Category: Torah Talks
Torah Talk for Parashat Re’eh
August 30, 2016 by
In this parasha, Moshe instructs Bnei Yisrael (the Israelites) regarding idolatry, false prophets, pure and impure foods, tithes, freeing slaves, and pilgrimage festivals. The section about false prophets (13:2-6) raises questions in the Talmud (Tractate Sanhedrin 90a): Is there such a thing as a human being who is able to cause miracles to happen? And, […]
- Parent-Child Learning
Torah Talk for Parashat Eikev
August 24, 2016 by
In this parasha, Moshe continues his speech to the Bnei Yisrael, reminding them to keep Hashem’s commandments when they enter the land of Israel. Chapter 8, verses 3-10 describe a literal or metaphorical partnership between Hashem and the Jewish people and the dichotomy between our physical and spiritual existences. These verses open with the principle, […]
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Torah Talk for Parashat Va’etchanan
August 17, 2016 by
In this parasha, Moshe stresses to the Bnei Yisrael the importance of keeping Hashem’s commandments when they enter the land of Israel; Moshe repeats the Aseret HaDibrot (Ten Commandments) and utters the Sh’ma and V’ahavta passages. Two poignant stories, one from the ancient world and one from the last century, revolve around the recitation of […]
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Torah Talk for Parashat Devarim
August 10, 2016 by
In this parasha, Moshe recounts to the Bnei Yisrael different episodes from the 40 years in the wilderness; he gives them encouragement as they look ahead to their upcoming conquest of the land of Cana’an. One of the episodes Moshe recounts is the defeat of Og, King of the Bashan. The original story occurs in […]
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Torah Talk for Parashat Matot-Masei
August 3, 2016 by
In Parashat Matot, Moshe describes the laws of oaths; the Bnei Yisrael battle the Midianites; and the tribes of Reuven and Gad request to dwell outside of the Land of Israel. In Masei, the final parasha in the book of Bemidbar (Numbers), the Bnei Yisrael stand on the banks of the Jordan River, ready to […]
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Torah Talk for Parashat Pinchas
July 27, 2016 by
In this parasha, Hashem gives Pinchas, the grandson of Aharon, a covenant of peace; Hashem explains to Moshe the distribution of the Land of Israel to male heirs in their respective tribes; the daughters of Tzelophchad petition to inherit their father’s portion; and Moshe appoints Yehoshua (Joshua) as his successor. This parasha also contains a […]
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Torah Talk for Parashat Balak
July 20, 2016 by
In this parasha, the king of Moav asks Bil’am to curse the Bnei Yisrael after he sees them defeat various nations in battle. Bil’am’s donkey sees an angel of God and refuses to move; Bil’am hits the donkey; and God speaks through the mouth of the donkey to tell him not to curse the Bnei […]
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Torah Talk for Parashat Chukat
July 13, 2016 by
In this parasha, Hashem instructs Moshe and Aaron regarding the parah adumah (red heifer); Miriam dies; to bring forth water Moshe hits a rock rather than speaking to it; Aaron dies. The order of the stories in chapter 20 can teach us a number of lessons about leadership. The first thing that happens is that Miriam […]
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Torah Talk for Parashat Korach
July 6, 2016 by
In this parasha, Korach and his followers rebel against Moshe’s and Aharon’s leadership and are killed; God instructs Aharon regarding laws of the kehuna (priesthood). After the rebellion of Korach is quashed, Moshe devises a test to prove once and for all that the tribe of Levi, and specifically the Cohanim, are supposed to be the spiritual leaders […]
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Torah Talk for Parashat Shlach
June 29, 2016 by
In this parasha, Moshe sends scouts to explore the Land of Israel; ten of them convince the people that it will be too difficult to conquer the land, and Hashem responds to their lack of confidence by punishing Bnei Yisrael with 40 years of wandering in the wilderness. The people are given the commandments of […]
- Parent-Child Learning
