypt because of a famine in Israel, Sarah, because of her extreme beauty was taken to the Pharoh. The Torah relates that …
Jan 04
Feeling Pain!
Over the past few weeks the Jewish people have suffered three tragedies. Two families died in a plane crash, and a house fire took the lives of a mother and her three children, leaving a heroic husband and two children in critical condition. Bottom line, the Jewish people are one family. A tragedy affecting one …
Dec 28
A Quick Fast!
Today is the public fast of Asarah B’Teves – the Tenth day of the Hebrew month of Teves. Our prophets established it as a day of fasting to commemorate a tragic event that took place in our history on this day. The Temple Mount in Jerusalem, the most holy place on earth, is where our …
Dec 21
Between Walls!
When our forefather Yaacov was given the astonishing and wonderful news that his son Yosef was indeed alive after having he had assumed him dead for the past twenty-two years, Yaacov decided to travel from the Land of Israel to join Yosef in Egypt. The Torah relates that G-d appeared to Yaacov before he traveled …
Dec 14
Maccabees!
During the Holiday of Chanukah we add a paragraph of gratitude called Al Hanissim – on the miracles – to our Amidah prayers and to the Birchat Hamazon. This prayer describes the rough situation the Jews were in during the Greek regime over the Land of Israel when the Greeks viciously implemented anti-religious edicts against …
Dec 07
Friction!
The Torah relates that there was much tension between Yosef and his brothers, which was exacerbated when Yosef related to them his dreams that portrayed him as a ruler over them. Their father, Yaacov, gave Yosef special treatment which didn’t help matters. Surprisingly, although Yaacov knew all this, he instructed Yosef to check up on …
Nov 30
Heart to Heart!
When one looks at a Torah Scroll, he will see the beautiful and carefully scribed block letters of the Ashuris font, but he will immediately notice that the Nekudos – the vowels which are the key to vocalizing the correct pronunciation of the word – are absent. There are certain words in Hebrew that are …