Divrei Mav

Parshas Va’eschanan 2018 The Teacher Within Us If you had to guess; what is THE MOST well known passage in all of Judaism? A pretty fair bet is The Shema : “Shema Yisrael Hashem Elokeinu Hashem Echad” (Deuteronomy 6:4) . The Shema is the foundation of the Jew and a fundamental prayer in the our everyday lives. We are actually supposed to recite the shema multiple times a day; during Birchas HaShachar at the very beginning of Shacharis (morning services), again during Shacharis right before starting the Shemoneh Esrei (silent Amidah ), during Maariv (evening services), and then again at night right before we go to sleep. The shema consists of three paragraphs. Many commandments are referenced there each particularly important as they maintain our relationship with Hashem . For example, within the shema is the mitzvah to place and wrap tefillin upon one’s arm and head and to post mezuzahs upon each doorway.  The tefillin on the arm sits next to the heart...

Parshas Mattos and Masei 2018 Stops Along The Way The two parshas of Mattos and Masei generally fall out during the “three weeks”. The present Hebrew month is Av . We refer to the month however, as “ Menachem Av ” ( Menachem means to comfort) as we mourn over the many tragedies that befell our nation throughout this month and particularly on Tisha B’Av - the ninth day of the month. The last 2 weeks of the month of Tammuz (roughly) and the first nine days of Av are what we call “the three weeks”. This is a particularly sad time. In recognition of the sadness we refrain from certain activities that bring joy and induce a degree of small-scale mourning. For example, one is not supposed to cut his hair or shave, listen to music, or even to get married. The last 9 days leading up to Tisha B’Av are the most stringent. Historically, this has been a very dark and painful time for our people. So much was lost and too many suffered. Naturally, amidst the darkness any am...

Parshas Pinchas 2018 Women’s Rights [ Disclaimer : This essay is in no way intended to express political views or to offend anyone politically or socially. It’s purpose is to examine and understand the views of the Torah (which incidentally, do not align with the liberal or conservative views in America). Our Parsha this week relates a story of five daughters (sisters) who were left fatherless and they had no brothers. As a newly formed people, we had established that inheritance was to be passed through the males. However, Tzelafchad , the father of these girls had passed away and left only girls to carry on his legacy. The daughters were distraught and anxious. They approached Moshe and explained their concern. They explained to him how their father died from his own sin. They also explained how he was not part of Korach’s rebellion either. He had leftover no sons to inherit his possessions or to carry out his legacy. They asked Moshe if there was any possibility that...

Parshas Balak 2018 Use It Or Lose It There are four categories of being in life: 1. Inanimate objects, 2. Plants, 3. Animals, and 4. Humans. However, what exactly sets us, mankind, above the plants and animals? What make us a higher life form than the ferocious lion or the speedy cheetah? Hashem entrusted only us with the capacity of intelligent speech. “Balak son of Zippor saw all that Israel had done to the Amorites.” (Numbers 22:2) Balak , King of Moab heard how the B’nai Yisrael were making their way through the desert to the land of Canaan (soon to be Israel). He became fearful that they would come to conquer his nation next. He sent messengers to summon Bilaam (of Pethor) who was a gentile prophet with potential equal to that of Moshe Rabbeinu . Bilaam was able to speak directly to Hashem . Hashem endowed him with a similar level of prophecy so the gentile nations could not complain  that G-d never gave them a leader like Moshe .   King Balak...