With last week’s Torah reading encompassing a summary of the essence of the Ten Commandments and with Lag Ba’omer this coming Sunday, we are each day becoming ever more mindful of the oncoming of the festival of Shavuot, the holiday commemorating the giving of the Ten Commandments on Mt. Sinai. This week’s essay is themed to this event that defines the core of our faith and very existence. more

“If you listen to God, He will keep his covenant with you. He will love you, He will bless you…” (7:13) And what does He want of you? “To walk in His ways, to love Him, and to serve” Him. (10:12) After all, “God desired to love your forefathers, and He chose their children” (10:15) to be His nation, to whom He gave His Torah and has asked of them filial devotion. He models this kind of love through “loving the stranger” (10:18), an expectation He commands and demands of you as well (10:19). more

The first rule for news about Israel, is ask questions. According to a Jerusalem Post story published on Monday, Mattot Arim and Professors for a Strong Israel, two groups that oppose a two state solution are claiming that Benjamin Netanyahu raised the issue of recognizing Israel as a Jewish State as a tactical trick to force Israel into territorial concessions. more

This week’s parsha contains a mitzvah that addresses the punishment to be placed upon those who curse their parents. This reference (Chapter 20 verse 9) seems to be a repeat from Shmot … more

The theme of the Chosen People (am hanivchar) is repeated in a number of places in the Siddur, becoming a universally accepted principle of Jewish thought: •From the blessing before … more

This week’s Kosher Bookworm features an excerpt from an essay by the distinguished writer and thinker Michal Horowitz which will serve as the introduction to a series of review essays focusing … more

This week’s parasha, the third from the book of Devorim, is Ekev, where we learn of the sole Biblical source for the mitzva to recite Birkat Hamazon, the Grace After Meals. The third prayer … more

Our parasha, Mishpatim, contains the ethically-infused mitzvah “mi’devar sheker tirchak” (“Distance yourself from a false matter,” Shemot 23:7). In his Torah … more

Perhaps the most powerful sensory experience in Judaism is the korban. Surrounded by the sights and scents of spiritual devotion and ritual sacrifice, we immerse ourselves in an environment that … more

With Yom Kippur just around the corner it is my honor to inform you of a new book authored by the prominent author, teacher and Israeli inspirational speaker Rabbanit Yemima Mizrachi, titled, … more