Monthly Archives: June 2013

Rashi references a Midrashic interpretation that when Moshe asked God to appoint his successor (Bamidbar 27:15), Moshe really hoped that God would appoint one of his own children, just as God appointed Aaron’s children to succeed him. The Sages tell … Continue reading →

This week’s Parasha contains the famous praise known to all of us from our earliest days in Hebrew School—Mah tovu ohalecha Yaakov. Most are startled to learn that those words of blessing (at least the first sentence) actually came from … Continue reading →

This week’s Parasha contains the description of the ultimate Choke (pronounced like the sound made when choking, God forbid.) The Torah distinguishes between three types of Mitzvot: Edot = testimonies, Mishpatim = ordinances, and Chukim = decrees. Chukim are the … Continue reading →

Do Jews ever argue? With the popular expression—“2 Jews, 3 opinions” or “The only thing 2 Jews can agree on is how much money the third Jew should give to charity,” it seems clear that even we perceive ourselves as … Continue reading →