The Talmud gives an ingenious reading to the line, “Moses commanded us a Torah, as a heritage of the congregation of Israel.” Noting that there

Editor’s note: This series is reprinted with permission from “Insights and Attitudes: Torah Essays on Fundamental Halachic and Hashkafic Issues,” a publication of TorahWeb.org. The

No one has ever been to Heaven and back … except for our greatest leader, Moshe Rabbeinu. Three times, he ascended heaven to draw the

The Sages of Aragon’s Question Later generations obligate earlier ones. How can that be? Nonetheless, Devarim 29:14 records Moshe Rabbeinu—including those present and those not

After the 98 curses that Bnei Yisrael heard at the end of Ki Tavo, they were devastated and questioned whether they could possibly withstand such

Parshat Nitzavim-Vayelech This week’s haftarah, the final one of the sheva d’nechemta, the seven haftarot of consolation, does not only close the post-Tisha B’Av period

It’s something we probably don’t appreciate enough. Being part of a community so eager to perform acts of chesed for each other. In times of

Bechira—free choice, is a core dimension of our humanity and a foundation of our belief system. As Rambam articulated repeatedly (see Hilchos Teshuva chapter 5,

Someone I know told me that she doesn’t like the lack of assigned seats at many weddings. Nowadays, it’s typical at many weddings to just

We’ve discussed many famous Amoraim, but it’s also nice to better know less famous ones when we encounter them, even if such knowledge doesn’t impact

The holy Baal Shem Tov once praised a man who would smile, sing joyously and clap while reciting the serious vidui prayer. The local townsfolk

Expressing Our Faith The mizmor of Tehillim we recite each Shabbat declares the “goodness” of singing Hashem’s praises: “Tov lehodot laShem u’lezamer leshimcha elyon,” (Tehillim