Blessing to Reuven: ‘Let His Men Be Few in Number?’
Here is the blessing to Reuven at Deuteronomy 33:6: “Yechi Reuven veal yamot, viyehi metav mispar.” Those last two words mean “few in number.” The
January 16, 2025
Here is the blessing to Reuven at Deuteronomy 33:6: “Yechi Reuven veal yamot, viyehi metav mispar.” Those last two words mean “few in number.” The
In memory of Sam Borodach, z”l (1:2 and elsewhere) נינוה: It is of interest that the cuneiform sign for this city is a fish within
Dedicated to Sam Borodach, z’l The Torah gives very little explanation of the holiday that we call “Rosh Hashanah.” It calls it “zichron teruah” (Leviticus
“Kisvei HaRambam” is a 584 page work by Rabbi Yehuda Meir Keilson, published by ArtScroll in 2023. The subtitle is: “Writings of Rabbi Moshe ben
I. The Cause of His Leaving Spain In 1263, when Nachmanides debated Pablo Christiani, Nachmanides was coerced to participate. But he was promised by the
Part II As I wrote last week, this disputation took place over four days. It was held at the palace of King James I of
Part I This disputation took place over four days. It was held at the palace of King James I of Aragon in the presence of
At the end of the Av HaRachamim prayer, we recite two verses from Psalms 110:6-7. Here are the two verses—along with verse 5—which precedes them:
“Im shamoa tishmeu:” “Lehaazin” means “to hear.” But “lishmoa” often includes “to understand” and “to obey.” For the last, see, e.g., Psalms 18:45. The doubling
ואהבת: It is generally agreed that abstract verbs are later developments that arise from concrete verbs. This is a phenomenon that occurs not just in
Reviewing: ‘Pursuing Peshat: Tanakh, Parshanut and Talmud Torah,’ by Dr. Moshe Sokolow. Kodesh Press, 2024. English. Paperback. 372 pages. ISBN-13: 979-8888940211. Dr. Moshe Sokolow’s new
I am here going to summarize an article by Rabbi Jacob Schacter that appeared in Tradition in 2008 (41:2): “Holocaust Commemoration and Tisha B’Av: The
