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 Mordechai Dixler | Jun 13, 2013 | Lifeline
In response to the ungrateful cries and complaints of the Jewish people, G-d sent a plague of poisonous snakes. Moses put the form of a copper snake on a pole and raised it up high, and as people would gaze at the snake they would be healed. The Mishna (Rosh Hashana...
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 Mordechai Dixler | May 23, 2013 | Lifeline
Israel was in the heat of the War of Independence and Rabbi Chaim Shmuelevitz had just been blessed with the birth of a baby boy. Shells rained from the sky as the Rabbi and a family member who accompanied him made their way to attend the Bris Milah (circumcision)....
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...
by Mordechai Dixler | May 2, 2013 | Lifeline
Last night I got one of “those” shopping carts. Finding it blocking the supermarket door, I figured this cart was somehow meant for me. As I prepared to push it down the aisle, though, my misfortune became clear: the wheels forcefully veered to the right....
