August 2009 Blog Posts (17)

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Shabbos: Taam HaChaim Parashas Ki Savo 5769

שבת טעם החיים פרשת כי תבוא תשס"ט

Shabbos: Ta’am HaChaim Parashas Ki Savo 5769



Hear the “words”

Introduction

Parashas Ki Savo is always deemed to be a frightening parashah. Despite its benign beginning, the majority of the parasha discusses the devastating punishment that HaShem will bring upon the Jewish People if they do not observe HaShem’s will. There is even a custom in most synagogues to read the portion of the Tochacha, the Rebuke, in an undertone, and this… Continue

Added by Rabbi Binyomin Adler on August 30, 2009 at 10:00pm — No Comments

Vaetchanan

In this weeks parsha, Moshe asks Hashem for permission to enter the land of Israel.



Rashi (3;23) says that Moshe was specifically asking AT THAT TIME because it was after he conquered the lands of Sichon and Og.



The Abarbanel asks: What was so special about conquering Sichon and Og that Moshe thought Hashem would change His mind?



The Sifsei Chachamim answers: The lands of Sichon and Og were given to the tribes of Gad and Reuven. As a result, Moshe thought that… Continue

Added by Jason Behar on August 28, 2009 at 4:57am — No Comments

Eikev

In this weeks parsha we have the mitzvah of Birkas Hamazon (Grace After Meals).



The Gemara (Sanhedrin, 102a) says that whoever benefits from this world without reciting a blessing is an acquaintance of Yeravam ben Nevat.



However, what's the reasoning for that?



Let's first get to know Yeravam ben Nevat...



Firstly, Yeravam was the king of Israel for 22 years. Additionally, the Gemara (Sanhedrin, 102a) states "just as a new garment has no spots, so too… Continue

Added by Jason Behar on August 28, 2009 at 4:56am — No Comments

Re'eh

Who wants to be a millionaire??? Read on...



In this week's parsha we have the mitzvah of tzedaka (charity).



The question arises: Why doesn't Hashem provide for poor people Himself?



The Gemara (Bava Basra, 10a) relates that Turnusrufus (Roman general) asked Rabbi Akiva this question. Rabbi Akiva answered, "in order to allow people to give tzedaka and escape from hell." However, there's a lot more to say about the great mitzvah of tzedaka.



Let's learn… Continue

Added by Jason Behar on August 28, 2009 at 4:55am — No Comments

Shoftim

In this week's parsha we have the mitzvah of appointing judges.



Let's first see the rewards for fulfilling this mitzvah properly...



The Gemara (Shabbat, 10a) relates that a judge who performs his work properly even for a short period of time receives reward as though he was Hashem's partner in creation. Additionally, Rashi (16;20) states that by appointing righteous judges, the nation of Israel merit life and the ability to settle in the land of Israel. Furthermore, the… Continue

Added by Jason Behar on August 28, 2009 at 4:53am — No Comments

Devarim

Devarim



Sefer Devarim is called Mishneh Torah (meaning: repetition of the Torah).



The Ramban (in his introduction to sefer Devarim) asks: Why is it necessary to repeat all the laws in the Torah? They were already taught in the first 4 sefarim!?!



The Ramban answers: Moshe was nearing his death and the jews were about to enter the land of Israel where they would implement the torah they had learned. As a result, Moshe felt the need to clarify the torah and… Continue

Added by Jason Behar on August 28, 2009 at 4:30am — No Comments

Ki Teitzei

Ki Teitzei



In this week's parsha we have the mitzvah of "shiluach haken"--sending away a mother bird then taking her chicks (Note: There are 74 mitzvot in this week's parsha--more than any other single parsha). At quick glance, it may seem as though one who performs this mitzvah is really stealing from the mother bird...However, the Torah makes an exception to stealing by chicks.



Let's see some of the rewards which one receives for fulfilling this… Continue

Added by Jason Behar on August 28, 2009 at 1:33am — No Comments

Shabbos: Taam HaChaim Parashas Ki Seitzei 5769

שבת טעם החיים פרשת כי תצא תשס"ט

Shabbos: Ta’am HaChaim Parashas Ki Seitzei 5769



Go out with joy

Introduction

This week’s parasha, Ki Seitzei, commences with the laws regarding the Jewish People going out to battle. Rashi writes that the battle referred to here is a discretionary battle, i.e. the Jewish People are not required to wage war against their enemies. Rather, the battle is one where the nation chooses to expand their territory. It is regarding this battle that… Continue

