by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Aug 1, 2014 | Lifeline
This week, prior to the Ninth of Av, we begin reading Devarim, the book of Deuteronomy. But the special name given to this Sabbath is not related to the Torah reading, but rather to the Haftorah, which is the first 27 verses of the book of Isaiah. It begins with the...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Jul 25, 2014 | Lifeline
We are about to enter the period of time called the Nine Days, the beginning of the month of Av. The Ninth of Av is the tragic day when Israel mourned needlessly after the the evil report of the spies [Num. 14:1 ff.]. G-d said that because we mourned for no reason,...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Jul 18, 2014 | Lifeline
This week’s reading begins by talking about the importance of keeping our word. If a person makes a promise or oath to G-d, says the Torah, he may not make his words “secular” or “profane” by failing to fulfill his commitment. To make...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Jul 11, 2014 | Lifeline
As Pinchas taught us, sometimes an act of violence promotes peace. At the end of last week’s Torah reading, we are told that one of the leaders of the Tribes of Israel engaged in an immoral act, deliberately violating the Commandments. He did it brazenly,...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Jul 2, 2014 | Lifeline
Two days ago, we learned the terrible news that the three kidnapped Israeli teens, Gilad Michael ben Ophir, Yaacov Naftali ben Avraham, and Eyal ben Uriel, were murdered by their captors. Many words have been written, and many more will be, about this awful event. But...
