By Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz There is a Hasidic story about a king who became angry and banished his son, the prince. After five years, the king regretted his actions and sent a messenger to return his son to the palace. “But I do not want...
Agriculture in Israel is a joint venture in which God partners with the farmers. God promises that if the Jews are faithful to the Torah and keep the commandments, He will ensure that the rain will fall in its proper season and the land...
If all debts were wiped out and all work was forbidden, the world would be a paradise with everyone free to focus on serving God. In fact, the Bible mandates that this becomes the reality once every fifty years. And after a lapse of 2,000...
In addition to the weekly Shabbat which was observed in the desert, Leviticus instructs the Children of Israel to keep the Shemittah. Shemittah (literally, ‘release’) is usually translated as the sabbatical year, and is described...
Leviticus 19 describes the prohibition against eating fruit produced by a tree during the first three years after planting: When you enter the land and plant any tree for food, you shall regard its fruit as forbidden. Three years it shall...
Chapter 19 of Leviticus introduces agricultural-based charity: When you reap the harvest of your land, you shall not reap all the way to the edges of your field, or gather the gleanings of your harvest. You shall not pick your vineyard...
The Shemittah comes every seven years, making it a form of Sabbath that occurs on a yearly, rather than a weekly, cycle. Observing the Shemittah acknowledges that the land of Israel belongs to the God of Israel. We work the land for six...
This week’s Torah portion is the first of four Torah portions that discuss the building of the Tabernacle and the vessels within.  The details are amazing – the exact dimensions of the building and of each vessel, the materials used for...
The following is a taste of our Israel Bible Reading Plan. Follow the weekly portion with summaries, insights and lively conversation. To register, click here. The Tabernacle building itself is to be constructed out of several parts. Its...
This week’s portion contains the extended blessings and curses which the Children of Israel will earn, depending on whether they keep or violate God’s covenant. It also details the ceremony of the first fruits which must be brought to the...
