Redemption God Style
By Adam Eliyahu Berkowitz There is a joke that describes a dialogue between a poor Jew and God. “God, what is a million dollars to you?” the Jew asks. “It is not even a penny,” God answers. “And what is a million years to you?” the Jew...
Who is Really Responsible for the Redemption?
By Chaim Barzel I recently read a story originally told by Mendy Kofman about a Jewish family that survived Communist Russia and resettled in the USA. Against all odds, this family remained Torah observant in the depths of the most...
Why is Today the Happiest Day of the Year?
What are the happiest days of the Jewish year? It seems like a simple question. Most people would guess - for good reason! - one or a combination of the following holidays: Passover (who doesn’t love Matzah and late night parties that...
The Real Message of the 4th of July
This 4th of July, it’s time for us to regain our focus. The 4th of July isn’t about the freedom to take advantage of amazing sales at your favorite online stores. The 4th of July isn’t about the freedom to enjoy BBQs and fireworks with...
God’s New Covenant With Israel
With the Exodus, God began to manifest his covenantal promise to the patriarchs. From the outset, God told Abraham that his descendants would be “strangers in a land not theirs, and they shall be enslaved and oppressed for four hundred...
Redeeming the Land: Preparing the Foundations of the Messiah
When looking for clues regarding what will bring about the redemption, it becomes clear that the land of Israel is an essential element. But the key to redeeming the land is…a family matter. Leviticus (chapter 25) describes the laws...
Four Languages of Redemption
When Moses first encounters the God of Israel, God assures him that he will redeem Israel from their Egyptian bondage. In Egypt, He repeats this promise using language that seems overly redundant, repeating His intention no less than four...
The Portion of Nitzavim
This week’s portion is one of the shortest in the Torah, with a mere 40 verses (next week’s Vayelech has only 30). Even when the two are combined, which happens most years, they number fewer verses than most other single portions. The...