The King of Egypt discovers that the woman he brought into his chambers is married to Avraham.
“What have you done to me?” he demands of Avraham. “Why didn’t you tell …
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By Rabbi Avi Billet
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10/28/20
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Reading the story of the dispersion at the beginning of chapter 11, it is hard to see where the people went wrong. In the words of Targum Yonatan, they …
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By Rabbi Avi Billet
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10/22/20
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Chava bears two children, Kayin (Cain) and Hevel, and each takes on a profession. Time passes, Kayin brings an offering to G-d, and Hevel follows suit. Then the Torah describes these …
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By Rabbi Avi Billet
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10/14/20
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Arguably the most enigmatic of the names of Rosh Hashana is Yom Hazikaron. What is being remembered and who is remembering?
When we read through the selichot, particularly those of the Aseret …
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By Rabbi Avi Billet
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9/16/20
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Other than former current events, nothing dates a Jewish book more than when discussing or quoting a deceased great rabbi with “Rabbi So and So, Shlit’a, says…”
The …
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By Rabbi Avi Billet
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8/6/20
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A major ill of our times is our inability to accept people for who they are. We often judge people based on exteriors or a one-time encounter.
In describing the first of the two …
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By Rabbi Avi Billet
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7/22/20
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As the Torah depicts the early travels of the Israelites, small details from famous stops are recalled.
“They crossed the Red Sea toward the desert. They then traveled for three days …
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By Rabbi Avi Billet
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7/15/20
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In the frenzy of last weekend, with many shuls shutting their doors, many of us were faced with the prospect of experiencing Shabbos in a way we had not before. Going to shul was off the table, so …
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By Rabbi Avi Billet
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3/18/20
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One of the garments of the Kohen Gadol (High Priest) was the Tzitz, a plate of gold worn on the forehead, inscribed with the words “Kodesh LaShem” (Holy to G-d). In describing its …
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By Rabbi Avi Billet
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3/6/20
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After nearly 50 mitzvot are described and demonstrated in Parshat Mishpatim, mostly related to damages and other person-to-person circumstances, the laws enter the realm of the holidays as we are …
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By Rabbi Avi Billet
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2/19/20
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