Rabbi Mordechai Becher’s VLog – Lag B’Omer 5777
Rabbi Mordchai Becher examines the reasons behind various customs of Lag B'Omer. View this video directly on Vimeo.
Lag B’Omer – The 33rd Day of the Omer
In the first century of the Common Era, the Jewish people experienced a major tragedy during the period of counting the Omer. The greatest sage of the generation was Rabbi Akivah, who had taught vast numbers of people. The Talmud relates that 24,000 (!) of Rabbi Akivah’s students, who constituted the primary chain of Torah [...]
Rabbi Mordechai Becher’s VLog – Appreciating a Cup of Coffee – Parshat Emor 5777
Before drinking a coffee in the morning, we say the blessing "shehakol". Rabbi Mordchai Becher examines all the different processes that were necessary to create his Sunday cup of coffee, from the ship that brings over the coffee beans, to the German factory that makes the coffee machine, to the dairy farm in New Jersey [...]
Passionately Israel
The Talmud in Tractate Chulin says something quite astonishing. It states that “pagans outside of Israel are not really pagans, they are just following the customs of their ancestors.” In other words, authentic idolatry only exists in Israel! Now that is an astounding statement, because it appears that Israel, the holy land, the land of [...]
Is Independence Good?
We will be celebrating the State of Israel’s 69th Independence Day very soon (May 2nd), an occasion for gratitude to G-d and also to the people who sacrificed so much to create a homeland and a Jewish state for the first time in over 2000 years. However, this upcoming event raised a question in my [...]
Rabbi Mordechai Becher’s VLog – An Attitude of Gratitude – Parshat Tazria-Metzora 5777
Rabbi Mordechai Becher suggests having an attitude of gratitude in all of life's experiences - even if you have an allergy attack due to spring flowers, or your grandson spills his sweet potato all over your freshly cleaned suit. View this video directly on Vimeo.
Rabbi Mordechai Becher’s VLog – Why not “G-d Of EVERYTHING?” – Pesach 5777
Rabbi Becher wonders why does G-d introduce Himself to the Jewish people as "G-d Who took you out of Egypt" and not as "G-d Who created the universe"? Surely creation of everything, space, time and matter is more impressive than taking one group of people out of Egypt? View this video directly on Vimeo.
Where is Moses?
Soon, at the Seder, we will be sitting and reading, learning, teaching and questioning the Haggadah – the story of Pesach and the Exodus which we are obligated to review, to investigate, and to convey to our children and grandchildren on the night of Pesach. It is fascinating to note that there is something fundamental [...]
Rabbi Mordechai Becher’s VLog – What’s Wrong with the Night? – Parshat Tzav 5777
Rabbi Becher asks why are most of the major aspects of service in the Holy Temple specifically during the day? What is wrong with nightime? View this video directly on Vimeo.
Remembering the Exodus
Generally, we classify the commandments of the Torah into commandments that pertain to our relationship with G-d and commandments that pertain to our relationship with other people. There are some who had a third category, the commandments that govern the relationship between body and soul, in other relationship with the self. Generally, when we think [...]