Written by Rabbi Sacks It is no accident that Parshat Bo, the section that deals with the culminating plagues and the Exodus, should turn three times to the subject of children and the duty of parents to educate them. As Jews we believe that to defend a country you need
Maša
Observant Jews daven (pray) in formal worship services three times a day, every day: at evening (Ma’ariv), in the morning (Shacharit), and in the afternoon (Minchah). The afternoon service for one day and the evening service for the next (which begins at sunset) are usually davened back-to-back so that a
The Basic Idea In order for an action to be considered true “work” on Shabbat, it must satisfy several conditions. These conditions relate mainly to the concept of intention. That is, my work is only ‘work’ on Shabbat (Hebrew, melacha) if I intend to do the action I am doing.
By Rabbi Shmuel Rabinovitch Parashat Ki Tisa begins with the final instructions for building the Mishkan, the Tabernacle – the temporary temple that accompanied the Jewish nation through its journeys in the desert. The instructions were given to Moses when he was on Mount Sinai and received the laws of the Torah from God. The
Origins in the Torah The etiology of Shabbat is given in the first two chapters of the Book of Bereishit (Genesis), although the name of the day does not actually appear there: God worked six days at creating the world on the seventh he ceased working (shavat mi-kol melaʾkhto), blessed the day, and declared it holy.
By Rav Reuven Tradburks The next 2 parshiot, Tazria and Metzora are challenging. Their theme is simple: entry to the Mikdash is restricted for those who are Tamei. There are a number of situations that render a person Tamei. The removal of the Tuma status allows re-entry to the Mikdash.
By Rabbi Reuven Tradburks 1st Aliya (Vayikra 9:1-16) On the eighth day of the inauguration of Aharon and the Cohanim, Moshe gathers the people. He instructs Aharon to offer a chatat and an olah. The people are also to bring a chatat, olah, shlamim and mincha. For today, G-d will appear.
One of the most beautiful scenes in Yiddishkeit is the family gathered around the table for Kiddush, a special moment for which we wait all week. On Yom Tov, the beautiful melody1 ushers in each of the Shalosh Regalim with much excitement. Although we are quite familiar with how to recite Kiddush, it is important to review the halachos related
The late Rabbi Lord [Sir] Jonathan Sacks used to tell a joke about when he visited Buckingham Palace to receive his knighthood. British protocol dictated that he should bend one knee when the Queen taps each shoulder with a ceremonial sword, and says “arise, Sir Jonathan.” Since Torah protocol forbids
I don’t divide the laws of God between those that are between man and God and those that are between man and man. To me there are laws that are between man and God, and then there are laws that are between man and the image of God. – Rabbi