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![]() Kenneth CohenThe Times of Israel (Blogs) |
There is a commandment to make two special silver trumpets. They were used to give instructions to the camp in the desert as to when it was time to...
The punitive system of the Torah is set up where a punishment only comes for the violation of one of the 365 commandments. There is no punishment for...
There is an expression in Judaism, סוף הכבוד לבוא, that the honor will come in the end. We are meant to shy away from seeking honor, and...
When a great man passes away, it should be a time for reflection. The passing of Rav Gershon Edelstein, of blessed memory, is one such example. The...
The Orchot Tzaddikim has a little different approach in explaining the power of the tongue. There is an attempt to specifically show how speech can be...
The Gemara in Masechet Brachot, makes an interesting observation. The subject of the Sotah, the woman suspected of being unfaithful, follows the...
It is so fascinating to find parallels in Judaism to secular concepts. The term “narcissism,” describes a personality disorder where an individual...
The incident of the Sotah, the woman suspected of being unfaithful to her husband, is found in Parshat Naso. This is the only commandment in the Torah...
Parshat Nasso gives instructions regarding the quarantining of individuals with various types of impurity. It speaks of the one who has come in...
The emphasis of the holiday of Shavuot, is not only the receiving of the Torah, but there is important emphasis on studying Torah. The Talmud in...
The Shavuot holiday is an acknowledgement of the greatest day in human history. The entire Jewish nation heard G-d speak on Mount Sinai, as they were...
The Gemara in Masechet Shabbat 88b, tells the story of how Moshe Rabbeinu ascended to the Heavenly heights. The ministering angels were at first...
It is interesting that the Orchot Tzaddikim after discussing אמת and שקר, truth and falsehood, continues with a chapter on חניפה, flattery....
Parshat Bamidbar consists of many technical points connected with the journey of the Jewish people in the desert. There is a census taken, and there...
One of themes of Parshat Midbar, is the idea of “Tafkid,” having a role to play. This is related to the various roles of the Levite tribe. Aside...
The Baal Haturim noted that the last Pasuk of Vayikra ended with the words, אלה המצוות, “and these are the commandments.” This week’s...
This week we celebrate one of the greatest miracles of modern times. Joshua took seven years to conquer thirty-one kings. Israel liberated its...
The Torah gives a serious warning as to how one might get into a progression of one bad deed leading to the other. Rashi emphasizes this by way of...
Rashi comments to the words, אם בחוקותי תשמורו, “If you will keep my statutes,” that we must be עמלים בתורה, “Striving...
The prohibition against the taking of interest, is viewed as a very severe violation of the Torah. The damage is not seen immediately, but in the long...
There is a classic question asked about the first Pasuk in Parshat Behar. The Parsha begins by telling us that the laws of the Sabbatical year was...
This week we read the double Parshas of בהר-בחוקותי, which concludes the third book of the Torah, ויקרא. Parshat Behar contains many...
The Orchot Tzaddikim speaks of many positive and negative character traits. There is a chapter on arrogance and another on humility. There is another...
Another method of deriving Torah laws is the concept of Kal Vachomer. This is a type of logic known as a fortiori reasoning. If something light is...
There are thirteen methods used to derive various laws of the Torah. There is a daily morning prayer in the name of Rabbi Yishmael, where he lists...
Parshat Emor has sixty-three of the 613 Mitzvot of the Torah. Only Parshat Ki-tetze, has more, with seventy-four. While the main topics are the rules...
The position of Kohein Hagadol, High Priest, is very fascinating. Aharon was the first Kohein Gadol, and he was followed by his son, Elazar. This...
This week, we read פרשת אמור. It contains the special rules that apply to the Kohanim, and how they are to be treated. In Temple times, they...
It is a well known principle in Judaism that in order to achieve Shalom, peace, there must be Emet, truth alongside it. This is a true on a national...
There are certain instances in a person’s life, when his slate is cleaned of all his previous sins. The wedding day is such an example, when there...
We learned this week of the Torah’s commandment of וחי בהם, that we are to live by the Mitzvot and not die by them. This is a source for the...
Parshat Kedoshim begins with the words, קדושים תהיו, “Be holy.” The Rabbis comment on this by saying, קדש עצמך במותר לך,...
We are living in very tumultuous times. The representation of truth and morality, has very different extremes. The “woke” culture, borders on...
It is not a coincidence that the double Parshiot of Acharei-Mot- Kedoshim follow Yom Hazikaron and Yom Ha’atzmaut. If we translate the names of...
There is such an amazing contrast today, in terms of how Jews of all backgrounds, view the State of Israel. Israel’s Independence Day, is a day of...
It is very difficult to understand how Jews worldwide fail to appreciate the miracle that is the State of Israel. It is even more difficult to...
When we discuss the illness known as צרעת, or leprosy, it is always connected with the subject of Lashon Hara, evil speech. This is explained as...
The Gemara in מסכת נדה, gives an unclear explanation as to why a the Brit of a Jewish boy is on the eighth day. The intent was for all present...
We are now in the period between Yom Hashoah and Yom Hazikaron. We remember those who perished in the Holocaust, as well as our fallen soldiers. It is...
This week, we read of the details involving the purification process of the יולדת, the woman who gives birth. There is a period of separation...
The word, להבדיל, “to separate,” is found only five times in all of Tanach. It appeared twice in Parshat Shemini. The Book of Bereishit...
It is a little more understandable as to why Jews have gone so far astray from their Jewish observance, when we consider what we lost. If we gain a...
We often speak of the great loss that we have by not having a functioning Beit Hamikdash. The Temple served as a place of inspiration for the entire...
The consensus opinion regarding the sin of Nadav and Avihu, was that they entered the Holy of Holies in a state of intoxication. We know this because...
There is a large section in Parshat Shemini that deals with an explanation of the Kashrut laws. This is the source for the requirements of animals,...
There are many interpretations as to why Nadav and Avihu, the sons of Aharon, deserved to be put to death. The Baal Haturim lists at least five...
As a Torah educator, it was always my task to show the value of living a life of faith in G-d, along with the observance of the Mitzvot. The question...
The seventh day of Pesach celebrates the defeat of the Egyptians, with the splitting of the Red Sea. Then Moshe and all of Israel, erupted in song and...
We read Shir Hashirim on Shabbat Chol Hamoed. The connection to the holiday of Pesach, is that it speaks of ultimate redemption for the Jewish people....
The Sefirat Haomer is connected to a significant law that even has applications today. On the second day of Pesach, an Omer sacrifice was made using...