The main festival which takes place during this Hebrew month is dated on the 15th of Shevat, which is know as Tu B’shevat, this is known as the festival of the new year for trees ( Mishna Rosh Hashana 1a). Read More »

The reading starts as Yaakov moved in to the land of Canaan. His favorite son, Yosef, brought him false reports about his brothers, accusing his brothers of various misdeeds. This instituted Lashon Hara on his part and also Yosef failed to judge his brothers favorably (Bereishit 37: 2). Read More »

לג עַל-כֵּן לֹא-יֹאכְלוּ בְנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת-גִּיד הַנָּשֶׁה, אֲשֶׁר עַל-כַּף הַיָּרֵךְ, עַד, הַיּוֹם הַזֶּה: Read More »

Dvar Torah – BY Michael Zerubavel After leaving Lavan’s territory, Yaakov sent angelic messengers to find out about Aisav’s whereabouts. The messengers returned, informing Yaakov that Eisav was approaching with an army of 400 people, potentially looking for revenge on the blessings which Yaakov had rightfully taken (Bereishit Rabbah 75: 12). Read More »

The Occupy Shabbat protestors won’t back down! They want you to join them in occupying a shabbat meal. Shabbat.com can help. Read More »

Dvar Torah – By Michael Zerubavel The reading through continues where we left removed from a week ago, Avraham was circumcised at age 99. Read More »

Shalom! It’s exceptional season again, Parshat Lech Lecha!! At the outset of this days Torah reading through, G-d notifies Avram to depart his land, his relatives and the father’s house and visit a mystery destination where G-d would transform him right into a great nation. Read More »

Chag Sameach! The festival of Succot commemorates the shelter that G-d provided the Jewish people with, in the wilderness for forty years. By dwelling in succah’s for the week of Succot, we remember how for forty years in the wilderness G-d protected the Jewish nation with the ‘clouds of glory. Read More »

Why do we bless each other to have a good year, if we all know that we have to repent in order to have a good year? There are to kinds of prayer, you can pray about yourself and you can bless somebody else  to fix himself. It is much more powerful to bless others they would have the energy and strength to change themselves. Read More »

Here is a Dvar Torah in memory of my friend Ben Bernstein, who would have been 30 years of age today. He lived a life how a man should lead, especially with his attitude in his enthusiasm and motivation in carrying out different tasks day to day. Read More »

Shana Tova! We are entering the Jewish New Years Day!! The festival of Rosh Hashana. This festival is celebrated on the 1st of Tishrei. Read More »

This week is a double torah reading and features the two shortest readings in the entire torah which have 40 and 30 verses in each Parsha respectively. Read More »

This weeks reading is introduced with the topic of ‘Bikurim’ which is the mitzvah to bring the first fruits to the Beit Hamikdash (temple), the first fruits are brought from the seven species for which the Land of Israel is famous for – wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives and dates. Read More »

Ki Teitzei very much complements the Torah portion ‘Kedoshim’ featured in the book of Vayikra (Leviticus), which is packed with mitzvot. Read More »

Shalom and Chodesh Tov. We have entered in to another detailed packed Parshah this week. The Torah reading this week deals with fundamentals of Jewish leadership, including the establishment of Jewish courts and a number of laws relating to judges. Read More »

If possible, one should awaken at midnight and say Tikun Chatzot; lamenting the destruction of the Bet Hamikdash and the resultant loss of Torah learning as well as the numerous Mitzvot we can no longer do. If getting up at midnight is not an option, one should get up before dawn to say Tikun Chatzot. Read More »

The Torah is divided into two parts: The written-law (Tanach) and the oral-law (Mishna and Gemara).  Even if one knows parts of the written-law by heart, one should be careful not say them without a text. Read More »

Upon awakening one should wash one’s hands from a cup, alternating between the right and left hand until each hand is washed 3 times. Two reasons are given: – You are starting a new day of serving Hashem; similar to a Cohen who had to wash his hands before serving in the Bet Hamikdash. Read More »

Free Will is a fascinating topic and discussion. Rabbi Akiva Tatz will give you the unique Jewish perspective. You will never look at free will the same again after this. Read More »

שֵׁשֶׁת יָמִים, יֵעָשֶׂה מְלָאכָה, וּבַיּוֹם הַשְּׁבִיעִי שַׁבַּת שַׁבָּתוֹן קֹדֶשׁ, לַיהוָה; כָּל-הָעֹשֶׂה מְלָאכָה בְּיוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת, מוֹת יוּמָת.וְשָׁמְרוּ בְנֵי-יִשְׂרָאֵל, אֶת-הַשַּׁבָּת, לַעֲשׂוֹת אֶת-הַשַּׁבָּת לְדֹרֹתָם, בְּרִית עוֹלָם. Read More »