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…
In honor of Tu BeShvat, the new year of trees. Below is an overview of some of the mitzvot that apply to the produce of the Land of Israel. The Land of Israel and its agricultural products are considered holy, therefore there are special laws that apply to them. The most well-known is the obligation…
Only one member of the nations of the world shows up to convert to Judaism after the Jews leave Egypt – Yitro (Jethro). Why was he the only person to heed the call? View this video directly on Vimeo.
Celebrating Our Idiosyncrasies Was Yitro a counter-culture hero? Are all Jews revolutionaries? And if not, should they be? View this video directly on Vimeo
In this week’s Torah portion, Parshat Beshalach, it’s time to leave Egypt. But while the Jews are busy collecting reparations for their years of slave labor, their leader, Moses, is out searching for Joseph’s bones. Why did Moses choose that job for himself instead of appointing one of Joseph’s descendants? View this video directly on…
National Connectivity Did all the Jews leave Egypt? Were they armed? Were they all one family? View this video directly on Vimeo.
As the Jews leave Egypt they take dough with them, which they bake into unleavened cakes, known as matzah (pl. matzot). On the simplest level, the only difference between a loaf of bread and matzah is that the bread is inflated and matzah is flat. Matzah is the food of a humble slave, who does…
The 9th plague begins as darkness descends on the homes of the Egyptians but not on the homes of the Jews. 3 days later, G-d intensifies the darkness, sending different messages to the Egyptians and the Jews. View this video directly on Vimeo
For The Dogs Rabbi Becher talks about dogs in Judaism View this video directly on Vimeo
G-d sends Moses and Aaron to confront Pharaoh again. Staffs turn into snakes during the showdown. But there is more going on than meets the eye. View this video directly on Vimeo