Articles in Parsha Insights
Ekev: Sacred Stones
Failed Resolutions
Have you ever made a resolution you didn’t keep?Have you ever resolved to go to bed early only to wake up with a headache because you didn’t put that book down? Have you ever resolved not to take a second helping, but walked away engorged because your portions were …
Vaetchanan: Life’s Little Lessons
Two Stalled Cars
On a family visit to San Antonio I was called upon to demonstrate my mechanical prowess or, as it turned out, my lack thereof.
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Eikev: Infertility of the Soul
Spiritual Infertility
If we keep G-d’s commandments our Parsha promises that we will be, “the most blessed of nations: there will be no infertile man or woman among you” The Midrash teaches that all physical phenomena have a parallel in the spiritual realm. What is the spiritual parallel to infertility?
A Lack …
Eikev: A Question of Emphasis
Shema and Shabbat
The Midrash in this week’s Parsha quotes an interesting argument between Rabbi Levi and the sages as to the primacy of mitzvot. Rabbi Levi felt that the recitation of Shema is the primary Mitzvah. The sages felt that observing the Shabbat is primary.
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Eikev: Unsatisfied?
Manna
“And he afflicted you, he made you hunger and he fed you the Manna” (Deuteronomy 8:3) To describe the Manna experience as one of hunger and affliction seems a bit curious, what did the Torah have in mind?
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Vatchanan:The Loss of a Leader
They Cried
Our Parsha this week begins with Moses’ report to the Jewish people that he would not lead them into the land of Israel. The Midrash relates a fascinating tale that occurred at that time. Jews bemoaned the future loss of their beloved leader Moses, Joshua mourned and rent his …
Vaetchanan: Does it Permeate?
An Echo
This week’s Parsha recounts the Ten Commandments. The Torah tells us that the commandments were delivered in “a powerful voice that was never repeated.” Our sages explain that this voice did not have an echo. Why is the absence of an echo important?
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Vatchanan: Am I Wasting My Time?
The Purpose
In this week’s Parsha Moshe recounts the history of our ancestors in the desert and reminds them of their life’s purpose.
I once received an email with the following question: Dear G-d, why did you create me, as a material being? Was it so I would live my life …
