Parshat Ki Tavo
Posted onRabbi Hanoch Teller discusses the storyline of Parshat Ki Tavo.
Author: Baila Greenblatt
Hashem’s Ways are Straight
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The final class on the Haftora of Shabbat Shuva, discussing the centrality of Eretz Yisrael and the meaning of the verse ‘Hashem’s ways are straight’. The lesson for us is to take every circumstance in life and utilize it to better serve Hashem.
Images of Hashem’s Love for His People
Posted onOn the Haforah of Shabbat Shuva, Mrs. Shira Smiles explains the beautiful imagery in the perek, as illustrations of G-d’s eternal love for His people, Am Yisrael.
Torah and Tefilla: Components of Teshuva
Posted onOn the essence of teshuva, based on the Haftara of Shabbat Shuva, Mrs. Shira Smiles demonstrates the important role of tefilla (prayer) and Torah study in enabling a person to repent completely.
The Intrinsic Purity of Every Jew
Posted onOn the Haftarah of Shabbat Shuva from where we learn that teshuva/repentance is a dynamic process with Hashem, and that every Jew’s soul is intrinsically pure, which means that even sin does not become part of its essence. When embarking on the teshuva process, one should have an image of who they want to be, so that they have a goal to aspire to.
Parshat Va’etchanan
Posted onRabbi Hanoch Teller relates the storyline of Parshat Va-etchanan, with selected insights and comments.
Parshat Devarim
Posted onRabbi Hanoch Teller relates the storyline of Parshat Devarim, with selected insights and comments.
Lessons for our Lives
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Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller reviews the entire story of the book of Daniel, and applies its lessons to our individual lives.
The End of Days
Posted onRebbetzin Tziporah Heller completes the sefer, with a description of the end of days and the fate of all segments of the Jewish people – tzadikkim, reshaim, maskilim, matzdikei harabim, etc.
The Grand Scheme
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On Parshat Pinchas, Mrs. Shira Smiles focuses on some of the basic questions to get a sense of what the story of Pinchas is about.
Torah Connecting the World to Hashem
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Rebbetzin Tziporah Heller describes the Torah as the means in which all facets of life connect to Hashem. The Torah can even ‘enter the lion’s lair’ and redefine or conquer evil on its own turf.
A Window into History
Posted onRebbetzin Tziporah Heller describes the vision that Daniel had about various future wars, and connects it to their historical and modern parallels.
Pieces of Peace
Posted onOn Parshat Pinchas, Mrs. Shira Smiles focuses on some of the basic questions to get a sense of what the story of Pinchas is about.
Remembering Yetziat Mitzrayim
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Rabbi Moshe Nechemia Reichman discusses the daily obligation to remember Yetziat Mitzrayim vs. the unique mitzva of Sipur Yetziat Mitzrayim on the Seder night.
Switching Letters
Posted onMrs. Yehudit Weiss presents an overview of places which Rashi calls ‘mikrah mesoras’, where letters switch as a result of the rules of dikduk.
Perek 11: Hashem’s Providence
Posted onRebbetzin Tziporah Heller teaches the beginning of chapter 11. Rebbetzin Heller speaks of Hashem’s Providence in military and political events as being observable as they occur, and not only in retrospect.
Breaks in Pesukim
Posted onMrs. Yehudith Weiss explains the various pauses and stops found in the middle of pesukim, according to the laws of dikduk as found in Rashi’s commentary.
Daf 12B: Prayer in a Time of Disaster
Posted onRabbi Moshe Nechemia Reichman reviews the Gemara’s discussion of the obligation to pray for someone in distress.
Vigilance
Posted onOn Parshat Chukat, Mrs. Shira Smiles speaks about the story of “mei meriva,” and presents three approaches of what went wrong, and the lessons we can take from it.
Parshat Matos-Mas’ei
Posted onRabbi Hanoch Teller reviews the narrative of the parsha, which describes the travels of the Jewish people throughout their 40 year sojourn in the desert.
Parshat Pinchas
Posted onRabbi Hanoch Teller presents an overview of the storyline of the parsha, including Pinchas’ great reward and the description of the holiday services in the Temple.
Parshat Balak
Posted onRabbi Hanoch Teller discusses the narrative of Parshat Balak, describing the failed efforts Bilam and Balak to curse the Jewish People, and the sin of Ba’al Pe’or.
Chosen by G-d
Posted onMrs. Chana Prero discusses the incident of Korach’s rebellion specifically G-d’s proving of the Leviites’ status.
The Insurmountable Challenge of Greece
Posted onRebbetzin Tziporah Heller teaches the prophesies of perek 10. In this chapter, Daniel receives predictions regarding the near-impossible nature of the galut of Greece. Daniel accepts this decree, and responds with silence and bitachon (trust in Hashem).
Juggling Jealousy
Posted onOn Parshat Korach, Mrs. Shira Smiles analyzes Korach’s downfall, and how to balance positive jealousy.
Abbreviated Text
Posted onMrs. Yehudit Weiss explains Rashi’s overview of texts that are abbreviated, which he calls ‘mikra katzar’.
Parshat Chukat
Posted onRabbi Hanoch Teller reviews the storyline of the parsha including the red heifer and Moshe hitting the rock.
True Dveykut
Posted onRebbetzin Tziporah Heller discusses the impact of Torah on allowing one to achieve true connection with Hashem.
The Battle with the Western Nations
Posted onRebbetzin Tzipora Heller teaches perek 9, which describes Daniel’s prophesy of a goat. Rebbetzin Heller explains how this prophesy corresponds to the challenges the Jewish people will need to face when they are subjugated by the nations of the West.
The Letter ‘Hei’
Posted onMrs. Yehudit Weiss surveys Rashi’s discussion of the Hebrew letter ‘Hai’ at the beginning of a word, and how it affects the word’s meaning. This class focuses on ‘Hai Hashe’eilah’, ‘Hai Hayedi’a’, and ‘Hai Hamegama’.