The parsha ties together the observance of the Torah commandments, especially the warnings against paganism and idolatry, with the earthly blessings of longevity and prosperity. Over the ages this has caused great philosophic debate and discussion, for this cause and effect relationship is not always apparent in the national or personal lives of the Jewish people. Many commentators hasten...
The basic declaration of Jewish faith - Shema Yisrael – appears in this week’s parsha. This affirmation of the core principle of Jewish faith – the uniqueness and oneness of God coupled with our acceptance of God’s sovereignty over us – according to Jewish tradition was first uttered by the children of Yaakov at the time of his passing from this life to a better world. Throughout...
Jews treasure their past and remember it vividly. The past comes to us not as a hazy dream but rather as a present and current reality. In the main, this is a positive achievement for it allows all later generations to experience the great moments of our history such as the exodus from Egypt, revelation on Mount Sinai, the consecration and later destruction of the Temples in Jerusalem, etc. ...
The film, Ominous Skies - 1930 – 1939, produced by Destiny Foundation as part of its Faith and Fate series of the story of the Jewish people in the twentieth century is now screening in a number of venues worldwide. I have attended and spoken at a number of these venues and I find that I am invariably asked, by very concerned Jews, as to whether there is a parallel between our times and that...
This year the Shabat on which parsha of Dvarim is being read publicly in the synagogue is itself the ninth day of Av. There are differing customs as to how to treat this Shabat and whether any restrictions whatsoever should pertain to our usual Shabat pleasures and enjoyment. Even though the prevailing custom is to treat this Shabat in the usual and normal fashion, the parsha of Dvarim all by...
השנה השבת שבה נקרא את פרשת דברים בבית הכנסת נופלת על יום תשעה באב עצמו. יש מנהגים שונים בשאלה איך צריך להתנהג בשבת הזאת והאם צריך להחיל הגבלות כלשהן על עונג השבת שלנו. על אף שהמנהג הרווח הוא להתייחס לשבת הזאת כלכל שבת...
הסרט "שמים מבשרי רע 1930-1939" שהופק על ידי קרן דסטני כחלק מסדרת ה"גורל ואמונה" המספרת את סיפורו של העם היהודי במאה ה-20, מוצג כעת בכמה מקומות בעולם. נכחתי ונאמתי בכמה מן המקומות האלה, וגיליתי שיהודים מודאגים מאוד שואלים אותי...
This week marks the beginning of the month of Av. And though we remember the many tragedies that have befallen the Jewish people this month - the destruction of both Holy Temples in Jerusalem primarily – the month has an additional name attached to it, ‘Menachem’ meaning a source of comfort. This word ‘menachem’ referring to comfort and consolation, is phrased in the present...
The narrative of the experiences of the people of Israel in the desert of Sinai concludes with the parshiyot of this week. All of the occurrences, successes and failures that marked this forty year trek in a wasteland wilderness are alluded to in the count of Israel in last week’s parsha - and in the listing of all of the way stations of that excursion. The Torah seems to be determined...
תיאור החוויות של עם ישראל במדבר סיני מסתיים בפרשיות שנקרא בשבת הזאת. כל האירועים, ההצלחות והכישלונות שאפיינו את מסע ארבעים השנים הזה בשממה ובמדבר נזכרים בסיפורו של עם ישראל בפרשה שקראנו בשבוע שעבר וברשימה של כל התחנות...
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