by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Oct 28, 2016 | Lifeline
With an insight that my friend Rabbi Leonard Oberstein called prescient, the very first comment of Rashi on the Torah quotes a Medrash: Rebbe Yitzchok says: He did not need to begin the Torah [here,] but from ‘this month will be for you the first of...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Oct 6, 2016 | Lifeline
When a computer device of some kind isn’t operating correctly, the first question any technician will ask is, “have you tried rebooting?†The option may be called “Restart,†but it means the same thing: clean out apps that are running, wipe the memory...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Sep 29, 2016 | Lifeline
In an ideal world, our leaders would be qualified, competent, and benevolent. If we could find such a person, we certainly would want him or her to rule for life, providing for our common needs, protecting us from danger, and helping us to flourish. Now imagine living...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Sep 16, 2016 | Lifeline
In this week’s reading, we are reminded multiple times that we were slaves to Pharaoh in Egypt. First the Torah warns judges to be impartial, especially in handling cases involving orphans and converts, and to be merciful when it comes to debts of widows....
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Sep 9, 2016 | Lifeline
In this week’s reading, we find two passages that do not seem to belong together. The Torah begins this week with a commandment to set up a justice system, with both courts and judges to make rulings, and police to enforce them. It speaks of the importance of...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Sep 2, 2016 | Lifeline
The reading this week begins, “See I have placed before you today the blessing and the curse” [Deut. 11:26]. This is said in the singular form, rather than plural, and the Ba’al HaTurim explains that this statement, “see,” was made to...
