"NOT ALL HATE IS CREATED EQUAL"- p. Tazria-Metzora

The parsha teaches the tragedy of being alone and separate, but our 2,000 year galut is exactly that. Because of the universality of anti-Semitism, we unfortunately sometimes tend to make simplistic associations, & lump all this hatred together, as if it's the same. Yes, Iran hates us like the Nazis did, but today's war on all accounts is totally different, and we must thank G-d on Yom HaAtzma'ut for all those differences.

THE WORLD IS READY FOR ISRAEL'S BODY-SOUL HARMONY- Parshat Shmini

The modern world has only recently discovered what Judaism always knew: the body and soul nourish each other. Today we all know children on diets to stay away from certain physical foods which negatively influence their personality or behavior, e.g. certain artificial colorings increase impulsivity and restlessness, especially among ADHD. Conversely, modern medicine knows we can psychosomatically mentally "think" ourselves into being physically sick, which will even show up on our physical blood-tests. Psychosomatic illnesses are the "missing link" that proves physical actions (mitzvot) aren't just symbolic. If the mind can make the body sick through stress, the body can "heal" the soul through structured, purposeful physical actions. We are essentially using the body's hardware to "reprogram" the soul's software. This interplay between the physical and spiritual are an essential part of Rav Kook's Torat Eretz Yisrael whose time has come, but does this apply outside of Israel and to gentiles, as well?

"ON KVETCHES & PROPORTIONS"- Haftarah of Vayikra

Jews have an understandable tendency to Kvetch, but Yishayahu teaches us in the Haftara of Vayikra that in the process of ge'ula, we must learn to appreciate and focus on the positive and not complain so much. We should not tell G-d how to run His redemption, and in fact, we can understand the complaints about 3 AM sirens to shlep down 3 flights to the shelter with a child on each arm and a third on your shoulders on an average of once a night, but don't forget that just 2 weeks ago it used to be several times a night (and thank G-d we have shelters!). For decades the worst scenario imagined in Israel was a full-scale war with Iran, our largest, most sophisticated enemy with the most oil, Russian aid and nuclear plans. Well, that day is here, and we must profusely thank G-d and the IDF for pre-empting them with unprecedented intelligence, and professionalism to take out their entire leadership, anti-aircraft missiles and blow up their boats, planes and launchers pitifully uncontested. Our complaining shouldn't hide the glory of the G-d-sent victory, which COULD NOT HAVE BEEN ANY EASIER (except were more Jews willing to share the burden).

MI LAHASHEM ELAY- THE TORAH MINDSET- P. Ki-Tisa

REFINING 'PATIENCE' W/ KIDS WHO LEAVE 'DERECH'

There's a common question today: how to deal with the unfortunate phenomena of children from religious homes who somewhat leave Torah. This innovative approach shows how to stay sane, not blame ourselves, and even turn that issue from being a major problem, into a G-d given opportunity to improve one of the 13 G-dly traits we are meant to emulate: Erech Apayim (Patience).

WHAT CONVINCED YITRO MAY SWAY THE ANTI-ISRAEL TOO

We find that Yitro was convinced to follow the G-d of Israel for "Now I know that the Lord is greater than all the deities, for (precisely) with the thing that they plotted, [G-d brought] upon them(selves) (18, 11)." Rashi explains that the Egyptians drowned the boys of Israel, so in the end, G-d drowned their men as well. Why was this "Midah k'negged mida" (literally: "a measure for a measure)- so convincing for Yitro, even convincing him to actually change his life & join Israel? Similarly, this can help us understand why this theme of "V'Nahafoch hu…" (literally: "it was reversed", that the Megila flips everything Haman planned to do Israel, 180 degrees and brings upon Haman himself is so central also to Megilat Esther & the forthcoming holiday of Purim? We are not just speaking of irony, but of justice.

