by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Jun 21, 2018 | Lifeline
The Talmud, at the end of the first tractate, Brachos, learns a fascinating lesson from the verse: “This is the Torah [the law]: when a person dies in a tent…†[19:14] This verse speaks about impurity that attaches to everything in the same building as...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Jun 7, 2018 | Lifeline
Our Torah reading relates the tragic story of the Spies, sent to travel through the Land of Canaan in advance of its conquest by the People of Israel. “Send men for yourself, and they will spy out the Land of Canaan, which I give to the Children of Israel, one man...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | May 31, 2018 | Lifeline
This week, we witness Moshe throwing up his hands in despair. Moshe, Moshe Rabbeinu, our master teacher, he who transmitted the entire Torah directly from G-d to the Jewish People, has had it with the Jews. He’s done. “And Moshe said to Hashem, ‘why...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | May 18, 2018 | Lifeline
Recent stories illustrate the need for a moral compass, guidance to find correct behavior. Current events have given me new insight into how urgently we need the Torah to lead us in every area of our lives. In an opinion piece appearing today, a writer in the Jewish...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | May 11, 2018 | Lifeline
In this week’s reading, we learn about the commandment of Shmittah, the Sabbatical of the Land. The Torah says: “Six years shall you sow your field, and six years shall you prune your vineyards, and gather its produce. But in the seventh year, it will be a...
