Monthly Archives: September 2008

This week marks the end of the penultimate month of 5768, as we bid adieu to Av and anticipate the arrival of Rosh Chodesh Elul next week. While this week’s Parsha (Re’eh) ends with a revision of our cycle of … Continue reading →

As the three weeks “bein hametzarim” – between 17 Tammuz and 9 Av—recede into the distance, and we anticipate the new year (now only six weeks away!), I am reminded in this week’s parsha about an obscure halakha that applies … Continue reading →

Parshat Va’etchanan contains Moshe’s continuing recapitulation of the Israelite’s collective experience during the past 40 years. The parsha opens with Moshe informing his followers of his unsuccessful petitions to Hashem to be able to enter the land. The language that … Continue reading →

The strongest is never strong enough to be always the master, unless he transforms strength into right, and obedience into duty.” – Jean Jacques Rousseau This week’s parasha is the first in Sefer Devarim, the final of the five books … Continue reading →

How far they have come… In this week’s parasha, we see yet a further indication of just how far the tribe of Levi has come. Back in Genesis, Levi, the son of Jacob, gained dubious distinction when he (along with … Continue reading →