יום שני, כ״ב חשוון תשפ״זMonday, November 2, 2026
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Use of the hall on Motzaei Shabbos is a separate rental that carries an additional $250 payment. You were supposed to notify me if you wanted to use the hall also on Motzaei Shabbos.
We approach Yom Ha'atzmaut, celebrating a generation that experienced absolute evil yet was still able to join together without distinctions and build a vibrant country, thriving because it welcomes others who live betwixt and between, politically, spiritually and religiously
. . Few texts seem less philosophically promising at first glance than a pasuk in this week's parsha “anything that a zav lies on becomes tamei” (Vayikra 15:4)
In this week's parsha, we are introduced to a strange set of laws related to the metzora, one afflicted with tzara'at. How do we relate to such laws?
Leaders have to make many difficult decisions - decisions that affect, often negatively, other people.
Commentators differ as to what exactly was the sin of Nadav and Avihu and why they deserved what on the surface appears to be a wildly disproportional punishment for their 'minor' infraction
The nefesh habahami on the other hand is comprised of the base instincts necessary for survival.
The Meshech Chochmah states that had Israel not sinned with the golden calf, God would not have punished Aharon’s sons so severely.
This week's parsha discusses the sudden and disturbing death of two of Aharon's sons, Nadav and Avihu
He didn’t choose to be kind. He didn’t want to feel the pain of others. In fact, he tried his best to squelch this sensitivity.
In commenting on the story of Nadav and Avihu, Aharon’s two sons who died while presenting a fire offering to God, Rashi does something very unusual. The famous exegete extraordinaire seems to contradict himself in very close proximity. First he tells us that Aharon’s sons were either guilty of being drunk while in the Temple […]
The mitzvah is called sippur yetzias Mitzrayim – telling the story of how Hashem took us out of Egypt. Why is there an emphasis on the telling?
He feels joy in his heart as he revels in the abundance of his bumper crop. And then he looks out at his neighbor’s field. Meager. Undergrown. Spotty.
In this week's video, we explore a section of Talmud that teaches about the 4 individuals who would bring a Thanksgiving sacrifice - but one of these four doesn't belong. Who is it?
Appreciate that Pesach is NOT meant to end on the seventh day, but at Shavuot. With that in mind, we need to work harder to accept making the days of sefirat ha-omer into days akin to chol ha-moed
We have lost the idea of what it is to give ourselves to Hashem with totality and completeness.
So am I deserving of honor? The body I occupy sure is; just look at what it can do. But I am that little guy inside – small, insignificant, unimportant.
Vayikra, "He called," ends with a mini-Aleph, teaching us that Moses could hear the Call because he learned at Sinai to listen to the other side of silence, the world's smaller sounds and the people he led
In this video, Rabbi Fohrman contrasts the Torah's perspective of power and justice to the philosophy of Richard Nixon's famous line - "When the president does it, it is not illegal."
There is likely some connection between the prohibition of chametz on the altar and the chametz which is more likely on our minds as we rid our homes of this most challenging foodstuff.
On Shabbat we will read of two events that took place on the first of Nisan.
By Rachel Weiss
The comfort and chizuk these wives offered their husbands, uplifting their morale, did not escape our all-seeing Father in heaven.
Anyone from any tribe can rise to greatness so long as he or she has the vision, drive, and talent.
While this is a beautiful illustration of the giving nature of a tzaddik, there is as subtle message here: the man stole a spoon from the Chofetz Chaim. How was that possible?
Both the mishkan and Shabbat are in this week's parsha. What is the thematic, conceptual connection between the two?
From the beginning of the building project, the financial and physical contribution of all Jews was sought. There was a need to show that the Torah’s tabernacle was where all Jews stand equal before God
The Red Cow which was completely burnes symbolizes the eradication of one's past.
It is difficult to begin to do teshuvah as if the geula is imminent when we do not really think that it will happen.
