Articles in D’varim
Va’etchanan: Food for Thought for Your Dinner Table
Sunday: Pray to Pray
“I have beseeched the Almighty at that time . . . saying.” These words introduce Moshe’s heartfelt plea, later denied, to enter the Land of Israel. The last word of this verse, “saying,” seems superfluous, what does it mean?
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Devarim: Food for Thought for your Dinner Table
Sunday: Seventy Languages
Why did Moshe translate the Torah into seventy languages when most Jews did not speak these languages? Hebrew is G-d’s tongue and is therefore a natural conduit for holiness. Accordingly, when studied in Hebrew the holiness of the Torah permeates our minds and hearts. Moshe, who gave us …
Ki Tavo: Making it Relevant
Returning to Earth
Does a falling tree produce a sound if no one is around to hear it? Jewish philosophers never respond to such questions with a simple yes or no. Instead we reply, in perfect Talmudic cadence, if a tree falls and no one is around to hear it, does …
Ki Teze: Why Usury is Forbidden
Brotherhood
Usury is not inherently wrong. On the contrary, it is critical to the conduct of business . Usury encourages banks to extend mortgages and loans, it enables entrepreneurs to establish or expand their business and it enables ordinary people to purchase homes and automobiles.
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Shoftim: Rabbinic Legislation
Where Does it Say?
The following question is one that rabbis commonly field. The written Torah is G-d’s law, but on what authority do Rabbis legislate new laws?
Its a fair question and it was first posed by the Talmud. Before kindling the Chanukah lights we chant a blessing, thanking G-d for …
Re’eh: The Sacred Barbecue
The Barbecue
Its a lazy summer afternoon. Warm sunshine bathes the yard, birds perch atop the trees and a gentle breeze caresses its limbs. Sounds of playing children and chatting adults waft up through the yard and, on the patio, an aroma of sizzling steak rises from the barbecue.
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Eikev: The Deeper Bond
Opposites
Opposites attract. They say this is because life with a like-minded spouse is too agreeable and therefore boring. I say, really? Bring on the boredom. Please!
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Vaetchanan: Inadvertent Murder
The Refugee
We are all familiar with the modern notion of refugee. Our cities provide a haven of refuge for victims of instability and violence the world over, who petition our country for asylum. When our ancestors entered Israel, they too appointed cities of refuge. However, these cities were not populated …