Added by Rabbi Binyomin Adler on August 28, 2009 at 1:11am — No Comments

NO WRITE OFFS

The Talmud (Megila 25a) condemns one who calls out in prayer “Your mercy [is so great] reaches to a bird’s nest . . . is silenced.” the Talmud explains referring to the commandment to send away the mother bird before taking the fledglings (Devarim 22:6-7) as an expression of D-vine compassion reduces the underlying basis for the Torah’s commandments as expressions of compassion and ignoring the commandments’ status as D-vine law. Yet, even the most technical and mundane commandment carries an… Continue

Added by Bernard S. Antin on August 27, 2009 at 2:46am — No Comments

Shabbos: Ta’am HaChaim Parashas Shoftim 5769

שבת טעם החיים פרשת שופטים תשס"ט

Shabbos: Ta’am HaChaim Parashas Shoftim 5769



Judges and kings

Introduction

In this week’s parashah we learn of the mitzvah of appointing Shoftim, judges, and subsequently we learn of the mitzvah to appoint a king over the Jewish People. While the function of the judge is to adjudicate rulings between quarreling parties, the function of the king is to rule over the people in a fair but firm manner. The question, however, is why the Torah… Continue

Added by Rabbi Binyomin Adler on August 21, 2009 at 5:16am — No Comments

IT ALL MATTERS WHAT YOU WANT

Elul is far more than the name given to the month preceding Rosh HaShana it is a mindset and worldview. Most importantly the upcoming Days of Awe and Judgment convey the messages that one’s behavior matters, one has the opportunity to improve oneself. The obvious question is, who does not want to do the right thing? Yet how does one engage in self improvement? Does the call of the coming judgment require an extreme makeover or does even a slight positive change count as well?



The… Continue

Added by Bernard S. Antin on August 19, 2009 at 2:11am — No Comments

Shabbos: Taam HaChaim Parashas Re’eh 5769

שבת טעם החיים פרשת ראה תשס"ט

Shabbos: Ta’am HaChaim Parashas Re’eh 5769



The need to be vigilant throughout the month of Elul

Introduction

The month of Elul is approaching. What is required of us in this month of awe? The Medrash (Pirkei D’Rabbi Eliezer §46) states that on the first Rosh Chodesh Elul that the Jewish People were in the Wilderness, Moshe blew a Shofar, signifying to the Jewish People that they should be on guard when Moshe ascended upon high. This… Continue

Added by Rabbi Binyomin Adler on August 13, 2009 at 8:12am — No Comments

SEEING G-D WITHIN ALL THINGS = FINDING THE SOURCE OF BLESSING

When events coincide, failing to notice, is to miss a heaven sent message that is unique to that particular point in time. The Shabbath is not just the week’s conclusion but also preface the week to come. So when as this Shabbath a new Month’s arrival is blessed it is only natural to look to that week’s Torah reading for guidance for insight what the content of the coming month should be. The month’s agenda alluded to in the weekly Torah reading become all the more critical when the month is… Continue

Added by Bernard S. Antin on August 13, 2009 at 7:30am — No Comments

Light at the end of the tunnel

Rabbi Brody has a great message about that while these times are hard, we should never lose hope, but stay strong

CLICK HERE


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Added by sharona on August 12, 2009 at 11:00pm — No Comments

Learn the Tanakh in the original Hebrew?

Shalom;

Dictionary.co.il, an online Hebrew dictionary, has a new online video course that helps even total beginners read and understand the Tanakh in the original Hebrew -- immediately.

Please pass this along to the people you know that would benefit from it:

http://www.tanakh.co.il/

All the best,

Moshe

Added by Moshe Burt on August 10, 2009 at 11:42pm — No Comments

HOMECOMING

These weeks between Tisha B’Av and Rosh HaShanah are best understood in the context of self evaluation and gleaning lessons for inspiration. While Ekev has many topics to examine there are some comments about the Land of Israel, Eretz Yisrael that are particularly worthy of comment.



11:12 relates that “ [Eretz Yisrael is ] A land which the L-RD your G-D seeks its welfare constantly, the eyes of the L-RD your G-D are upon {the land}from the year’s beginning till the last day of the… Continue

Added by Bernard S. Antin on August 6, 2009 at 6:00am — No Comments

Shabbos: Ta’am HaChaim Parashas Eikev 5769

שבת טעם החיים פרשת עקב תשס"ט

Shabbos: Ta’am HaChaim Parashas Eikev 5769



Transforming what we trample on towards HaShem

Introduction

This week’s parasha, Eikev, is unique that there does not appear to be an underlying theme to the parasha. The parasha commences with the blessing that the Jewish People will receive when they follow Hashem’s instructions. The Torah then exhorts the Jewish People that upon entering Eretz Yisroel they should not be intimidated by the might… Continue

Added by Rabbi Binyomin Adler on August 5, 2009 at 8:13pm — No Comments

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