יום שלישי, 18 אוגוסט 2026Tuesday, August 18, 2026
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יום שלישי, ה׳ אלול תשפ״וTuesday, August 18, 2026
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Parshat

Parsha

The Foundation Stone: Parshat Shoftim: Seeking Justice

By Rabbi Simcha Weinberg

If we succeed in developing a strong sense of justice in our homes and communities, perhaps our prayer for God to restore justice will be justly heard and accepted.

News Briefs / Business and Economy / Judaism

Tuesday's Special: Read the Manna Episode and You'll Make a Living

By Jewish Press News Desk

On Tuesday of the week of Parshat Beshalach some people read the section on the Manna as a Segula...

Parsha / From the Paper

Parshat Mishpatim

By Rabbi Dr. David Hertzberg

The importance of working hard in advance to prevent problems can be seen in this week's parsha.

Redeeming Relevance / Rabbi Francis Nataf

Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Mishpatim: Can an Angel Be Wrong?

By Rabbi Francis Nataf

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

Redeeming Relevance / Rabbi Francis Nataf

Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Yitro: Good Failures and Bad Failures

By Rabbi Francis Nataf

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?

Redeeming Relevance / Rabbi Francis Nataf

Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Beshalach: The Sin of Nostalgia

By Rabbi Francis Nataf

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

Redeeming Relevance / Rabbi Francis Nataf

Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Bo: How Do You Translate First Born?

By Rabbi Francis Nataf

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?

Redeeming Relevance / Rabbi Francis Nataf

Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Vaera: Wasn’t Moshe a Prophet?

By Rabbi Francis Nataf

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

Parsha

Parshat Shemot

By Rabbi Dr. David Hertzberg

The authors, based on their research, suggest leaders employ certain practices to allow their followers to grow and be inspired by their humility.

Redeeming Relevance / Rabbi Francis Nataf

Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Shemot: Of Faith and Flexibility

By Rabbi Francis Nataf

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.

Parsha

TORAH SHORTS: Parshat Vayigash: Party Sacrifice of Peace

By Rabbi Ben-Tzion Spitz

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

Redeeming Relevance / Rabbi Francis Nataf

Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Vayigash: Yosef‘s Invitation in to Exile

By Rabbi Francis Nataf

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?

Op-Eds

Ten Most Hateful Points about UNSC Resolution 2334

By Varda Meyers Epstein

The Judean Rose cites her 10 Condemnations of the most recent and offensive UN/US travesty

Parsha

TORAH SHORTS: Parshat Miketz: Joseph, Social Economist

By Rabbi Ben-Tzion Spitz

A balanced economic policy seems to have been exactly what Egypt needed and Joseph's policies insured that Egypt survived the famine.

Redeeming Relevance / Rabbi Francis Nataf

Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Miketz: Yosef’s Descent

By Rabbi Francis Nataf

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

Parsha

Parshat Vayeishev

By Rabbi Dr. David Hertzberg

Leaders often find themselves with down time and time that the are down.

Redeeming Relevance / Rabbi Francis Nataf

Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Vayeshev: The Rhymes and Rhythms of Biblical History

By Rabbi Francis Nataf

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?

Parsha

TORAH SHORTS: Parshat Vayishlach: The Darkness Will Pass

By Rabbi Ben-Tzion Spitz

Rabbi Hirsch: "The goal of history is not that Jacob should be forced to merge into the mass of nations, but the reverse. The nations must come to understand that..."

Redeeming Relevance / Rabbi Francis Nataf

Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Vayishlach: Who Buried Rivkah?

By Rabbi Francis Nataf

The actual tale of Rivkah and Esav is of a mother who continued to care and love a delinquent child who became a problematic adult, proving she will always be his mother and he will always be her son.

