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Chukat: Holy Cow!
This week’s parsha contains the quintessential chok (lit. statute) of the Torah, a commandment that is completely beyond the realm of human understanding. We are referring to the Para Aduma, the red cow, whose ashes bring about purity and holiness for the Jewish nation. King Shlomo, the wisest of all men, said about this mitzva,…
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Korach: Feeling Out of this World!
Many would say Avraham, Yitzchak or Yaakov. Others might say Sara, Rivka, Rachel or Leah. Some might say Moshe or Aharon, Yocheved or Miriam. But never before had I heard this answer. It was after the Shabbat meal on one of our trips away in seminary and groups of girls were chatting, singing and eating.…
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Shelach Lecha: Desiring What Is Forbidden
“Kids, we’re going to visit Grandma and Grandpa, let’s get ready!” You shout up the stairs. “I’m not coming!” Your ten-year-old fights back. “Don’t be silly, we’re all getting in the car now!” “But I hate Grandma and Grandpa’s house. It’s so boring and there’s nothing to do, and they’re so old…!” “Right,” you say,…
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Beha’alotcha: It’s the Wonderful Manna
Amidst our journey through the desert, guided by the Heavenly pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night, the nation is sustained by manna falling from the sky. Food descending from the clouds? It sounds like something surreal. But this was our reality, we lived directly under Hashem’s love and care, receiving…
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Bamidbar: A True Household Leader
Rav Chaim Vital writes that the way in which a husband treats his wife is a reflection of all of his middot (character traits). Regardless of how he interacts with the outside world, the way a man conducts himself inside his home is the mark of his true essence. When doors are closed, when study…
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Behar: A Godly Vision
There are some decisions in life that just seem so obvious. Should we move to a warm community or an unfriendly one? Send to an excellent school or a poor one? Or even, should we buy a pretty dress or an ugly one? You may have just been thinking; well, there must be an issue…
