Shabbat Forshpeis
A Taste of Torah in Honor of Shabbat
This Weeks Divrei Torah
PARSHAT SHOFTIM
EACH ONE OF US IS LIKE
THE TREE OF THE FIELD
SEPTEMBER 2-3, 2011 / 4 ELUL 5771
The Torah's sympathetic attitude toward ecology
surfaces in a law legislating conduct during
war. This week's portion states: "When you
besiege a
city for many days
PARSHAT RE'EH
THE DIFFERENT MEANINGS OF RE'EH
AUGUST 26-27, 2011/ 27 AV 5771
The first word in our portion re-eh is one
of the most powerful terms
found in the Torah.
PARSHAT EKEV
THE SIMPLE KEY TO WHY GOD GIVES US
THE COMMANDMENTS
AUGUST 19-20, 2011 / 20 AV 5771
Although we may live lives dedicated to following the
commandments of the Torah, the core
question of "What
does God ask of us?"
PARSHAT VA'ETHANAN
THE DIVINE NEED FOR EACH ONE OF US
AUGUST 12-13, 2011/ 13 AV 5771
Without the world, what
would God be? The
PARSHAT DEVARIM
NATIONAL EVENTS SERVE AS A CORRECTIVE
FOR INDIVIDUAL ONES
AUGUST 5-6, 2011 / 6 AV 5771
Many events in the book of Bereishit (Genesis) repeat
themselves in Devarim (Deuteronomy) with
one major difference.
PARSHAT MASEI
THE VALUE OF LIVING IN THE LAND OF ISRAEL
JULY 29-30, 2011 / 28 TAMMUZ 5771
The portion of Masei includes the sentence that
speaks to the commandment
of living in Israel.
PARSHAT MATOT
ONE ACTION CAN MAKE ALL OF THE DIFFERENCE
JULY 22-23, 2011/ 21 TAMMUZ 5771
In this week's portion, Moshe
(Moses) gives to the
PARSHAT PINHAS
THE POWER IN STEPPING BACK
JULY 15-16, 2011 / 14 TAMMUZ 5771
One way that people attempt to attain transcendence
is by guiding their children on the
path they began.
Even Moshe
PARSHAT BALAK
CHILDREN SHOULD NOT BE PUNISHED FOR
THE SINS OF THEIR PARENTS
JULY 8-9, 2011 / 7 TAMMUZ 5771
In this week's portion, Balak King of Moab
hires Bilaam to curse Israel.
(Numbers 22:5,6) A
review of the history
PARSHAT HUKAT
THE LIMITATIONS OF THE HUMAN MIND
JULY 1-2, 2011 / 30 SIVAN 5771
There are differing opinions concerning the meaning
of "hok" (commonly translated as
statute), the type
PARSHAT KORACH
DISSENT FOR THE SAKE OF HEAVEN
JUNE 24-25, 2011 / 23 SIVAN 5771
The controversy of Korach and his congregation-unlike
the controversy of the scholars Hillel and
Shammai - is a
controversy not pursued
PARSHAT SHELACH
APPARENT TEMPORARY SITUATIONS
CAN BECOME TRUE TESTS OF RESOLVE
JUNE 17-18, 2011/ 16 SIVAN 5771
The episode of the spies indicates that the challenges
facing the Jewish people after we left Egypt
were not merely
a temporary phase.
PARSHAT BEHA'ALOTCHA
LIMITATION CAN BE A CONDUIT TO FREEDOM
JUNE 10-11, 2011 / 9 SIVAN 5771
Complaining to Moshe (Moses), the Israelites cry out
that they remember the fish served
to them in
Egypt that they
PARSHAT NASO
THE SOTAH TEACHES US THE TRUE
PURPOSE OF TORAH LEARNING
JUNE 3-4, 2011 / 2 SIVAN 5771
The enigmatic process of the sotah (Numbers 5:11-31) is
found in this portion of the Torah. Many rationales
have been used to explain
this concept, but this
PARSHAT BAMIDBAR
THE GREAT IMPORTANCE OF COUNTING
MAY 27-28, 2011 / 24 IYAR 5771
This week's portion contains a counting of the Jewish
people. Nachmanides offers several ideas to explain
the reason for such a census. Each
reason
has a deep message.
