There is something very strange about the festival of Succot, of which our parsha, Emor, is the primary source. On the one hand, it is the festival supremely associated with joy (“And you …
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By Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks
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5/6/20
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Midrash Tanchuma, Parashat Yitro 10, teaches us that Torah study is comprised of three essential categories: Talmud (logical analysis), Halacha (Jewish law) and Aggadot (non-halachic expository …
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By Rabbi David Etengoff
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4/28/20
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Kedoshim contains the two great love commands of the Torah. The first is, “Love your neighbor as yourself. I am the L-rd” (Lev. 19:18). Rabbi Akiva called this “the great …
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By Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks
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4/28/20
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I am proud of my large library of Jewish books. My collection, which my wife half-jokingly refers to as my addiction, began on my 11th birthday with a gift from my maternal grandparents, may …
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By Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb
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4/28/20
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Literally translated, Acharei-Mot-Kedoshim means “after the death of the holy ones,” a reference that is all too appropriate following weeks that included Yom HaShoah (Holocaust …
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By Rabbi Binny Freedman
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4/28/20
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We’ve heard the clichés that are used to convey the importance of social groups and realization that people cannot “go at it alone” — “No man is an …
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By Rabbi Dr. Tvi Hersh Weinreb
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4/22/20
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In September 2000, in the wake of the second intifada, my unit was activated as part of the massive call-up of reserves. We had no idea how long we would be in for, which of course made the …
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By Rabbi Binny Freedman
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4/22/20
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Parashat Tazria contains a pasuk that references the mitzvah of brit milah: “And on the eighth day, the flesh of his foreskin shall be circumcised.” (Sefer Vayikra 12:3) At …
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By Rabbi David Etengoff
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4/22/20
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At the risk of disclosing a spoiler, I would like to begin this week by discussing the 2019 film, “A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.” Tom Hanks plays the beloved American …
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By Rabbi Sir Jonathan Sacks
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4/22/20
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There are certain phrases or expressions that many of us find hard to say. “I love you” is one of them. Another such phrase is “thank you.” Although these words are …
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By Rabbi Dr. Tzvi Hersh Weinreb
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4/1/20
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