Seize the day
The people are presented with a very clear choice regarding their futures: רְאֵה אָנכִי נתֵן לִפְנֵיכֶם הַיּוֹם בְּרָכָה וּקְלָלָה – Behold, I am giving before you today a blessing and a curse. (11:26)...
View ArticleThe limits of charity
The Torah affirms the importance of charity: עשר תעשר – you shall tithe… (14:22) A double statement means to repeatedly do it, an unlimited amount of times. The difficulty this poses is that the Gemara...
View ArticlePersonal choice
When Rivka was pregnant, she was in pain all the time: וַיִּתְרֹצְצוּ הַבָּנִים, בְּקִרְבָּהּ, וַתֹּאמֶר אִם-כֵּן, לָמָּה זֶּה אָנֹכִי; וַתֵּלֶךְ, לִדְרֹשׁ אֶת-ה. (25:19-20) Chazal understand that each...
View ArticleTrailblazer
Moshe makes a point of telling the gathered people not to overlook things they aren’t keen on: וְהָיָה עֵקֶב תִּשְׁמְעוּן, אֵת הַמִּשְׁפָּטִים הָאֵלֶּה, וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם וַעֲשִׂיתֶם, אֹתָם-וְשָׁמַר ה...
View ArticleSeize The Day
In Moshe’s final speech to his people, he lets them know that whatever they do, they always have a stark choice: רְאֵה אָנכִי נתֵן לִפְנֵיכֶם הַיּוֹם בְּרָכָה וּקְלָלָה – I am giving before you today a...
View ArticleThe Abundance Of Charity
One of the key themes the Torah reiterates over and over is the importance of charity: עשר תעשר – you shall tithe… (14:22) In Hebrew, a double statement means to do something repeatedly. How can the...
View ArticlePersonal Choice
Rivka had a difficult pregnancy and was often in pain from the unborn children fighting. One particular time, she lamented: וַיִּתְרֹצְצוּ הַבָּנִים, בְּקִרְבָּהּ, וַתֹּאמֶר אִם-כֵּן, לָמָּה זֶּה...
View ArticleInspired Blessing
Habits are a powerful thing – habits are how we live and function because motivation is fleeting. But there is a dangerous possibility of habitual religious observance: רְאֵה אָנֹכִי נֹתֵן לִפְנֵיכֶם...
View ArticleToday You, Tomorrow Me
There is an almost universal survival instinct among living organisms for self-preservation, that can extend to children and family as well. As the degrees of separation erode familiarity, the...
View ArticleSensitivity to God’s Creatures
The vast corpus of laws about kosher food reflects the theme that the Torah deeply respects the life of all creatures. As such, while humans are permitted to eat meat for energy and nutrition, there...
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