Articles in Yearly Cycle
The Ultra Orthodox Draft
![The Ultra Orthodox Draft Torah-Study-Wins-Wars](https://www.innerstream.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Torah-Study-Wins-Wars-150x150.jpg)
Shavuot
Amid Israel’s war in Gaza, there is talk of drafting yeshivah students into the army to bolster its ranks. On Shavuot, we celebrate the anniversary of receiving the Torah, so I want to write about the role of Torah in war. The Torah is not just a dusty old book …
Hamas College Takeovers
![Hamas College Takeovers NEW YORK, NEW YORK - APRIL 21: For the fifth day, pro-Palestinian students occupy a central lawn on the Columbia University campus, on April 21, 2024 in New York City. Earlier in the week over 100 students were arrested by the police and suspended by the university for demonstrating against the war in Gaza and demanding the University divest from Israel. (Photo by Andrew Lichtenstein/Corbis via Getty Images)](https://www.innerstream.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/College-takeovers-150x150.jpg)
Over the past week, we have seen anti-Israel college takeovers with protestors openly declaring their desire to kill Jews and to render Israel—from the river to the sea—Juden Rein. The brazen tactics and bullying have left many Jewish students and faculty members afraid to venture onto campus. As we approach …
Miracle of Miracles
![Miracle of Miracles miracle](https://www.innerstream.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/miracle-150x150.jpg)
The greatest miracle of our times, on par, perhaps, with that of the Six-Day War, occurred last Saturday night. More than 360 missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles were dispatched by Iran to Israel. The intention was to destroy defensive infrastructure, wreak mayhem and havoc, and destroy Jewish lives.
Some of the …
Four Questions That End Suffering
![Four Questions That End Suffering end suffering](https://www.innerstream.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/seder-150x150.jpg)
We will sit down to the Seder this year while our people suffer. Israel faces simultaneous attacks by Hamas, Hezbollah, Yemen, Iraq, and Iran. More than a hundred Jews are still in captivity. Antisemitism is rampant and acceptable again in coffee shops, public squares, public schools, and college campuses.
The saga …
Purim: A Nation United
![Purim: A Nation United Unity](https://www.innerstream.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/Unity-150x150.jpg)
The die was cast. King Achashverosh granted Haman a genocidal license against the Jewish nation. Mordechai was one of the first to learn of the plot and he appealed to Queen Esther for help. Esther explained that it was dangerous even for her to enter the king’s chambers unbidden. Mordechai …
Chanukah: One Battle at A Time
![Chanukah: One Battle at A Time one battle](https://www.innerstream.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/one-battle-150x150.jpg)
The Maccabees won the war one battle at a time. The odds they took on were impossible, but they never thought about the future escalations. Their only concern was with the battle in front of them.
Their first military skirmish was against a minor garrison of soldiers. It was not difficult …
When The Torah Rejoices
![When The Torah Rejoices Torah-rejoices](https://www.innerstream.ca/wp-content/uploads/2006/10/reading_torah-150x150.jpg)
Simchat Torah is usually understood as us rejoicing with the Torah. As we read the last passage of the Torah and immediately turn around to read the first passage, we rejoice over studying the Torah.
However, Simchat Torah has a deeper meaning. It is not only we who rejoice over the …
Sukkot: You Earned It
![Sukkot: You Earned It you earned it](https://www.innerstream.ca/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/sukkot-150x150.jpg)
Enjoy Sukkot; you earned it. You probably think you know what I mean. After the heavy lifting of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, the shofar, fasting, prayers, confessions, etc., we deserve a little relaxation and joy. But I am not talking about that. I am talking about something much deeper, …