PARSHAT BECHUKOTAI
WHY DO THE GOOD SUFFER?
MAY 20-21, 2011 / 17 IYAR 5771
This week's portion clearly states that good
people are rewarded while evil people are
punished. In
the words of
PARSHAT BEHAR
STAYING CLOSE INFUSES LIFE
MAY 13-14, 2011 / 10 IYAR 5771
In this week's prophetic portion, Jeremiah
prophesied about the destruction
of the First Temple.
PARSHAT EMOR
NO HUMAN CAN GIVE ALL ANSWERS AT
THE MOMENTS OF DEEPEST DESPAIR
MAY 6-7, 2011 / 3 IYAR 5771
This week's Torah portion presents many rules
pertaining to the Kohen (Jewish priest).
Among these laws
is the prohibition
PARSHAT KEDOSHIM
THE MEANING OF THE WORD OF KADDOSH
APRIL 29-30, 2011 / 26 NISSAN 5771
How does one attain the status of kedusha (holiness),
commanded in one of this week's Torah
portions?
(Leviticus 19:2)
PESACH 5771
THE DEEPER MEANING OF DAYENU
APRIL 18-26, 2011 / 14-22 NISSAN 5771
Perhaps the most famous song in the haggadah
is Dayenu.
What is its meaning?
PARSHAT AHAREI MOT
OUR MISSION TO TURN PASSIVE FATE
INTO ACTIVE DESTINY
APRIL 15-16, 2011/ 12 NISAN 5771
Why were Nadav and Avihu, two of Ahron's
(Aaron) sons killed? The
Torah states
PARSHAT METZORA
SEPARATION AS ENHANCING LOVE
BETWEEN HUSBAND AND WIFE
APRIL 8-9, 2011/ 5 NISAN 5771
Why is there a time of physical separation
between husband and wife every month--a mandate
found in this week's
Torah portion. (Leviticus 15)
PARSHAT TAZRIA
THE MEANING OF TUMAH
APRIL 1-2, 2011 / 27 ADAR II 5771
There are many who believe that
Jewish
law links a
PARSHAT SHEMINI
THE RATIONALE FOR THE DIETARY LAWS
MARCH 25-26, 2011 / 20 ADAR II 5771
The Torah in this week's Parsha mandates that
for animals to be kosher
they must possess two
PARSHAT TZAV
THE IMPORANCE OF TRUMAT HA-DESHEN
MARCH 18-19, 2011 / 13 ADAR II 5771
Our parsha informs us that the priests' first task
of the day was to
remove the ashes from
PARSHAT VAYIKRA
ONE WORD CAN MAKE A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE
MARCH 11-12, 2011 / 6 ADAR II 5771
Having completed the portions describing the
building of the Mishkan (tabernacle),
the Torah now
PARSHAT PEKUDEI
THE MEANING OF HAZAK, HAZAK, VE-NITHAZEK
MARCH 4-5, 2011 / 29 ADAR I 5771
The second book of the Torah concludes
at the end of this week's portion.
As the final words
are recited, the
PARSHAT VA-YAKHEL
DETAILS GIVE US EQUAL ACCESS TO THE DIVINE
FEBRUARY 25-26, 2011/ 22 ADAR I 5771
No less than seven portions are dedicated to the
building of the Tabernacle and the sacrificial
service offered there. One wonders why so much
detail? This is especially troublesome
when compared to
PARSHAT KI TISA
GOD ACTUALLY DESIRES OUR DEMANDS
FEBRUARY 18-19, 2011 / 15 ADAR 5771
Is it appropriate to challenge God when
things are going wrong?
PARSHAT TETZAVEH
THE ULTIMATE ARBITER OF CHECKS AND BALANCES
FEBRUARY 11-12, 2011 / 8 ADAR I 5771
Built into an open democratic system of government
is the idea that too much power should
not be
invested in any one
PARSHAT TERUMAH
THE MISHKAN AS A VEHICLE
TO OUR CONNECTION WITH GOD
FEBRUARY 4-5, 2011 / 1 ADAR I 5771
Rabbi Yosef Dov Soloveitchik of blessed memory,
points out that prayer and prophecy are two
sides of the same coin.
