That First Time
The first Mitzvah found in this week's Torah portion is the obligation to bring the first fruits to the Temple in Jerusalem. At the end of this passage, Moshe (Moses) says "Today, G-d, your Master, has commanded you to carry out these statutes and the laws. You should...
Looking Down the Road
In this week's reading, Rashi, Rabbi Shlomo Yitzchaki, tells us to what extent the Torah demands an elevated standard of conduct. He warns us that even if we follow the letter of the law, but try to push the envelope — doing what we can get away with rather than...
Bias in Belarus
The laws of Kosher slaughter are complex and demanding, and typically only someone with the necessary training and piety can become a Shochet, trusted to provide Kosher meat for a community. During the days of the saintly Rabbi Yozel Horowitz zt"l (also known as the...
Glorious Food!
Food is the fuel that energizes both man and beast - the great equalizer. If both Fido and I have to eat to stay alive, and we both seem to enjoy eating, is there a fundamental difference between my food consumption and his? The answer, of course, is yes. We humans...
A Hack for the Heart
While reading an article with information for her research report, Ellen noticed the Facebook "Like" button alongside the webpage. It was now 9:15am and she hadn't checked Facebook since she woke up three hours earlier, so she wondered if anything was going on in her...
Eichah – How Did This Happen?
This Shabbos is Tisha B'Av, the Ninth of Av, the day of mourning for the destruction of both Holy Temples and tragedies throughout Jewish history. Because it is the Sabbath, the day of mourning begins Saturday night and is observed throughout Sunday. A woman of...
Whose Fight Is This?
When Moshe doesn't seem to be following G-d's instructions, you know something is going on beneath the surface. We find such a case in this week's reading, and a deeper look helps us understand the root cause of anti-Semitism itself. In Parshas Mattos, HaShem tells...
A Benchmark Jewish Leader
As Moshe approached his last days on earth, he asked G-d to designate his successor, to lead the Jewish people into the promised land of Israel, fight the wars of conquest, and settle the people in the land. G-d chose Moshe's loyal student, Yehoshua (Joshua). Yehoshua...
How Exciting!
Sammy was enjoying his drive through the Catskill mountains when his car began to overheat. He pulled off to the side of the road, next to a pasture with several grazing cows. He popped the hood, and smoke billowed from the engine as Sammy tried to figure out where...
Holy Heirarchy
At the beginning of our Torah portion this week, we learn that Korach took issue with the appointment of Moshe as the leader of the Jewish people, his brother Aharon as the High Priest, and Aharon's children as his successors. He said, "The entire congregation are...
Fishing in the Desert
The land of Israel was just over the horizon, the Promised Land of their forefathers. As they were about to enter the land, the Jewish People approached Moshe (Moses) and asked to first scout out the land to see if it was safe and viable, so that they could be...
Humble Lights
Velvel, a simple townsman, had the opportunity to visit the King a number of times for various communal affairs. Despite their obvious social and financial differences, Velvel and the King discovered they had much in common and became close friends. One day Velvel...
