articles on D'varim
Starting a New Chumash
Our great teacher Moshe begins his final oration to the Jewish people in this week's Torah portion.
Dishes, Detergent and Malachos
is washing the dishes on Shabbos prohibited? and what about washing clothes?
Why Civilisations Fail
What is the real challenge of maintaining a free society?
COMPARE AND CONSIDER
In his final charge to Am Yisrael, Moshe Rabbeinu warns the nation of becoming too haughty & too full of itself
Lessons on D'varim
FALSE MORALITY IS IMMORALITY
Why R. Yosef Blau & American Jewish Liberals' Critique Misses the Mark
The recent criticism of R. Yosef Blau and others, and in general many liberal Jews in America calling out the State of Israel, the IDF and settlers of Yehuda v'Shomron as "immoral", is totally off the mark. Instead of unity among Jews, and collecting money for children in Sderot, they inadvertently united with CNN, BBC, Al Jazeerah and the Gazans. Instead of blaming Hamas for the suffering in Gaza, they blame Israel. This issue is directly connected to the parsha which talks about guarding the holiness in Israeli Army Camps (both ancient and today!) which happens to statistically be the most moral army in the world, just as the settlers have by far the highest rate of altruistic kidney donors in the world.
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.
Lessons
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 5- "Proofs of G-d"
This may be the most important class of the entire book, where we finally get to the Jewish proof of the existence of G-d and truth of the Torah. We should follow His own direction where He tells us how to get to Him: through the Nation of Israel: Jewish history, Jewish prophets (and today, prophecies fulfilled), and national reward & punishment towards Am Yisrael.
Ein Aya One Humanity, One Creator, One Jerusalem
Rav Kook innovatively and beautifully explains this aggadeta where our sages say that after Jerusalem was destroyed her cinnamon fragrance is only found locked in a particular kingdom's treasury.
Shlach Lecha "Why So Many Don't Make Aliya?" - Parshat Shlach
This short article deals with the weird phenomena that every single time Am Yisrael is meant to enter the Land of Israel, throughout the Tanach, 2nd Temple and until today, they "chicken out" and look for excuses. What's the problem with this mitzvah that proves so challenging. The article, based on sources, suggests that the difficulties of Eretz Yisrael is precisely her secret and beauty!
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 4
The class deals with Islam and how the Muslim tries convincing the King of the Khazars, and why he was also rejected.
Beha'alotcha JEWISH STATE= GUIDE TO G-DLINESS & SELFLESSNESS
A Jewish State not only is a good idea, but educates us towards selflessness, altruism and G-dliness in our daily lives.
Ein Aya In Zion Even the Smoke of the Bark is Sweet
Just as Jewish nationalism is different from others, so too our capitol of Jerusalem is totally different than other national capitols. Rav Kook beautifully explains the passage in the Talmud that the trees of Yerushalayim were cinnamon trees.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 3
The second speaker invited to convince the Khazar King is the Christian, who presents their beliefs. Even before the questions of the King, "between the lines", the author R. Yehuda HaLevi already begins disproving them.
Ein Aya "Intimacy: Love, Life & Giving or Egocentric Taking & Expiration"
Today, many confuse between intimacy in marriage, based on love, giving and life which are diametrically opposed to empty "sex", pornography and prostitution which destroyed the Beit HaMikdash. The practical importance of clarifying this topic in today's western society is obvious, especially for young adults.
Rabbis on D'varim
