Lessons on Shoftim

articles on Shoftim

JUSTICE WILL PURSUE YOU

Why would we countenance vigilantism? Does the Torah really want to promote the "law of the jungle?"

The Ecological Imperative

A weekly Shiur by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks for the weekly portion "Shoftim".

Precisely how the Mashiach will come?

Beyond the four Amot: a short video about the weekly Parsha "Softim".

A Sage is Greater than a Prophet

A Shiur by Rabbi Jonathan Sacks for the weekly Torah reading of "Shoftim".

WHY 'DRAFTING GROOMS'?!- Parshat Shoftim

In explaining on this week's parsha that there are no exemptions from Milchemet Mitzva (obligatory wars), the unique (and admittedly surprising!) term used by our sages is: "that even the groom must leave the yichud room, and the bride, from her canopy" to go with Israel to war. This short and practical article with today's war in Israel, does not (!) deal with drafting women but rather offers 4 innovative explanations behind this surprising phrase.

Rabbi Ari Shvat | Elul 5785

Parashat Hashavua: “All Creation Will Know” – part IV

Rabbi Yossef Carmel | Elul 5785

4 min

Appointing a King in Israel (abridged version)

Rabbi Moshe Leib Halberstadt | 3 Elul 5784

“He Shall Read from it all the Days of his Life”

Rabbi Yossef Carmel | Elul 5784

Shoftim

Rabbi Berel Wein zt"l | 20 Sivan 5784

The Greatness of Humility

Rabbi Jonathan Sacks | Av 5783

The Torah Portion and the Unique Month of Elul

Rabbi Yosef Nave | Elul 1 5783

How to Join the Ranks of the Greatest People in History

A wise man once said: "The history of the world is actually the history of the great men of the world." He meant, of course, that the great people are those who move the historic processes and determine their countries' agenda. There is much truth to this saying, but it must be understood correctly – and if it is, that will determine whether we will end up as one of these "great men," or rather trail far behind them...

Rabbi Netanel Yossifun | Elul 6 5782

70 Lessons on Shoftim

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Rabbi Zalman Baruch Melamed
Rabbi Ya'akov Shapira
Rabbi Haggai Lundin
Rabbi S. Yossef Weitzen
Rabbi Chanan Porat Z"l
Rabbi Mordechai Greenberg
Rabbi Yisrael Meir Lau
Rabbi Eliezer Melamed
Rabbi Mordechai Hochman
Rabbi Shimon Klein

Chukat

A Tale of Four Islands

Rabbi Yirmiyohu Kaganoff | Tamuz 6 5778

D'varim

Poetic Controversies

Rabbi Yirmiyohu Kaganoff | Av 1 5777

Prayer

Days on Which Tachanun Is Not Recited

Chapter Twenty One-Part Three

Rabbi Eliezer Melamed | 5775

Prayer

May I Daven in English?

People, who cannot read Hebrew at all, have no choice but to pray in the language that they can read and understand. However, anyone who can should accept the challenge of studying the prayers a bit at a time, gradually thereby developing both fluency and comprehension

Rabbi Yirmiyohu Kaganoff

Prayer

The Blessing for Rain for those travelling to the Land of Israel

Praying for a Rainy Day When Traveling to or from Eretz Yisroel in November

Rabbi Yirmiyohu Kaganoff | 5771

Naso

The Mitzvah of “Duchening” - Birchas Kohanim

The basic Halachot of Duchening, taking off shoes and washing hands, Why Is This Mitzvah Called Duchening? The connection between Duchening and dreams...

Rabbi Yirmiyohu Kaganoff | 5769

Vayishlach

The Halacha and History of the Gid Hanosheh

The mitzvah of gid hanosheh forbids us from eating the sciatic nerve, a sinew that runs from the lower back over the top of the hip and down the leg. Another Mitzvah is not eating the Cheylev, some fats in an animal.

Rabbi Yirmiyohu Kaganoff | kislev 5769

Sections

Are We Permitted to Enjoy this World?

I recline in an armchair in the lobby of the hotel and look over the menu. After the crazy day I've had, I deserve to relax and enjoy a good meal. Suddenly, I am menaced by a disturbing thought: Am I really permitted to enjoy myself in this world?

Various Rabbis | 13 Shvat 5768

Laws of Hanukkah

Flying High - A Traveler’s Guide to Channukah

What does one do about Channukah candles in a hotel, while traveling and in other complicated circumstances?

Rabbi Yirmiyohu Kaganoff | Kislev 5768

Vayetze

Study House of Shem & Ever in a world of Lavan

Rabbi Berel Wein zt"l | Kislev 5768

Mishpatim

The Absolute and the Conditional

Although Mishpatim follows Yitro, the two parshiyot are very different in nature.

Rabbi Yossef Carmel | Shvat 5767

Various Subjects

The Laws Relating to Converts

The laws relating to Jewish converts are most astounding. Despite the criticism directed at the Jewish people on the grounds that Judaism is racist, the Torah teaches us that any non-Jew who earnestly seeks to join the Jewish people may do so.

Rabbi Eliezer Melamed

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