And Moshe ascended, from the Plains of Moav, Mount Navo to the peak that faces Yericho.  And Hashem showed him the entire land from the Gilad to Dan.  (Sefer Devarim 34:1) I. The recording of Moshe’s death This passage introduces the final chapter of Sefer Devarim and the Torah.  Moshe ascends Mount Navo.  From its […]

And Esther said: If it pleases the king, let the king and Haman come today to the banquet that I have prepared for him.  (Megilat Esther 5:4) And the king arose in his fury from the wine feast to the orchard garden, and Haman stood to beg for his life of Queen Esther, for he […]

Bait Shammai say that on the first night, one kindles eight. From then onward, one decreases the number. And Bait Hillel says that on the first night, one kindles one. From then onward, one adds to the number. (Tractate Shabbat 21b)  I. Bait Shammai and Bait Hillel One of the most well-known disputes concerning the mitzvah of […]

Rav Yehudah said in the name of Rav: When Moshe our teacher was about to enter Gan Eden, he said to Yehoshua, “Ask of me any doubts that you have.” Yehoshua replied, “My master, did I leave you for even one moment? Is it not written in the Torah  ‘And his servant, Yehoshua the son […]

Always, a person should see oneself as half guilty and half meritorious.  Perform one mitzvah and he should rejoice!  He has tipped his scale to the side of merit.  Perform one sin, woe to him!  He has tipped his scale to guilt.  [This is] as it says: And one sinner destroys much good.  [This means […]

It is a positive command of the Torah to discuss the miracles and wonders that were done for our ancestors in Egypt on the night of the fifteenth of Nisan.[1] [This is] as it says, “Remember this day that you went forth from Egypt.” (Rambam, Mishne Torah, Hilchot Chametz U’Matzah 7:1) Searching for the meaning […]

And it will be that when Hashem, you L-rd, grants you rest from all your enemies that surround you, in the land that Hashem, your L-rd, gives to you as a portion to possess, you should destroy the memory of Amalek from under the heavens. Do not forget. (Sefer Devarim 25:29) The relevance of the […]

And please, Hashem, our L-rd, make the words of Your Torah pleasant in our mouths and in the mouths of all Your people, the House of Israel. And may we and our offspring [and the offspring of our offspring] and the offspring of Your people, the House of Israel – all of us – be […]

After the Torah is read and returned to its place, the congregation is seated. One person stands and recites the blessing:  Blessed are You, Hashem, L-rd of the universe, who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to hear the sound of the shofar.  (Maimonides, Mishne Torah, Hilchot Shofar, Lulav, v’Sucah 3:10) The […]

I wish that every student with whom I work developed according to a predictable, linear path.  Such is not the case.  Students graduate and each develops uniquely.  Some continually grow in their commitment to Torah and Judaism.  Others struggle.  Some of those who struggle experience periods during which observance becomes a daunting challenge.  Some surrender […]