In our davening on the New Year we proclaim, “HaYom harat olam!” – “This is the day on which Hashem created the world!” Similarly in our davening we say, “Zeh hayom techilat maasecha.” – “This is the day on which You commenced Your creativity Hashem,” “Zikaron leyom rishon.” – …
Our souls live forever. There is a hint to this at the commencement of Parshat Ki Tavo. There the Torah gives us the mitzvah of bikkurim – of farmers given the imperative to bring their first fruits, the choice products of their yield to the temple in Jerusalem. When was …
If you were blessed to have a Sefer Torah, which room in your house would you keep it in? In Parshat Shoftim (Devarim 17:18), the Torah gives us a commandment relating to the king. “Vehaya keshivto al kisei mamlachto,” – “And it shall come to pass when he sits on …
“I am for my Beloved and my Beloved is for me.” These beautiful words, authored by King Solomon in Shir HaShirim 6:3, in the orginal Hebrew, “Ani ledodi vedodi li,” present to us a mnemonic for Elul, the Hebrew month which will be commencing this coming Sunday. Our Sages tell …
Parasha Eikev Do we sometimes unfairly confuse our children? It is possible, for example, that at school, a child is given direction and inspiration but that child comes home to find that the family values and what is practised at home are incompatible with what has been taught at school. The Torah gives us …
Va’etchanan: Who is the greatest role model of all time? In Parshat Va’etchanan Moshe declares to the people “V’atem had’veikim baHashem elokeichem chayim kulchem hayom,” – “And to all of you who cleave to the Lord your God, you are alive this day.” (Devarim 4:4.) What does the Torah mean …
What is the one word advertisers always try to use? At the beginning of Sefer Devarim 1:1, we find: “Eileh hadevarim,” – “These are the words that Moshe delivered to the nation immediately prior to his death,” and most of his message included words of tochacha, through which he denounced …
Where in the Torah do we find a warning against ‘cancel culture’? In Parshat Matot, we find that the tribes of Reuven, Gad and half the tribe of Menashe appealed to Moshe to allow them to dwell on the east side of the River Jordan. At first, Moshe questioned their …
The most important lesson every leader should hear. This is what I believe Moshe taught us just before he passed away. In Parshat Pinchas, Hashem gives Moshe the sad news that he will die before entering into the Holy Land. Immediately Moshe’s response was, “Please God appoint my successor in …
