Vezos Habracha – The End of the Torah — by Ben
With all the excitment of Rosh Hashana, Yom Kippur, Succos, Shemini Atzeres, and Simchat Torah, it’s very easy to miss the final parsha of the Torah, Vezos Habracha. It’s the […]
Tag Archives: God
Why We Really Fast on Yom Kippur – By Ben
As we approach Yom Kippur tomorrow night, I wanted to relate an extraordinary teaching given by the Rosh Yeshiva of Shapell’s Darche Noam. It was a comprehensive lesson that I’m […]
Hod. The Link between Pesach Sheni, Lag B’Omer, and Manna from Heaven. – By Ben
We’re in a really odd time right now in the Jewish calendar. Between Pesach and Shavuos is a what’s known as the counting of the Omer. For 49 days we count each […]
Kedoshim – Who the Hell Wants to be Holy? — By Ben
I don’t know about you, but I never have had any desire to be holy. You walk around seeing hassidic men in shtreimels avoiding all secular media or looking away from […]
Va’eira – Denial isn’t Just a River in Egypt
In this week’s parsha, Va’eira, there is the big showdown between Moses and Pharaoh. God sends Moses to plead with Pharaoh for the Jewish people’s freedom and every time Pharaoh […]
Shemos – Five Times No
If ever there is an iconic image from the Torah recognized by the religious and the secular world alike, it would probably be Moses and the burning bush. Throughout the Torah, […]
Vayeitzei – 12 Rocks and 70 Faces — By Ben
“There are 70 faces to the Torah” -Midrash As the Midrash is pointing out, there’s no one way to read the Torah. There’s gematria, Aggadata, the four levels of understanding, Rashi’s […]
Lech Lecha – Being Right in a World of Wrong — By Ben
Mark Twain’s famous line, used to open the Oscar nominated film The Big Short, speaks far beyond the ramifications of the housing crisis. When a person is so sure of them […]
Noach – A World of Difference — By Ben
Parshas Noach is one of the most troubling portions in all of Torah. The idea that God wiped out all humanity, save one family, is terrifying. Ironically, this is the Bible story […]
Bereishis – Why the Snake was Punished — By Ben
Adam and Eve have just eaten from the Tree. God is wrathful. Judgment! Judgment! Judgment! Man is sentenced to an existence of sweat and toil for his food, Women will […]
Six Degrees Of Kosher Bacon 