Voices You Can See
This week, the Torah reading talks about the gathering at Mount Sinai, and receiving the Torah. And the Torah says that the people "saw" the voices, when Mount Sinai was covered with a cloud of smoke. Many commentaries speak about what this means, whether literally or...
“Let My People Go!”
This quotation, from this week's Torah reading, is surely one of the most well-known phrases in the Bible. And I have often pointed out that it's really a half-quote, distorted, read as a cry for freedom. In actuality, G-d is telling Pharaoh to give the Jews a new,...
A Jew is Immediate Family
In this week's reading, Moshe sees an Egyptian beating another Jew, and comes to his rescue -- killing the Egyptian taskmaster, and putting his own life in danger. Why did Moshe take such a terrible risk? The Jewish man is never identified by name. We never hear from...
Donate Your Smile
In our reading this week, Yaakov blesses Yehudah by saying, "His eyes will be read from wine, and his teeth white from milk." Rabbi Yochanon (Kesuvos 111b) changes one vowel and reads, "and to whiten his teeth from [more than] milk." To give a warm smile is better...
Hidden Connection Between Turkey and Thanksgiving
I had planned to begin this week thanking the many people who volunteered to help us get the word out, by posting Torah.org flyers (or arranging to have them posted) on their campus or in their neighborhood. Instead, I must thank the few people who did so, all the...
Can You Hang a Torah.org Poster?
"For the Candle is a Mitzvah, and the Torah is Light." Here's an easy Mitzvah for you, that will spread the Light of Torah in time for Chanukah! All that's required is your knowledge of your community, and a few moments of your volunteer spirit. Notice boards -- in...
Uncovering Our Real Intentions
When Sarah passes away, Avraham seeks out a burial place for her -- the cave then belonging to Efron the Hittite. Efron shows us how to say much, and do little. Or more accurately, as Rashi says, "even a little he did not do." Efron said to Avraham, "The cave is a...
New Rav Hirsch Class & Some “Pick me up” Thoughts
In our Torah reading this week, Hagar takes her son Yishmael (Ishmael) out into the desert, and then is afraid that he will die of thirst. An angel then says to Hagar that G-d has seen her son "where he is," and G-d opens her eyes and she finds a well of water....
New Jews and Old
There is a very interesting Medrash connected to this week's reading. The Medrash tells us that after Avraham circumcised himself, many people came to convert and join the Jewish People. The Bais HaLevi, Rabbi Yosef Dov Soloveitchik zt"l of Brisk, asks: isn't this...
Where Unity Can Take Us
After the Flood, the inhabitants of Noah's Ark resettle the world and communities of people begin to grow once again. And in an act of rebellion, they decided to build a tower reaching up to Heaven. G-d's method of stopping them contains a lesson for us all -- He...
May we all be sealed in the Book of Life
With Yom Kippur approaching, it is time to prepare to meet the Holy King when He comes closest to us, to express our hopes for the year ahead and for the better choices we hope to make. As you search for sources of inspiration, please review our Yom Kippur articles at...
L’Shana Tova!
This Shabbos, we will celebrate Rosh HaShanah, the Jewish New Year. We will celebrate, but with sobriety and solemnity, because our Tradition teaches that G-d Judges the world and each individual on this great day. It is a time for turning away from past errors, and...