While both involve
PARSHAT MISHPATIM
LOOKING AT THE COMMANDMENTS HORIZONTALLY
JANUARY 28-29, 2011 / 24 SHEVAT 5771
Jewish law is commonly broken down into two groups,
laws which refer to the link between humanity and God
(bein adam la-Makom) and laws which govern
interpersonal
relationships (bein adam le-havero).
PARSHAT YITRO
JEWISH HISTORY AS A VEHICLE TOWARD BELIEF
JANUARY 21-22, 2011 / 17 SHEVAT 5771
Right at the outset of the Aseret Hadibrot,
the ten declarations (commonly
translated as
the Ten Commandments),
PARSHAT BESHALACH
A SALVATION OF PARTNERSHIP
BETWEEN HEAVEN AND EARTH
JANUARY 14-15, 2011 / 10 SHEVAT 5771
"Where is God?" asked Menahem Mendel of Kotzk,
one of the great Hasidic masters.
"Everywhere,"
replied his students.
PARSHAT BO
UNDERSTANDING THE TRUE NATURE OF REPARATIONS
JANUARY 7-8, 2011 / 3 SHEVAT 5771
How could it be that as the Jews left Egypt
they despoiled the Egyptians (va-yenatzlu)
and took
their goods (Exodus 12:36).
PARSHAT VA-ERA
THE DIVINE PLAN OF THE TEN PLAGUES
DECEMBER 31, 2010 – JANUARY 1, 2011 / 25 TEVET 5771
Although the plagues may seem like random punishments,
they are actually a Divine plan to teach
the Egyptians
some fundamental lessons.
PARSHAT SHEMOT
IN A PLACE WHERE THERE IS NO HUMANITY,
STAND TALL AND ASSERT YOURS
DECEMBER 24-25, 2010 / 18 TEVET 5771
After being raised in the Egyptian palace, Moshe
(Moses) goes
into the field and sees
PARSHAT VAYECHI
THE UNIQUE CHARACTER OF THE GRANDPARENT RELATIONSHIP
DECEMBER 17-18, 2010 / 11 TEVET 5771
Notified that his father Yaakov (Jacob) is sick, Yosef (Joseph)
takes his sons Ephraim and Menashe to
see their grandfather.
PARSHAT VAYIGASH
THE IMPORTANCE OF TEARS
DECEMBER 10-11, 2010 / 4 TEVET 5771
When Yaakov (Jacob) meets his son Yosef (Joseph)
after seventeen years of separation
the Torah states,
PARSHAT MIKETZ
WHY ARE WE CALLED YEHUDIM?
DECEMBER 3-4, 2010 / 27 KISLEV 5771
It is commonly known that the reason that we call ourselves
by the name Yehudim (Jews) is because most of us come
literally from the Kingdom of Judah, or more
specifically the
tribe of Judah.
PARSHAT VA-YESHEV
GOOD THINGS HAPPEN WHEN PEOPLE ACT
NOVEMBER 26-27, 2010 / 20 KISLEV 5771
The dreams of the butler (sar ha-mashkim) and
baker (sar ha-ofim) seem quite similar. Each of their
dreams contain food (grapes, bread), the
relinquishing of
PARSHAT VAYISHLACH
TWO IMPORTANT ELEMENTS IN ACHIEVING CHANGE
NOVEMBER 19-20, 2010 / 13 KISLEV 5771
Is public protest an effective means of
bringing about change? While many
insist on its
PARSHAT VA-YETZE
JACOB MEETS RACHEL-TEARS OF JOY, SADNESS
AND AWARENESS THAT NOTHING LASTS FOREVER
NOVEMBER 12-13, 2010 / 6 KISLEV 5771
As Ya'akov (Jacob) flees Esav (Esau) he arrives near his uncle
Laban’s home. There he sees his cousin Rachel. The Torah
tells us, "And Ya'akov kissed Rachel and
cried." (Genesis 29:11)
Why the tears?
