Were one to examine Yisrael’s attitude towards going to Egypt, it would be hard to convince us that he was apprehensive about the trip. When he heard Yosef was alive and was convinced by the sight of the wagons that he would be reunited with his favorite son, “His spirit became alive. He said, ‘... I will go and see him before I die.’” (45:27-28) more

“Don’t eat ‘neveilah’ (meat from the carcass of an animal that dies a natural death) – give it to the ‘ger’ who lives in your gates, and he shall eat it. Or … more

It’s been almost 20 years, and every so often I still pause to think about how different it could have been. Just a few months ago we merited to walk our second child, our oldest son … more

While Westerners most often view Sunday morning as a chance to sleep late, relax with the family, and catch up on the news, for most Israeli soldiers it can be the most depressing moment of the … more

While this week’s Torah portion, Miketz (Genesis 41:1-44:17), is typically read during Chanukah, this year (when we read it the day after Chanukah) is an exception. Since my early … more

There was no love lost between Yaakov and his father-in-law Lavan. Lavan criticizes Yaakov for having “stolen” his family, and Yaakov responds saying he had been cheated numerous times over a period of 20 years working for Lavan. more

The second of this week’s portions, Massei, begins by describing the many journeys of the Jewish people in the desert on their way to entering the land of Israel. Describing each stop along the way, the Torah delineates no less than 42 separate places the Jewish people passed through on their way to Israel. more

In his Sefer Hamitzvot, Rambam states that there are two mitzvot to be gleaned from the verse, “Do not desecrate My holy name. I must be sanctified among the Israelites. I am G-d [and] I am … more

If one finds something that belongs to someone else, the Torah obligates the finder to return it. Beginning with an example of a wandering animal, the mitzvah becomes more specific and general in … more

Once again, Israel, which so longs for peace, is being forced to ready her children for war.... As missiles fall on the South and parts of the coastal region, and leaves are cancelled, there will be many families whose tefillot (prayers) will have special meaning and urgency this Shabbat. more