Ten Commandment Comparison

Many have attempted to solve the question, what is THE difference which can find the common denominator between all 31 differences between the 2 versions of the Ten Commandment? This innovative article suggests that our sages already answered this with one sentence in a well-known Midrash, just most never noticed that seemingly innocent sentence. It deals with the basic difference between the masculine side of the Torah and the feminine.

"FREEDOM CAME WITH A FLAG”- The First Flag of Israel

The Ramban explains that the exodus from Egypt was led by the first flag of Israel. This short article brings many unknown historic and halachic proofs of the importance of the Israeli flag.

PROTEKTZIA OR A BANANA REPUBLIC

Even in "Fiddler on the Roof" they mention that we wear the right shoe before the left, but why? Rav Kook's novel explanation surprisingly relates also to the danger of the Radical Progressive movement which sometimes intentionally blurs even that which should be clear, and even summarizes the laws which "lefties" do different than "righties", and when they do the same. Rav Kook's innovative mixture of halacha, kabbala and philosophy is especially interesting on this topic. BTW, there's an interesting halacha innovated by Rav Kook here which many don't realize (or intentionally omit) that he is the source!

DO WE DESERVE REDEMPTION? “Blood, Covenant, and Return”- Parshat VaEra

Are we today so much greater than say the Rambam's generation? Why is G-d returning us to Israel & doing so many salvations and victories over Hamas, Hizballah, Syria and Iran in recent years, even if we haven't done Teshuva & seemingly don't deserve it?

MASHIACH ben YOSEF

the Leadership Duel between Yoseph and Yehuda- The Haftarah of VaYigash

Description: Our sages draw the confrontation between Yehuda and Yosef as the two types of leadership in Jewish history. Through this we can finally understand who exactly is that mysterious "Mashiach ben Yosef", and what Rav Kook (based on the Vilna Gaon) meant when he said that Dr. Herzl had a spark of that Mashiach.

BINYAMIN's NAME-CHANGE- And WHY Yehoshua BIN-Nun (not 'Ben'-Nun)

"TANACH= HEALTHY SOULS IN HEALTHY BODIES"- Parshat VaYetzeh

Rav Kook explains the interesting phenomenon that the Tanach Heroes must also be physically strong and military heroes. He connects it with the Ideal Jew who is a healthy soul in a healthy body, which we must revive and educate today, with our return to Israel.

"YA'AKOV DONS ESAV'S ARMS"

How can we understand that Yitzchak preferred & even considered giving the bracha of Eretz Yisrael to Esav? This short article explains a new pshat (literal understanding) as well as having important ramifications for today's current events between Israel & Hamas.

"BUYING LAND/HOMES IN ISRAEL"

Avraham's "elaborate" and prolonged give-and-take to acquire Chevron has important eternal and practical messages, especially for the many New-Yorkers recently considering buying homes in Israel!

"PROACTIVE OR PLAY DUMB: AVRAHAM ACTS- AVIMELECH 'ALIBIS'

Many don't notice that our parsha explicitly pits Avraham Avinu as the ANTI-THESIS of Avimelech. After the Akeidah, Avraham is described: "now I know that you have YIRAT ELOKIM" (22, 12) as opposed to when he answers Avimelech's question, "what did I do wrong by 'accidentally' taking your wife?": Avraham precisely answers: "it's just that there is NO Yirat Elokim in this place". What exactly is that "Awe of G-d" that should typify our actions and get us to even initiate "Hineni", and conversely avoid the common search for excuses & alibis so prevalent in the western world?

MAMDANI TO RAIN TO LECH-L'CHA

For someone who grew up in NYC with some 30 years of obviously Jewish mayors like Abe Beame, Ed Koch and Michael Bloomberg, the possibility of a proudly Islamic & anti-Israel Mamdani (who vows to arrest Israel's Prime Minister if he steps into NY), filling their shoes is a nightmarish reality. This is directly connected with last week's parshat Noach, this week's Lech L'cha, and the beginning of asking for rain in Eretz Yisrael.

IDF LOWERS OBSERVANCE?

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.