by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | May 19, 2017 | Lifeline
Either the Author of the Torah knew what He was doing, or He wanted to starve the Jews. The Torah Commands the Jews to observe a “Sabbatical of the Earth,” a full year in which farming is prohibited. No planting means no reaping, no crops to sell. Now, you...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | May 11, 2017 | Lifeline
In Judaism, our holidays are never mere celebrations or commemorations — they are opportunities for spiritual growth. In the case of Lag B’Omer, there are two key lessons for all of us, found in the two stories behind this rabbinic holiday. Lag B’Omer...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Apr 20, 2017 | Lifeline
In this week’s reading, the Torah clearly lays out for us the animals, fish and poultry permitted under Jewish Law. In the course of doing so, the Torah makes a statement that — were it made by a human being — would have been beyond foolhardy. The...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Apr 7, 2017 | Lifeline
What is the connection of “Arami Oved Avi” — “An Aramean destroyed my father” — to the Haggadah? The Haggadah says that “Pharaoh decreed only against the males, but Laban tried to uproot everything.” Again, why connect the two?...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Mar 30, 2017 | Lifeline
In this week’s reading, we begin the third of the 5 Books of Moses, Vayikra, or Leviticus. It was undoubtedly dubbed “Leviticus” because much of it concerns the Temple services, done by the Kohanim, the Priests, descendents of Aharon HaKohen, of the...
