70 Lessons
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
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
Environmental Responsibility
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks | Elul 5 5782
No Talebearing!
What constitutes talebearing?
This week’s parsha teaches the prohibition against having one witness testify against someone, which is a violation of loshon hora.
Rabbi Yirmiyohu Kaganoff | Elul 5 5782
As Lovely As A Tree
The Torah prohibits planting trees in the Beit HaMikdash, the Holy Temple. Why?
Rabbi Yaakov Asher Sinclair | Elul 5 5782
For peace: agree to agree!
Rabbi Stewart Weiss | Elul 5 5782
Kim Li? Litigation and Justice Must Go Hand and Hand
How do we implement principles from this week's Parsha in our beit din network, “Eretz Hemdah- Gazit”?
Rabbi Yossef Carmel | Elul 2 5782
Standards of Justice
This week's Torah reading envisions for us an efficient, organized system of law and order, justice, and fairness. The Torah set a very high bar regarding the selection of judges and police. They are to be free of prejudice, bias and personally held agendas and social ideals.
Rabbi Berel Wein zt"l | Elul 5 5781
The Answer Is “Simple.”
This short little five-word phrase – “You should be tamim with Hashem your G-d” - is one of the most powerful and profound p’sukim in the Torah. But - what does “Tamim” mean?
Rabbi Stewart Weiss | Elul 4 5781
Learning and Leadership
The parsha of Shoftim is the classic source of the three types of leadership in Judaism, called by the Sages the “three crowns”: of priesthood, kingship and Torah.
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks | Elul 4 5781
What’s the Matter with Horses?
The first commandment addressed to the Jewish king is: “Just he should not acquire for himself many horses, and he should not return the nation to Egypt to acquire many horses" . The commentators have explanations of the connection between the prohibition on horses and the matter of not going to Egypt.
Rabbi Yossef Carmel | Elul 2 5781
Be Tamim; Avoid Miracles and Dispute
Rabbi Yossef Carmel | Elul 1 5780
The Torah's Real Estate Advice
Israel National Torah
Discussing Jewish property rights and real estate, comparing the laws as they apply in the Diaspora and in the Land of Israel.
Baruch Gordon | Elul 1 5780