Redeeming Relevance / Rabbi Francis Nataf

Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Vayetzeh: Catch the Bull by the Horns... or get Gored

By Rabbi Francis Nataf

Like Rivkah before them, neither Rachel nor Leah created the situation that was about to have extraordinary influence on the rest of their lives and, ultimately, on the lives of countless others

Parsha

TORAH SHORTS: Parshat Toldot: Customized Teaching

By Rabbi Ben-Tzion Spitz

Rav Hirsch claims had Isaac and Rebecca developed a unique curriculum that took into account Esau's love of nature, strength, skills and courage, it may have directed him to become a mighty man of God

Redeeming Relevance / Rabbi Francis Nataf

Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Toldot: The Uncertainty of Parenthood

By Rabbi Francis Nataf

On the one hand, we see that Rivkah was right about Ya’akov’s potential. On the other hand, we will never be sure who was right about Esav.

Parsha

Parshat Chayei Sarah

By Rabbi Dr. David Hertzberg

People were stunned, but they got the message.

Parsha

Torah Shorts: Weekly Biblical Thoughts: Parshat Vayera

By Rabbi Ben-Tzion Spitz

Abraham was not an isolationist concerned solely with his own interests. Regardless of how despicable the Sodomites were, Abraham started a surreal negotiation with G-d to save them.

Redeeming Relevance / Rabbi Francis Nataf

Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Vayeira: No Questions Asked

By Rabbi Francis Nataf

Isn't it surprising that Avraham who prayed for Sodom's salvation did not protest God commanding him to kill his own son? For the Netziv, this was actually exactly what God wanted from Avraham. Why?

Redeeming Relevance / Rabbi Francis Nataf

Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Lech Lecha: Avoiding Too Much Virtue

By Rabbi Francis Nataf

While we read of tests of Avraham, it is clear that Sarah endured tests of her own. According to Ramban, she failed her test in her treatment of Hagar

Redeeming Relevance / Rabbi Francis Nataf

Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Noach: Of Facts and Narratives: Postmodernism and the Ohr HaChaim

By Rabbi Francis Nataf

The Torah itself presents parallel narratives of the same stories, thereby showing that the same events can truthfully be constructed in more than one way.

Parsha

Parshat Bereishit

By Rabbi Dr. David Hertzberg

While turning points do not often announce themselves with a clarion call, there are, nonetheless, moments in our lives when the potential for major change is evident.

Redeeming Relevance / Rabbi Francis Nataf

Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Bereshit: Why Can’t a Man be More Like a Woman?

By Rabbi Francis Nataf

Though a woman helps her partner and remains his equal, she nurtures and thereby becomes a man's superior. Paradoxically, therefore, woman may be just a bit closer to the image of God than man.

Parsha

Parshat Nitzavim

By Rabbi Dr. David Hertzberg

One thing a person can do to ensure that he repents quickly after he sins is to think ahead.

Redeeming Relevance / Rabbi Francis Nataf

Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Ki Tavo: Amalek, Bikkurim and Ma’aser

By Rabbi Francis Nataf

Many commentators sense a significance to the placement of the bikkurim declaration, at the beginning of this week’s pasha, right after the injunction to destroy Amalek. What is the connection?

Redeeming Relevance / Rabbi Francis Nataf

Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Ki Tetzhe: Yehoshua the Conqueror

By Rabbi Francis Nataf

Battling Amalek presents an important warning to any Jewish military leader that there is a need to maintain a basic respect for what it means to be human, even when dealing with mortal enemies.

Redeeming Relevance / Rabbi Francis Nataf

Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Reeh: The Taste for Blood and the Imperative of Relevance

By Rabbi Francis Nataf

Is the Torah to be read exactly as the Jews who received it would have, or, is it actually to be read in a contemporary way that can't possibly be the same as those who first received the Torah?

Parsha

Parshat Eikev

By Rabbi Dr. David Hertzberg

A leader must be aware of and responsible for all details on the ship - big or small.

Redeeming Relevance / Rabbi Francis Nataf

Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Ve'etchanan: Why These Ten?

By Rabbi Francis Nataf

Understanding why these Ten Statements were chosen-as opposed to others omitted-could well lead us to a greater grasp of the essence of this venerable text.