In this video, Rabbi Fohrman focuses on a bizarre question that Moshe asks God, "Why God, should you be angry at your people?" and reminds us that God and the nation of Israel are attached by destiny
Klal Yisrael was living in the desert. They neither worked for a living nor had any use for money. All their needs were taken care of.
Paradoxically, the sin of the calf ended up strengthening Moshe and the Jewish people with a new consciousness.
The whole purpose of any holiday is for one to separate from the vanities of the world and [cling] to Hashem and His Torah.
Granted, these might be additional reasons to celebrate, but isn’t life a much greater reason?
Whether it's cabbage or Kohenic clothing,the recipe of colors Scarlet, Purple, and Turquoise render impressive results.
Man is attracted to the short cut that the supernatural road provides; there is a place for the supernatural in God’s world. It is tucked away under lock and key not for us to use.
Rabbi Aba Wagensberg on Parshas Terumah-Have a wonderful Shabbos!
There was a subtlety in which Shlomo was lacking.
The instruction to place the Testimony in the ark seems repetitive,
It must be difficult. You have that precious gem, that beautiful gold. I feel badly even asking.
In fact, loudness and brightness are not intrinsically Godly at all. On the contrary, the truer place to find God is in the still-small voices all around us.
The importance of working hard in advance to prevent problems can be seen in this week's parsha.
Dvar Torah for Parshas Shekalim by well known author, teacher and lecturer, Rabbi Aba Wagensberg.
By Rachel Weiss
Those born in Adar are charitable, great listeners and good companions.
At a certain point, he returned home, and his uncle noticed that his appearance had changed.
Towards the end of this week’s parsha, God speaks about a malach that he will send in front of the Jewish people but it is not clear what He is referring to. We will consider one understanding
In this video, Rabbi Fohrman shows us that the Torah argues that to create a better society, we must be proactive about addressing social and economic inequality.
Hashem custom-designed this world and our current existence specifically so that we can grow.
Parshat Yitro contains the most important piece in the narrative of the Jewish people, the giving of the Torah on Mt. Sinai, when the nation and God are 'married.
I open my bible as a potential convert; open to the possibility of learning what will allow me to continue to become more. I begin my prayers in a state of repentance, ready to climb mountains.
No one is surprised that the Torah wasn’t given immediately after the Jews left Egypt, even though it was the first logical time for such an event to happen. But why not earlier or later on the trek?
We cannot rest on the educational and religious laurels of our fathers. Every generation must forge ahead, not only to maintain or continue, but to expand our knowledge of and the faithfulness to God.
The answer to this question is predicated upon understanding the concept of free will.
The role that God played towards the Jews in the desert was not far removed from that of a parent. While they were on the desert, He provided them with the challenges that would allow them to mature
Clearly, G-d has spritual goals and plans for the non-Jewish nations of the world.
Why did the firstborn Egyptians die from the same experience that elevated the Israelite firstborns?
When G-d promised Avraham that his children would emerge from Egypt laden with great wealth, he was not referring to material wealth.
The sad reality is that we have become slaves to the whims and fancies of people who do not share our understanding of the holiness of the individual, nor the greatness of the human.
In this week's video, Rabbi Fohrman explores the 7th, the transitional, plague and argues that God played off of Pharaoh's ego to show Pharaoh, Egypt and the people of Israel only God is all-powerful
Why is the faculty of Shevat referred to as Le’ita instead of Achila?
When Moshe is told about the plague of the first born (4:22-23), God gives an explanation, something we do not see with any of the other plagues. Yet is it actually middah keneged middah?
Before each person is born, he is predestined to certain abilities and talents, a particular level of intelligence, and an exact disposition and temperament.
According to the simple meaning of the text, it seems God took Pharaoh's free will. Rabbi Fohrman argues that the precise language-- kaved/chazek--shows that God DID allow Pharaoh to pursue his vision
Why did Pharaoh consistently ask Moses to pray for a plague to stop, rather than himself pray? Wouldn't that have been simpler?
