Rabbi Mordechai Becher’s Vlog on Parshat Vayakhel 5774
A Jew’s Home is His…Tabernacle Your home is not just your castle; it’s your tabernacle! View this video directly on Vimeo
Fire On Shabbos – Vayakhel 5774
Do not light a fire in any of your dwellings on the Shabbat day (Exodus 35:3) Many activities are forbidden on the Shabbat (39 major categories). Why does the Torah single out “fire”? Rashi cites an opinion in the Talmud that fire is singled out because it is a less severe transgression than the other…
Rabbi Mordechai Becher’s Vlog on Parshat Ki Tisa 5774
Keep My Sabbath(s)? Rabbi Becher explains why the Torah commands us to Keep My Sabbaths – in plural. View this video directly on Vimeo
Employees Must Wash Their Hands – Ki Tisa 5774
The Cohanim (priests) are commanded to wash their hands and feet before entering into the Temple or Tabernacle in order to perform the service. Similarly every Jew is obligated to wash their hands upon waking in the morning because each one of us is like a priest about to enter the Temple (the world on…
Rabbi Mordechai Becher’s Vlog on Parshat Tetzaveh 5774
The Halachic Eye Rabbi Becher discusses how one can see tragedy and beauty through “halachic eyes.” View this video directly on Vimeo
The Jewish Leap Year – Tetzaveh 5774
This Jewish year consists of 13 months and we are currently in the additional month of Adar I. I think an explanation of this strange phenomenon is called for. Measuring and marking the passage of time is a universal human preoccupation. At least forty different calendars are in use around the world today. The most…
Rabbi Mordechai Becher’s Vlog on Parshat Terumah 5774
The Real Test is Inside Rabbi Becher discusses why is the inner gold “more pure” than the outer gold of the holy ark? View this video directly on Vimeo
Symbolism of the Sanctuary – Terumah 5774
Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch devotes almost an entire volume (Vol. III) of his Collected Writings to the symbolism of the Sanctuary. I would like to share with you just a few insights. We note that all the dimensions of the Tabernacle, the portable Sanctuary constructed in the Sinai desert, were whole numbers except for the…
Rabbi Mordechai Becher’s Vlog on Parshat Mishpatim 5774
When the Majority needs the Minority Rabbi Becher looks at how decisions of guilt or innocence are made in a Jewish Court. View this video directly on Vimeo
Legalities, Morals and Divine Ethics – Parshas Mishpatim 5774
Parshat Mishpatim contains within it much of the Jewish legal code in areas of torts and damages, contract law, business law and the like. In the ancient world, many codes of law preceded or existed concurrently with the Torah’s code. These systems provided societies with the legal framework necessary to prevent anarchy and to ensure…