MY CONVERSATION
In this week’s Haftorah we read the prophecy of Yeshayahu (Isaiah) in which he talks to Yerushalayim in the name of HaShem “Lift up your eyes, look around and see that everyone is coming to you. Your sons are coming from distant lands and your daughters will be raised at their side.”
Continue reading Ki Savo 5781MA’ASER
Excerpted from a talk by Rabbi Ahron Lopiansky
In this week’s Parsha, Ki Savo, the Torah instructs us on viduy ma’asser. At the end of the three year tithing cycle we must make a proclamation that we tithed all the tithings in accordance with the prescribed laws. It is noteworthy that this proclamation is called viduy, which means a confession. The question is if we have done no wrong how can this be called a viduy? To what are we confessing?
Continue reading Ki Savo 5780CHANGING PERSPECTIVE
This week we will read the fifth Haftorah of the prophet Yeshayahu consoling his people over their impending galus. They were told of all kinds of horrible punishments that were awaiting them in galus. From the Tochacha of the Torah and from the prophecies of Yishayhu and Yirmiyahu we knew that a very unpleasant journey lay ahead of us.
Continue reading Ki Seitzei 5782THE RIPPLE EFFECT
Rosh Hashanah is the holiday when every member of our people plays a critical role in establishing HaShem as the Sovereign of the Universe. HaShem’s sovereignty is incomplete if there is but one member who fails to accept Him. To appreciate that every bar mitzvah boy carries such significance is an awesome notion in its own right. But consider the following.
Continue reading Ki Savo 5778TESHUVAH; 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.
Continue reading EIKEV 5779
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.
Continue reading EIKEV 5778
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 5777