Avraham Avinu’s Covenant

by | Nov 10, 2019

When performing a Brit Milah, the father recites two blessings: ‘Al HaMilah’ and ‘Lehachniso BiVrito Shel Avraham Avinu’. The first one focuses on the actual Mitzvah and serves as the usual blessing we recite before any Mitzvah we are about to perform. The second one...

The Roots of a Midrash

by | Oct 31, 2019

  At the end of this week’s Torah portion, we are introduced to Avraham (Avram in the meantime). Unlike other prophets, not much is known about why he was chosen. Rashi and the Midrash fill in the blanks and tell us about the story of young Avram knocking...

A Life Worth Sharing

by | Oct 24, 2019

  Created at the dawn of existence, Adam has the entire world at his disposal and yet this is still not enough. God gives His stamp of ‘good’ approval at the completion of each day, and yet at this point, for the first time, the Torah gives a description of...

What are we doing here? A look at Moshe’s final message

by | Oct 24, 2019

  Every so often we come across a passuk that has a deep message for us both in olam haHalacha and in olam haMachshava. This week, in Moshe’s climatic rally, we are taught the following: כי שם ה’ אקרא הבו גדל לא-להינו (דברים לב:ג) When I will proclaim the...

Sukkot and its Pagan-like customs

by | Oct 24, 2019

  I’ve grown accustomed to hearing, year after year, that “Sukkot is the hardest holiday to explain to outsiders”, or the o-so-popular “if a non Jew saw us shaking our Lulavim he’d think we were all pagans”. A popular answer is the standard default of “yes, it...

The Secret of the Atonement of Yom Hakippurim

by | Oct 6, 2019

“Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi says: For all transgressions in the Torah, whether one repented or did not repent, Yom Kippur atones” (Yoma 85b) According to Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi (Rebbi), Yom Ha-Kippurim atones for all sins in the Torah, both positive and negative, regardless of...

Don’t Forget: Increasing Good is the Antitidote to Evil

by | Oct 3, 2019

Parashat Ki Tavo begins by listing the steps we should take upon entering our homeland. We must acknowledge the good, give first fruits and tithes, provide for the leaders and teachers and care for the less fortunate. After giving the tithes we are commanded to make a...

“Self awareness – the decree of the hour”

by | Oct 3, 2019

By Rabbi Benjamin Krausz‏ Former Rosh Kollel in Perth (2008-12) Currently a teacher and educator in “Nativ” Our Parashah– Ki Tetze is famous for including the largest number of Mitzvot in the Torah. There is a very wide variety of Mitzvot, and one of...

“Justice, justice shall you pursue”

by | Sep 5, 2019

  This week’s Parsha talks about the way a nation should build a state and governing system; in the Parsha we can see a wide array of subject that touch on the same theme: the appointment of judges and police officers, how to run a court, the king and his...