Harry’s Video Blog – Tomb of Our Fathers – Parshat Vayechi 5777
Jacob gives very detailed instructions to his sons regarding his burial. Harry Rothenberg explains why. View this video directly on VIMEO
Rabbi Mordechai Becher’s VLog – Rabbi Moshe Shapiro ZTzL – Parshat Vayechi 5777
Jacob the Patriarch dies in this week’s Torah reading. Unfortunately, Rabbi Moshe Shapiro, a long-time teacher for Rabbi Mordechai Becher, also died this week. Rabbi Becher gives some insights into the greatness of Rabbi Shapiro so that we can fully understand our loss. View this video directly on Vimeo.
Ask The Rabbi: Can I Really Make a Difference?
Question: Dear Rabbi, I know that as a Jew I have a responsibility to “fix the world” and make it a better place for not only my generation, but for generations to come. How does Judaism teach to do this? Are we all obligated to go to some far-away place that is impoverished to hand…
Blessings
In this week’s Torah reading, Vayechi, Jacob blesses his sons in a very famous, poetic and beautiful section of the Torah. This got me thinking about what we mean by a “blessing”. A friend of mine was in an Virginian airport, I think, and he was about to have his coffee and, as he normally…
Rabbi Mordechai Becher’s VLog – Jerusalem Under Siege – Tenth of Tevet 5777
Jews fast on the 10th of Tevet to commemorate the siege on Jerusalem immediately before the destruction of the first Temple. Rabbi Becher explains that this siege exists even today, whether it is the distortions by the media, condemnation by the United Nations, or the claims by Moslems that Jerusalem was never a Jewish city….
The 10th of Tevet
The Jewish calendar includes six days of fasting. Four of these days are linked to the destruction of the Temples and the exile of the Jewish people. These will be the focus of the following chapter. The other two, the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur, and the Fast of Esther, Ta’anit Esther, will be considered…
Ask The Rabbi: 8 Reasons for 8 Days
Question: The Chanuka miracle: A flask with one night’s oil burned for 8 nights. But being that there was oil for one night, the miracle actually lasted only 7 nights. So why is Chanuka 8 nights? AskTheRabbi.org answered: Good question! I’ll give you 8 reasons. They divided one night’s oil into eight portions. Miraculously, each…
Harry’s Video Blog – Faith – Parshat Mikeitz 5777
Joseph has to spend an extra 2 years in prison in Egypt. Harry Rothenberg explains why. View this video directly on VIMEO
Celebration
Chanukah is a celebration of the miracle of Jewish spiritual survival. After millennia of attempts to assimilate us, whether through force or persuasion, we are still here. But, it is not mere physical survival that we celebrate. After all, the genes of the Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians and Greeks have also physically survived. The miracle…
Harry’s Video Blog – Fanning the Flames – Chanukah 5777
The Sages instituted several laws regarding the lighting of the menorah. Harry Rothenberg explains that each of them is filled with meaning. View this video directly on VIMEO