Division, Not Discord
Someone once asked Rabbi Yisrael M. Kagan zt”l, the Chofetz Chaim, why the observant Jewish world was so divided. Why are there Chassidim and non-Chassidim, and even among Chassidim there are all different types. Some focus more on study, some more on prayer; some are mostly silent while others sing and dance.
The Foundation of Judaism
What is it about this story, that no one tried to duplicate it? Doesn’t it make more sense to start a new religion by saying that G-d came back to tell us the new way? And for that matter… how did the Torah know and declare with full confidence that although the Jews came to believe the story as told in our Torah, no one would ever get a group of people to believe a new version of this story, ever again?
Criticizing Israel
The last book of the Torah, Book of Devarim, is called "Deuteronomy" in English -- an Old English translation of Deuteronomium, Latin for "Second Law." G-d tells Moshe to record what Moshe himself said to Israel, which includes further discussion and elaboration of...
The Myth of 40 Years of Wandering
As a result of the Nation of Israel's lack of trust, their belief (based upon the report of the spies) that they could not conquer Cana'an and would die trying, G-d said the entire generation of the desert would remain just that: rather than being the generation that...
The People’s Guide
A young man in Poland was once diagnosed with a life-threatening illness. His teacher, the holy Rabbi Yisrael Meyer Kagan, known as the Chofetz Chaim, advised him to seek a blessing from a certain scholar in another town. He asked his student not to reveal to anyone...
Open Your Eyes
In this week's reading, we learn the incredible story of Bila'am, who traveled to curse the Jews, only to be confronted by an angel - and his own donkey. His donkey saw the angel first, with a drawn sword, and prudently steered to avoid the angel by walking off the...