PARSHAT TOLDOT
YAAKOV AND YISRAEL: THE INTEGRATION
OF BODY AND SOUL
NOVEMBER 5-6, 2010 / 29 HESHVAN 5771
This week's portion tells of Yitzchak's (Isaac) special
love for Esav (Esau) and Rivka's (Rebecca) special love
for Yaakov (Jacob). (Genesis 25:28) One
wonders how Yitzchak
PARSHAT HAYEI SARAH
THE SHALSHELET: THE MUSICAL
NOTE WITH A DEEP MESSAGE
OCTOBER 29-30, 2010 / 22 HESHVAN 5771
Words have the power to express ideas. But as expressive
as words can be, they can sometimes be limiting. Often
music can give soul and meaning to
ideas that words cannot.
PARSHAT VAYERA
THE TEST OF FAITH IS BELIEVING IN GOD
EVEN WHEN OUR PRAYERS ARE NOT ANSWERED
OCTOBER 22-23, 2010 / 15 HESHVAN 5771
After the binding of Yitzchak (Isaac) episode (akedat Yitzchak),
the Torah tells us that Nachor, Avraham's (Abraham) brother, was
blessed with
eight children. (Genesis 22:20-24)
PARSHAT LECH-LECHA
THE GREATEST ROLE MODELS ARE ONES
THAT SHOW THEY ARE TRULY HUMAN
OCTOBER 15-16, 2010 / 8 HESHVAN 5771
At Sarah's insistence, Abraham marries Hagar.
Soon after, Hagar becomes pregnant and Sarah then
becomes enraged. Here, the
Torah uses the
PARSHAT NOACH
THE SECRET TO EVERLASTING CREATION
OCTOBER 8-9, 2010 / 1 HESHVAN 5771
This week's portion describes the famous story
in Genesis of the great deluge that destroyed
the earth. Why must the narrative
tell us about the
PARSHAT BEREISHIT
EACH OF US HAS A GODLY SPARK
OCTOBER 1-2, 2010/ 24 TISHREI 5771
While some maintain that the human being is only
physical form, the Torah, in one of its most
important sentences, insists that every person is
also created in the image
of God—tzelem
Elokim (Genesis 1:26,27).
A TASTE OF TORAH IN HONOR OF SHABBAT AND YOM TOV
SUKKOT
SEPTEMBER 23-OCTOBER 1, 2010/ 15 TISHREI 5771
I've always wondered why Sukkot falls just a few
days after Yom Kippur. After all,
the rabbis ask,
A TASTE OF TORAH IN HONOR OF YOM KIPPUR
THE MEANING OF TESHUVA
SEPTEMBER 17-18, 2010 / 10 TISHREI 5771
The central theme of Yom Kippur is teshuva, commonly
translated as "repentance." We hear so much about
this term, but what, in fact
does it truly mean?
A TASTE OF TORAH IN HONOR OF SHABBAT AND YOM TOV
REFLECTIONS ON THE SHOFAR
SEPTEMBER 9-10, 2010/ 1-3 TISHREI 5771
Autumn Approaches. Before we even realize,
the weather begins to turn,
the colors
PARSHAT NITZAVIM/VAYELECH
TESHUVAH: GOD'S RETURN TO US
SEPTEMBER 3-4, 2010/ 25 ELUL 5770
Parshat Nitzavim, the first of the two portions
we read this week, is replete with the
message of teshuvah
(repentance). Teshuvah
PARSHAT KI TAVO
ANTI-ZIONISM IS A COVER FOR ANTI-SEMITISM
AUGUST 27-28, 2010 / 18 ELUL 5770
Three covenants (brit) are mentioned in the Torah,
the covenant of the pieces (Genesis 15), the
covenant of Sinai (Exodus 19), and
the covenant
of our portion,
PARSHAT KI-TETZE
THE CHALLENGE OF MORALITY IN THE FACE OF WAR
AUGUST 20-21, 2010 / 9 ELUL 5700
"All is fair in love and war."
