82 Lessons
Ki Tetze 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.
Parashat Hashavua On the Book, the Sword, and “Bots”
In the middle parashiyot of Sefer Devarim, telling of the time soon before entering Eretz Yisrael, the topic of war comes to the fore. We will look at one case in our history in which the “sword” was connected to the “book” in an interesting way. There are many elements to waging war. In the battlefield, people use weapons to kill or incapacitate. Today, technology is employed against the enemy, whether operated in the battlefield from afar or by infiltrating their important systems. Psychological warfare is a modern and ancient tool. Last week, we read the Torah’s instructions to soldiers not to be afraid of an intimidating army (Devarim 20:1-3).
Parashat Hashavua Ask the Rabbi: Whose Responsibility Is Raising the Wall?
I built my house years before the next-door property was developed, with an approximately meter-high wall between properties. My property is 2 meters higher than the next one; now they are excavating to build the other house, there will be a 5-meter drop, which I feel makes it dangerous for my children. [He seems to be building according to the permit he received.] My neighbor had agreed to pay for raising the wall, but now is unwilling to pay the significant cost. We cordially disagree whether it is his obligation. Have I misjudged the matter?
Ki Tetze Fulfillment of the prophecies of consolation in Safed
What can we conclude from the flight of the Arabs from Safed in 1948?
Ki Tetze The Secret to Israel's Victory in War
We may feel no legitimacy for those who fight HaShem's people – or else we can lose.
Ki Tetze Fulfilling Parashat Zachor on Ki Teitzei
I heard a chumra that during a leap year, with 13 months between readings of Parashat Zachor, one should have in mind to fulfill the mitzva of zechirat Amalek during the reading of those p’sukim in Ki Teitzei. Should I do that (shuls do not usually announce it)?
Ki Tetze Is there a Way to Permit Ribbit (Usury)?
The Torah relates to loans as an act of chesed and demands of all who can to lend to those in need, as part of a Jewish life, which is based on charity and justice.