Redeeming Relevance / Rabbi Francis Nataf

The Book of Speech; Redeeming Relevance on Parshat Devarim

By Rabbi Francis Nataf

An obstacle to understanding Devarim is thinking of it as a book. Devarim literally means “[spoken] words” and should therefore be primarily considered in its 'orality'

Redeeming Relevance / Rabbi Francis Nataf

Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Matot: Menashe — The Odd Man Out

By Rabbi Francis Nataf

Why did Moshe include part of Menashe together with Gad and Reuven in the Transjordanian settlement?

Parsha

Parshat Pinchas

By Rabbi Dr. David Hertzberg

In politics as in business, the ability to deliver matters.

Redeeming Relevance / Rabbi Francis Nataf

Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Pinchas: Midian, Moab and Yisrael

By Rabbi Francis Nataf

The fact it was specifically Midianite and Moabite women involved with Jewish men {Moshe and men involved with Ba'al Peor) shows that an existential bond existed between these nations and Israel.

Redeeming Relevance / Rabbi Francis Nataf

Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Balak: The Perspective of Prophecy

By Rabbi Francis Nataf

Bilaam not only doesn't appear to be great, he seems to be base as well as foolish (outsmarted by his own donkey!). So how can the midrash claim he was really at least as great a prophet as Moshe?

Redeeming Relevance / Rabbi Francis Nataf

Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Korach: When There is no Communication

By Rabbi Francis Nataf

The communication gap here is really two-sided. It certainly starts with Korach and his group, but it subsequently infects Moshe as well.

Parsha

Parshat Shelach

By Rabbi Dr. David Hertzberg

The "enemy" has a mind of its own.

Redeeming Relevance / Rabbi Francis Nataf

Redeeming Relevance: The Desert Bubble: Parshat Shelach

By Rabbi Francis Nataf

The incident of the spies was a completely new and problematic transgression, it was not toward the rarified wilderness, but rather toward the earthly existence promised in the Land of Israel.

Redeeming Relevance / Rabbi Francis Nataf

Redeeming Relevance: The Wisdom of Withdrawal: Parshat Behaalotecha

By Rabbi Francis Nataf

If Moshe was the greatest man that ever lived, his silent partner Tzipporah deserves much of the credit for it.

Redeeming Relevance / Rabbi Francis Nataf

Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Naso: Holy Negativity is Still Negativity

By Rabbi Francis Nataf

Enjoyment of God’s world always comes with some innate meaning – something which is lacking in the case of abstinence, the case of the Nazir.

Parsha

Parshat Bechukotai

By Rabbi Dr. David Hertzberg

The terrorists were told that they would be given a plane to take them to an Arab country.

Parsha

Parshat Bechukotai: The Miracle of Satisfaction

By Rabbi Dr. Nathan Lopes Cardozo

Depending on their spiritual condition, human beings will either be satisfied with what they have, or will not. This is the determining factor whether or not it is a year of 'plenty.'

Redeeming Relevance / Rabbi Francis Nataf

Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Behar: The Torah’s First Ending

By Rabbi Francis Nataf

Had the Jews not sinned with the spies, they would have gone into the land led by Moshe at the end of Parshat Shelach. Hence the end of Vayikra would have basically been the end of the Torah

Redeeming Relevance / Rabbi Francis Nataf

Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Emor II: No Time to Think

By Rabbi Francis Nataf

The Torah is telling us something here: Though we may sometimes act too rashly, there are times when rash action is the only way to prevent a complete catastrophe.

Redeeming Relevance / Rabbi Francis Nataf

Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Kedoshim: We Need to Choose

By Rabbi Francis Nataf

In this week’s parsha, the Torah further develops the statement that opens Parshat Kedsohim, the need to be 'Kadosh.'

Parsha

Parshat Achrei Mot

By Rabbi Dr. David Hertzberg

The importance of uniforms is underscored in this week's parsha.

Redeeming Relevance / Rabbi Francis Nataf

Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Achrei Mot: Nameless Heroes and the Holy Path

By Rabbi Francis Nataf

Parshat Achrei Mot represents a transition in the book of Vayikra from an emphasis on Aharon and his sons to the Jewish people as a whole

Serials

Getzlight – Chapter VIII

By Ruchama Feuerman

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