I would like to try to explain a very strange statement in the Talmud. A Roman approached the great sage Shammai and said that he would like to convert to Judaism on condition that he is taught the entire Torah while standing on one foot. Shammai promptly ejected the Roman from his house, and frankly,…
The Code of Jewish Law rules that one may recite the Shma in any language as long as one understands that language. The commentaries point out that Hebrew is an exception to this rule and that one may recite the Shma in Hebrew even if one does not understand the language. The Chafetz Chaim explains…
A human being cannot possibly hope to comprehend the infinite wisdom of G-d, and to understand His motives in commanding us to do a particular mitzvah or to refrain from a transgression. It is possible, however, for the human to understand what effect the mitzvah will have on himself and on the world. Nachmanides quotes…
I recently attended the dedication of a new Torah scroll to a synagogue, so I thought I would present some ideas that I wrote about in my book, Gateway to Judaism, regarding Torah scrolls. The First Scrolls Forty years after the Exodus from Egypt, when the Jewish people were finally preparing to enter the Land…
As summer approaches, I think back to one of our most memorable summer trips. Our family attended a Shabbaton where I was scholar in residence, at Kesher Israel congregation in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. The Rabbi, the synagogue and the community, were all wonderful, warm, fantastic and incredibly hospitable. On the way there we visited the Amish…
Our parsha, Nasso, concludes with the mitzvah of Tzitzit, the obligation to attach fringes to four-cornered garments. What is the meaning of this commandment? It is interesting to note that virtually all societies mandate some type of clothing, no matter how minimal or crude. Often, the purpose is obviously not utilitarian, and sometimes it is…
The revelation and giving of the Torah on Mt.Sinai was an overwhelming experience for the Jewish people. The Torah describes in great detail how every man, woman and child experienced the word of God with all of their senses. The uniqueness of this account cannot be emphasized enough. God did not whisper to a lone…
This week on the 28th of Iyar (Wed, 8th May) we celebrate the 46th anniversary of the liberation of the Old City of Jerusalem from Jordanian occupation and city’s reunification during the Six Day War in 1967. The Jewish people have a special relationship with the Land of Israel, but our bond with the city…
The period of the counting of the Omer was once a celebration and appreciation of the bounty of the land of Israel. To a great degree that aspect has been forgotten, along with an appreciation for the land itself. I am taking this opportunity to try to help correct the problem. The State of Israel…
For the Jewish people who came out of Egypt, the period between the Exodus and the revelation at Mt. Sinai was one of continuous spiritual awakening. Their relationship with God grew stronger and closer miraculous events occurred daily. For the Jewish people in subsequent generations, this period is also one of the greatest of times…