by Mordechai Dixler | Oct 21, 2021 | Lifeline
Abraham’s two children, Yitzchak (Isaac) and Yishmael (Ishmael), were at first raised in the same household. Abraham and Sarah had been miraculously blessed with Yitzchok, their first and only child, while Yishmael was born to Abraham and Hagar, Sarah’s...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Oct 14, 2021 | Lifeline
Our reading this week begins, “And G-d said to Avram, go for yourself, from your land, and from your birthplace, and from the house of your father, to the land that I will show you” [Gen. 12:1] Rav Shamson Raphael Hirsch explains that this is in no way repetitive....
by Mordechai Dixler | Oct 7, 2021 | Lifeline
Last week’s Torah portion described the degradation of mankind leading up to the flood (the Mabul) — “G-d saw that the evil of man was great in the land, and all thoughts of his heart were only evil, all the time (Genesis 6:5).” G-d decided to erase...
by Mordechai Dixler | Sep 14, 2021 | Lifeline
We are now in the “Ten Days of Teshuva (commonly translated as repentance).” The elements of Teshuva are verbal confession, regret, refraining from the negative behavior and pledging to do better.Verbal confession, Viduy, can be found explicitly in the Yom...
by Mordechai Dixler | Sep 2, 2021 | Lifeline
A righteous and well respected Rabbi was mourning the loss of his father. Because of his great sensitivity towards his father and the Mitzvah of respecting his parents, he was deeply concerned that he had not shown proper respect to his father during his lifetime. He...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Aug 27, 2021 | Lifeline
This week’s reading begins with the Commandment of Bikkurim, bringing the first fruits to the Holy Temple, and other gifts that were given to the Priests, Levites and the poor. Having finished the process at the end of the third year, the farmer declared,...
