TESHUVAH; THE HOLISITC APPROACH
This week’s Parsha, Ki Seitzei, opens with the event when we shall go to war against our enemy. The commentaries explain that this verse alludes to the battle in which we struggle against our yetzer hara. As we approach Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur we engage in the teshuvah process, the process of returning to HaShem.
Continue reading Ki Seitzei 5778DURABILITY
Excerpted from Rabbi Aaron Lopiansky’s talk.
As we have begun blowing the shofar every morning to prepare us for the great meeting with HaShem to take place on Rosh Hashanah, we would expect to find tips and direction in the Parsha on how to properly prepare ourselves. Naturally, our focus needs to be on bettering ourselves in matters that relate to our relationship with HaShem and with people.
Continue reading Ki Seitzei 5779DON’T FORGET THE BABY
The period of the calendar in which we currently find ourselves is called the Seven Weeks of Consolation. For the seven weeks following Tisha b’Av the Haftorahs we read are from Yeshayahu (Isaiah) in which HaShem consoles His people over the destruction of the Bais Hamikdosh and the subsequent exile.
Continue reading EIKEV 5780
THERE IS MORE NUTRITION THAN MEETS THE EYE
In this week’s Parsha, Eikev, we are instructed to bless HaShem after our meal. The daily life of a Jew is filled with opportunities to make brachos. From brachos on mitzvos to brachos of gratitude for who we are and the senses with which we were endowed.
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IT’S ALL IN THE DETAILS
This week’s Parsha, Eikev, opens with Moshe telling his nation that they should be careful with the mitzvos that people step on. If we shall observe those mitzvos then HaShem will preserve for us the covenant He made with our forefathers.
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HEADS IN THE SAND
Moshe Holczler was a Jewish activist in his younger years in Hungary in the late 1930’s. In his biography, Late Memories, he relates one story where he happened to share a sleeping car on the way to Budapest with two German spies. Thinking that he was sleeping, they took the liberty to discuss their plans for taking over Hungary and liquidating the Hungarian Jewish population.
Continue reading Eikev 5777PARTNERS IN CREATING THE TORAH
When HaShem created His universe He created it with two distinct sets of laws. The laws governing all physical matter we call nature with its many various branches of physics, chemistry, biology, astronomy, mathematics, etc. The laws governing Man and his behavior we call Torah. Both nature and her respective laws and Torah are the expression of HaShem’s Will.
Continue reading SHOFTIM 5782A BUILDING OF JOY
What a remarkable Parsha the Torah presents us as we draw closer to Rosh Hashana! This week’s Parsha, Ki Seitzei, is packed with mitzvos. There are 74 mitzvos which is 12% of all 613 mitzvos.
Continue reading KI SEITZEI 5780REMEMBER
In this week’s Parsha Moshe instructs his people to remember how Amalek attacked them as they left Egypt and to blot out the memory of Amalek. It is noteworthy that although we no longer know who the nation of Amalek is, nevertheless the mitzvah remains to remember what they did and to blot out their memory.
Continue reading KI SEITZEI 5781EYE DAMAGE
This week’s Parsha, Shoftim, begins with the Torah’s instructions to our people to place judges and and law enforcement officers at all of our gates. The simple meaning of this mitzvah is to establish a court system for every city. However,