by Rabbi Menachem Leibtag Posted on November 23, 2016
…
by Dr. Gabi Cohen Posted on November 23, 2016
…
by Rabbi Gad Dishi Posted on November 23, 2016
GAD DISHI…
by Rabbi Dov Linzer Posted on November 22, 2016
After the climactic event of the akeida, the Torah turns its attention to more quotidian matters: the death and burial of Sarah and the finding of a wife for Yitzchak. In this shift, a number of the major characters move off the scene. …
by Rabbi Dov Linzer Posted on November 18, 2016
Why did God test Avraham with the command to offer Yitzchak as a sacrifice? This is really two questions. First, what purpose was the akeidah meant to serve? And second, how could God have commanded such a reprehensible act, implicitly condoning murder, even if the plan was to retract the command all along?…
by Rabbi Dov Linzer Posted on November 10, 2016
I have recently begun learning Midrash Tanchuma weekly with Rabbi Avi Weiss, and this week, I share some reflections on the two opening passages of Midrash Tanhuma to parashat Lekh Lekha. In the middle of the first passage, the Midrash portrays a classic rabbinic image of Avraham as a devout Jew who kept every detail of the halakha: We find with Avraham, that he was punctilious in observing the mitzvot and therefore he was called the beloved of God, as it is written, “The seed of Avraham my beloved.”… Even eruv tavshilin was observed in the household of Avraham our father… God said to him, “You are punctilious regarding my mitzvot and you are sitting among the idolaters?! …
by Michelle Friedman, MD Posted on November 7, 2016
In this week’s portion we come across a striking word usage that occurs only twice in Torah, both times in Bamidbar, the Book of Numbers. The phrase changes slightly, Lama nigara, lama yigara, translated as “Why should we/it be lessened/diminished,” and is found in what appears to be two disparate stories.…
by Rabbi Dov Linzer Posted on November 2, 2016
God creates a perfect, self-sustaining planet, teaming with life. God places human beings in it and gives them seemingly divine powers: rule over all living things, and the ability to build, create, transform, and take mastery over the entire planet (Breishit 1:28-29).…
by Rabbi Shalom Carmy Posted on November 2, 2016
…
by Rabbi Yitzchak Blau Posted on November 2, 2016
…