Not so in Judaism.
PARSHAT SHOFTIM
THE ROLE OF THE JEWISH KING
AUGUST 13-14, 2010 / 4 ELUL 5770
Whether appointing a king is legally obligatory
or not is a subject of great controversy. But
whether it is or is not, the Torah recognizes
that it is
human nature that people
PARSHAT RE'EH
ADDING AND SUBTRACTING FROM THE TORAH:
THE RABBI'S ROLE IN THE LEGAL PROCESS
AUGUST 6-7, 2010 / 27 AV 5770
This week's Torah portion gives us a curious
mitzvah. It tells us not to add or subtract
to the
commandments. (Deuteronomy 13:1)
PARSHAT EKEV
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE LAND OF ISRAEL
JULY 30-31, 2010 / 20 AV 5770
Over and over our portion emphasizes the importance
of inheriting the land of Israel. (Deuteronomy 8:1, 9:1)
Why is Israel so crucial to
our covenant with God?
PARSHAT VAETCHANAN NACHAMU
STAYING CONNECTED TO ISRAEL
JULY 23-24, 2010 / 13 AV 5770
Moshe (Moses) in this weeks' portion implores
God for permission
to enter into Israel.
PARSHAT DEVARIM/CHAZON
THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN HUMAN
ENDEAVOR AND DIVINE INTERVENTION
JULY 16-17, 2010 / 6 AV 5770
There is a Talmudic story that reveals a lot
about how
we should react when facing adversity.
PARSHAT MATOT-MASEI
IN TIMES OF DANGER, RUN TO ISRAEL
RATHER THAN FROM ISRAEL
JULY 9-10, 2010 / 28 TAMMUZ 5770
In one of this week’s portions, Reuven, Gad and
half of Menashe request to remain on the eastern
side of the Jordan. A cursory review of their
request gives us insight into why these particular
tribes tried to remain
outside Israel.
PARSHAT PINCHAS
WHY DO WE PRAY WITH A SET TEXT?
JULY 2-3, 2010 / 21 TAMMUZ 5770
An opinion recorded in the Talmud states that
prayers correspond to the daily sacrifices offered
in the Temple which are mentioned in
this week’s
portion. (Berakhot 26b, Numbers 28:4)
PARSHAT BALAK
THE POWER OF LOVE TO CONQUER HATRED
JUNE 25-26, 2010 / 14 TAMMUZ 5770
Could it be that Bilaam, the gentile prophet, saddled
his own animal when he set forth to curse the Jews?
(Numbers 22:21) For someone of his stature, a
prophet, it certainly seems
beneath his dignity.
PARSHAT CHUKAT
KEEPING THE EGO IN CHECK
JUNE 18-19, 2010 / 7 TAMMUZ 5770
In this week’s portion Moses is told that he
would not enter Israel because he hit
the rock instead
of speaking to it.
PARSHAT KORACH
THE MAKING OF A SUCCESSFUL RABBI
JUNE 11-12, 2010/ 30 SIVAN 5770
From the time that Moshe (Moses) comes on the scene,
he is under attack. As he breaks up a fight between
Jews while still in Egypt, one turns to him and says,
"who made you a ruler
and judge over us." (Exodus 2:14)
PARSHAT SHELACH
THE GIFT OF OPPORTUNITY IS NOT LIMITLESS
JUNE 4-5, 2010 / 23 SIVAN 5770
A glimpse at the narrative in the book of Numbers
reveals an almost parallel pattern of events to that
which occurred to the
Jews after their leaving Egypt.
PARSHAT BA-HA'ALOTCHA
THE GREAT SIGNIFICANCE OF THE
SMALLEST BOOK OF THE TORAH
MAY 28-29, 2010 / 16 SIVAN 5770
The words we recite when taking the Torah from the
Ark are found in this week's portion. "And it came
to pass, when the Ark set forward, that Moshe (Moses)
said 'rise up O Lord and let Your enemies be scattered;
and let them that hate
You flee before You.'" (Numbers 10:35)
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