Expressing Faith Through Effort and Action
The relationship between God and Israel began well before Israel became a nation. God chose Abraham, making promises to him about his descendants that seemed overambitious. But God kept his promises. He redeemed the Jews from Egypt with...
When “I’m Sorry” Just Isn’t Good Enough
We've all done it; despite all of our good intentions, we make a bad mistake and we hurt someone we love. Full of regret, we apologize. But sometimes, apologies aren’t enough. When a borrowed car is returned with a bent fender, a trip to...
What is so bad about slandering a land?
Imagine you walk into a room full of people and as soon as you step in, everybody stops talking and looks directly at you. How does that make you feel, knowing that they were obviously talking about you, saying things they knew you...
Why American Jews are not Going Home to Israel
If one night, while watching television, a booming voice came down from heaven, identified itself as God, and told you to pick up and move, would you do it? Would you still hesitate if that voice performed astounding miracles, guided you...
How to Overcome the Tyranny of the Majority
Have you ever stood alone, finding yourself in the minority, uncomfortable with the positions and beliefs of those around you? For most of the Jewish people’s history, this has been the status quo. Guided by the Torah, they usually found...
Why Can’t We Stop the Terrorists?
For over 2,000 years, the people of Israel were scattered throughout the world, always vulnerable to the machinations and attacks of their enemies. With the modern miracle of the Jewish people’s return to the Land of Israel, this dynamic...
The Portion of Devarim
This portion marks the beginning of the final book of the Torah. After leading the Children of Israel valiantly through the desert for forty years, Moses prepares to part from the people. What follows in the book of Deuteronomy is his...
The Portion of Shelach
This week’s portion focuses primarily on the Sin of the Spies, which results in God’s decree that the Israelites must wander in the desert for forty years instead of entering the land of Israel directly. It also includes details regarding...