by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | May 29, 2015 | Lifeline
The Talmud [Rosh Hashanah 17b] records an exchange between Bluriah, a convert, and the Rabbis. She questioned an apparent contradiction: the Torah says that G-d does not show favor [Deut. 10:17], but the Kohanim bless the nation in this week’s reading [Num....
by Mordechai Dixler | May 21, 2015 | Lifeline
Someone asked me a question today on a passage in the Torah. In the middle of our discussion, he felt he needed to excuse his ignorance as a beginner. He said, “This is the 1st time I’m reading this text!” To that I responded, “Beautiful...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | May 15, 2015 | Lifeline
Our reading this week begins with an unusual juxtaposition: “HaShem spoke to Moshe at Mt. Sinai, saying: Speak to the children of Israel, and tell them that when they come to the land which I am giving them, they shall let the land rest, a Sabbatical for...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | May 8, 2015 | Lifeline
In this week’s reading, we find the Commandment not to slaughter a mother animal and its own child on the same day. Why are we instructed to do this? What is the Torah trying to tell us? The Sefer HaChinuch, Rav Yosef Babad’s compendium of the 613...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | May 1, 2015 | Lifeline
We find in this week’s reading, “and G-d spoke to Moses, saying, speak to the Children of Israel and say to them, I am Hashem your G-d.” [Lev. 18:1-2] This sounds redundant. Did the Children of Israel not know this already? It sounds very similar to...
by Rabbi Yaakov Menken | Apr 24, 2015 | Lifeline
What separates human consciousness from that of animals is the ability to think in terms of ideas, and act based upon a conscious decision rather than instinct. How do we communicate these ideas to others, and build upon them? This comes to us through the power of...