Moshe complained to God that even though he would have the best human understanding of the Divine will, he had difficulty bringing it down to regular people. That role-"turgaman/navi"-Aharon filled
By Rachel Weiss
The month of Shevat shares its element of air with the months of Sivan and Tishrei. During Sivan, the light of the Torah was revealed to us on Har Sinai.
The authors, based on their research, suggest leaders employ certain practices to allow their followers to grow and be inspired by their humility.
Rashi notes Moshe's use of the future tense when addressing the two fighting Israelites.
He explains that our nation is one unit – irrevocably tied together in a common fate. What happens to one affects another. The state of each individual impacts the whole.
Rabbi Fohrman discusses the medrash and suggests we put ourselves into the eyes of Pharaoh's daughter to help us see that when we want to achieve something, God will help us find a way to do it.
What we pronounce is very different from what we spell. It is like a kri u’kesiv, a word that is spelled one way in the Torah but which we have a mesorah to pronounce a different way.
People who endlessly pray for miracles tend to ignore the message of Moses' staff. They do not realize that each time Moses uses that staff he is pointing to an opportunity of self-transformation.
While Moshe may have eventually become even greater than the avos, we must always strive for the faith of his predecessors and for the inner flexibility that such true faith brings with it.
Lessons from Jacob's blessing.
When a tzaddik uses a part of the world, he provides that portion with its purpose in existence.
Each month is aligned with a mazel, with Teves matching up with G’di – also known as Capricorn the Goat. What do we know about goats?
Many believe that Bnei Yisrael, prior to mattan Torah, only had a status of Yisrael l’chumrah.
Jacob lives. He lives in all who can drop the heavy burden carried by all since Adam and Eve, the belief that our imperfections will block us from tasting Paradise.
Ya’akov decides to prioritize the younger son, Ephraim, over the older Menashe
It was only Yehuda who stepped forward to protect Binyamin because he had committed himself to the cause.
If we didn’t understand the implications of the moment, or if we didn’t view them as monumental, they would pass as any other of millions of events we live through.
There is also another distinguishing factor to consider. In all the above cases, the item is inherently of value only to one person.
Since Yaakov was in the middle of the first pasuk of Krias Shema he was unable to interrupt himself, even to inquire about the wellbeing of his son the king.
Before Jacob, animal sacrifices were completely consumed by fire. When he learned Yosef was alive, he offered a different type of sacrifice, the Shelamim, which is partially burnt and partially eaten
Yosef wanting to see his father Yakov again is understandable. Perhaps Yosef could not have left Egypt to do so. But did Yosef’s desire to see him justify making his father leave Israel for Egypt?
Am Yisroel exists to bring light, healing and peace to the world.
The mitzvah to recite Hallel that Chazal instituted regarding Chanukah was in fact a direct result of the miracle of Chanukah; however, its essence is not to publicize the miracle but rather to give thanks for the miracle.
The actual event for which we give thanksgiving and sing Hallel is the salvation of the Jewish people.
A balanced economic policy seems to have been exactly what Egypt needed and Joseph's policies insured that Egypt survived the famine.
We generally assume that Yosef, as a victim of cruelty and not its perpetrator, had nothing to regret. Yet a careful reading shows he had a significant role in creating the tension with his brothers
By Rachel Weiss
Yiras Hashem (fear of Hashem), a lofty objective we continuously strive to achieve, transforms the negative element of Teves into positive, spiritual fulfillment.
Leaders often find themselves with down time and time that the are down.
Why does Rashi feel we need a mashol to understand this concept?
This week's parsha course unravels the sale of Joseph and discusses the implications "blame." Where does responsibility begin? And most importantly, how do I make moral decisions?
Tosafos points out that this answer is not fully satisfactory since there are other mitzvos, such as affixing a mezuzah, that require having a house.
How could Ya’akov make the same 'mistake' as his father, to favor one child over another after all the troubles that plagued him resulting from Yitzchak favoring Esav?
What is the hint in this week's parsha?
How do we reconcile Jacob's behavior, tricking his brother and lying to his father, with our vision of Yaakov as an ish emet, a man of truth?
October 30, 2026 
