Parashat Hashavua: About Optimism in Times of Crisis

Parashat Hashavua: The Way to Prepare to Build the Beit Hamikdash

Parashat Hashavua: Kedoshim Teh’yu, Goy Kadosh – Are They Related?

Parashat Hashavua: More Mila than Brit?

Parashat Hashavua: Two Sides to a Coin

Parashat Hashavua: The Song from the Depths of the Soul

Parashat Hashavua: Who Called Out to Whom?

Days of Re-establishment – How We Come Before Him in Praise – part II

Days of Re-establishment – How We Come Before Him in Praise – part I

Paradoxical Communication with One’s Maker

Mikdash and Jewish State Go Together – part I

The Kedusha of the Land and its Fruit

Who Are the Kohanim?

Torah, in All Its Forms, Goes Forth From Zion

Speaking last week about the weekly Torah portion, we noted that on Israel Independence Day, Yom HaAtzma'ut, we should thank G-d not only for the historic formation of the State of Israel in our generation, but also for the fact that Israel today is a Torah powerhouse, the likes of which we've never seen in any generation. The number of Torah students today is the largest ever, and the amount of hours spent studying Torah is the largest ever – all this mainly thanks to the State of Israel. The level of Torah study here in Israel is also the highest in the entire Jewish world. (We also stated that we must increase our in-depth Torah study, which is the most important part of our engagement with Torah.)

What Makes Shemitta Special?

Shemitta is special in its requiring great faith in Hashem to fulfill, in essence relying upon a miracle. This mitzva comes with a promise that Hashem will decree a unique blessing in the sixth year to sustain us until the produce of that which is sown in the eighth year is ready for harvest.

Shabbat and Holidays in a Jewish State

Is it permitted to violate the laws of Shabbat in the process of sanctifying the new month? Why does the Torah repeat the introductory terms about the mo’adim and mention Shabbat in the middle?

Ketoret, Tzara’at, and Uziya

We will try to prove now that tzara’at is also the result of lacking between man and his fellow man. At first glance, this is almost a trivial task, as Chazal teach us that the main cause of tzara’at is lashon hara, one of the most basic interpersonal sins.

Which Tablet Was Broken After Cheit Ha’egel?

Why does Aharon bring A Chatat on the 8th day? and what does this have to do with the half A Sekel contribution and the selling of Joseph?

The Leader Sinned

The very possibility to demand of a king to acknowledge his sin is a great novelty. All the more so, we would never expect that there would be someone with permission to rebuke the king or to demand of him to admit that he sinned.

Different Types of Respite

Sefer Vayikra was given during Bnei Yisrael’s period in the desert. It is therefore telling that the Torah already relates as a given fact the situation in which they are working the fields of Eretz Yisrael, suspending work during Shemitta and Yovel, and following the rules of transactions regarding real estate in the Land among other financial matters.