Rabbi Avi Billet
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When I was in high school, one of my teachers was fond of asking us, “What do you want to be when you grow up?” The answer he was always looking for was, “I want to be an eved … more
One of the more destructive qualities of any leader, teacher, mentor is being hypocritical. Anyone who looks up to someone else can easily be disenfranchised when they catch the person they admire … more
The Torah commands us twice to rejoice on Sukkot. For Shavuot it only says to rejoice one time. For Pesach “joy” is not mentioned at all (it’s difficult to rejoice when … more
Parshat Vayera by Rabbi Avi Billet Issue of October 22, 2010/ 14 Cheshvan 5771 Avraham has three visitors. Two of them go on to Sodom to destroy the city and save Lot. When … more
An unofficial theme of the book of Bamidbar is that the strings of narratives are connected thematically. The most quoted example of this is the first critique given to the spies of Parshat Shlach, who did not learn from the tale of Miriam’s tale-bearing punishment. more
My daughter and I were recently learning Metzora, and she asked me why the process of getting rid of tzaraat included a ritual of placing blood on the ear, thumb and toe of the afflicted individual, on the one hand, and why it is specifically on the right (and not the left) of all extremities. more
When the donations were finally brought to the Tabernacle, the Torah describes how the men and women came. But the phraseology utilized (beginning of 35:22) is questionable. A literal translation … more
There are no words to explain the horrific tragedy that unfolded in Brooklyn last week, only questions. The positive side of the story is the outpouring of love, concern, and support that a community could exhibit for a child and for his family, in the aftermath of a conclusion no one could anticipate, expect, or face as being the reality. more
To the best of my counting (and I’m happy to hear a correction), the Torah mentions the concept of Shabbos once in Bereishis, six times in Shemos, four times in Vayikra, twice in Bamidbar (including this week’s parsha, Shelach) and only once in Devarim. Add to this at least 16 times it is referenced in the remaining 19 books of the Bible, and we have a significant day in the Jewish calendar. more
In Devarim 22:13-21, we find two related circumstances that are both very disturbing from a contemporary vantage point. The first concerns a man who marries a woman and then claims she was not a … more
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