by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Aug 16, 2013 | Lifeline
One of the Commandments that Moshe Rabbeinu addressed again in Deuteronomy is that of returning lost property. In this week’s reading, the verse reads: “You shall not see the ox of your brother, or his sheep or goat, having wandered off, and ignore them;...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Jul 19, 2013 | Lifeline
This week is called “Shabbos Nachamu,” the Sabbath of Consolation, as “Nachamu” is the first word (and second, as G-d tells His prophets to “console, console My nation”) of the Haftorah. It is a prophecy that Jerusalem will one day...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Jun 28, 2013 | Lifeline
The story of Pinchas is one of the most striking in the Torah, because of its apparent contradiction. Pinchas literally killed two people, one of whom was one of their leaders (Zimri, head of the tribe of Shimon). And how does G-d react? “Behold, I give him my...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Jun 7, 2013 | Lifeline
I am always fascinated by the implied lessons of a statement from Chapters of the Fathers [5:17], that at first glance seems to make a faulty comparison: Which is an argument for the sake of Heaven? This is the argument of Hillel and Shammai. And not for the sake of...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | May 14, 2013 | Lifeline
Passover has Matzah, the Seder, and wine. Sukkos has the Four Species and the Sukkah. But what does Shavuos have? It has the Torah! This is the day when God gave the Torah to the Jewish people. And because our holidays are not simply commemorations, but eternal links...
