Tag: Jewish unity
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Parshat Vayakhel begins with Moshe gathering kol adat Bnei Yisrael—every single Jew: men, women, and children. This wasn’t just another speech. It was a moment of unity. The Mishkan would be built through the collective effort of Am Yisrael, but before any work could begin, Moshe emphasized one crucial point: Shabbos. The connection between Shabbos…
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Growing Up with Hashem on the Shelf Growing up Modern Orthodox, I believed in Hashem, but I also believed that I was in control of my life. Hashem was there, of course—but He was more like a fire extinguisher, placed neatly behind a glass case that read: Break in Case of Emergency. Most of the…
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Did you know that Hashem’s name is incomplete? The Torah tells us exactly why. This week is Parshat Zachor, when we fulfill the mitzvah to remember Amalek. But Amalek isn’t just an ancient nation—it’s an ideology. They stand for randomness and coincidence, for a world without Hashem. They are the opposite of emunah. When Amalek…
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Parshat Tetzaveh is unique—it is the only parsha from Moshe Rabbeinu’s birth until Eikev where his name is absent. Instead, Hashem addresses him with “V’ata”—“And you.” The Baal HaTurim explains that this omission fulfills Moshe’s own words in Ki Tisa: “Mecheini na misifrecha”—”Erase me now from Your book.” After the sin of the Golden Calf,…
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This Shabbat, we read Parshat Shekalim, the first of the Arba Parshiyot—a reminder of the mitzvah of the half-shekel, which Bnei Yisrael gave to sustain the Communal Korbanot. But this mitzvah is far more than just a historical tax. The Gemara Yerushalmi reveals something incredible:Haman paid a sum of silver to buy the right to…
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Sometimes, the smallest act of kindness can change everything. A warm smile, holding the door for someone, offering a kind word—these simple gestures may seem insignificant, but they have the power to create connection, uplift others, and bring unity to our world. In this week’s parsha, the Torah warns us:“Do not take bribes, for bribes…
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In Parshat Yitro, just before Matan Torah, the Torah describes Bnei Yisrael’s encampment at Har Sinai: “וַיִּחַן שָׁם יִשְׂרָאֵל נֶגֶד הָהָר” – “And Israel encamped there opposite the mountain.” (Shemot 19:2) Rashi famously points out the unusual singular form of “וַיִּחַן” (they encamped), rather than the expected plural, explaining that Bnei Yisrael were united “כְּאִישׁ…
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At the beginning of Parshat Bo, Moshe once again delivers Hashem’s message to Paroh: “For how long will you refuse to submit to Me? Let My people go so they may serve Me.” Paroh’s advisors, exhausted by the cycle of plagues and warnings, urged him to give in: “Let the men go and serve their…
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Chanuka always seems to fly by, doesn’t it? One moment, we’re excitedly setting up our menorahs and spinning dreidels, and the next, we’re lighting the last candle and realizing it’s all coming to an end. It was fun while it lasted—the lights, the songs, the donuts—but there’s so much more to Chanuka than the celebration…