This week's reading begins with G-d's promise to bless those who follow the Commandments, and a curse upon those who go away from them to follow false gods. It is obvious, then, that there's a big gap between the two. One could hope not to stumble into idolatry even...

The Talmud says that a Jew is obligated to pray, based upon Deuteronomy 11:13: "serve Him with all your thoughts -- Livavchem -- and with all your soul." Livavchem is a form of the Hebrew word Leiv, which is most often translated as the heart. In the Torah, however,...

This week's reading contains "Shema Yisrael" -- "Hear, oh Israel, the L-rd our G-d, the L-rd is One." [Deut. 6:4] And what is the next verse? "And you will love HaShem your G-d with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your might." The commentaries explain...

This year the ninth day of the month of Av (Tisha B'av), the day the Holy Temple in Jerusalem began to burn, falls on the Sabbath. This is a rare occurrence on the Jewish calendar and comes with a unique set of laws and observances, as the fast and traditional...

In this week's reading, G-d explains to Moshe how his successors will be chosen. Hashem Himself will choose the leader, "who will go out in front of them, and who will come in before them, and they will go out and come in, and the congregation of G-d will not be like...

A guest who had traveled from afar once visited the saintly Chofetz Chaim, Rabbi Yisrael Meir Kagan zt"l, and was taken aback by the Rabbi's simple living conditions. The home was lacking the most basic furnishings! When he relayed his surprise, the Chofetz Chaim...