Blog Nitzavim Vayelech 25 Elul 5777 בלוג נִצָּבִים- וַיֵּלֶךְ,כ”ה אלול תשע”ז One very important aspect of seeing the Scriptures through the revelation given to us by the Creator instead of man’s theology is “bechirah chofshit” – “free will” – בחירה חופשית. Most people are locked into their definitions and narrow views and miss the beauty […]
Posts in category Blog
Are We the First Fruits?
Blog Ki Tavo 18 Elul 5777 בלוג כִּי-תָבוֹא, י”ח אלול תשע”ז We are in the Hebrew month of Elul, a time of introspection as we approach the High Holidays. Most of us have inner struggles and if we cover them up and do not deal with them, we will never know ourselves. So how then […]
“Human Rights”?
Blog Ki Tetze 11 Elul 5777 בלוג כִּי-תֵצֵא, י”א אלול תשע”ז The portion Ki Tetze – “When you go out”, contains the greatest number of injunctions, 74 of the 613. They are not in any particular order and I prefer not to analyze them individually but to look at what I regard as the main […]
In the counsel of many is wisdom
Blog Shoftim 4 Elul 5777 בלוג שֹׁפְטִים, ד’ אלול תשע”ז The portion Shoftim (Judges) introduces the various functions of the Messiah: as a judge, a priest, a prophet and a king, and especially as God’s special envoy. The Creator told us to choose leaders, judges to guide us. All the men chosen for those […]
Do what is good and what is right!
Blog Re’eh August 19 2017, 27 Av 5777 בלוג רְאֵה, כ”ז אב תשע”ז In this portion, Moses is pleading with the second generation to “re’eh” – “see”, to truly understand that our Creator is putting before us blessings and curses. We have been given “free will” to obey or not to obey Him. Religions have […]
Torah Values VS Worldly Values
Blog Ekev 20 Av 5777 בלוג עֵקֶב, כ’ אב תשע”ז Moshe as a grandfather is continuing to exhort the second generation coming out of Egypt to follow the Torah given to their fathers at Mount Sinai. He is warning them, like children, about the consequences of their behavior. How we raise our children is so […]
Is the Torah only for Israel?
Blog Va’etchanan 13 Av 5777 בלוג וָאֶתְחַנַּן, י”ג אב תשע”ז Here Moses is giving his valedictory speech before he dies. In Deut. 4 we read: 5 “Look, as The LORD my God commanded me, I have taught you Chukkim (Ordinances) and Mishpatim (customs), for you to observe in the country of which you are going to take possession. 6 Keep […]
Why is this world in such a mess?
Blog Devarim 6 Av 5777 בלוג דְּבָרִים, ו’ אב תשע”ז In Devarim (Deut.) Moses, knowing that his days were coming to end and like a father who wants the best for his children, spoke directly to his people trying to guide them on the right path. No matter what we do or tell our children, […]
Have we learned from the past?
Blog Matot & Masei July 22, 2017, 28 Tammuz 5775 בלוג מַּטּוֹת – מַסְעֵי, כ”ח תמוז תשע”ז These last two portions end the Book of Numbers which begins in the second month of the second year of the ‘exit – yetziah – יציאה’ from Egypt and concludes the crossing of the wilderness after 38 years […]
True Zealotry vs Fanaticism
Blog Pinchas 21 Tammuz 5777 בלוג פִּינְחָס, כ”א תמוז תשע”ז In the process of entering the Promised Land, the Israelites would encounter difficulties, one of which was the loss of Moses. In Num. 27:12ff, Moses pleaded with the Creator not to leave Israel without a leader. Being a true leader, Moses was gracious enough […]