Parashat Mishpatim begins with the subject of Eved Ivri – the Jewish servant. In ancient times, there were certain situations in which a person who fell into financial straits would sell himself as a servant. The Torah...
Were The Sages Using an Antonym or a Synonym? At the end of six years of work, all Jewish servants go free from their masters. (A Jew becomes a servant either by selling himself because he is destitute...
“There are many reasons given why the Torah is compared to water.” In these parshious of Yisro and Mishpatim, we are given much information about the Torah. A famous metaphor for Torah is mayim, water, as in the verse,...
The Tzlach writes, “There is no greater rebellion against the King of the world than to speak in his heichel, in His presence. He is making the holy air tamei, similar to the Yevanim who made the mizbeiach tamei. Speaking...
The Story of Yisro The opening of this week’s parsha tells the story of the priest of Midian, Yisro, who chooses to come to the wilderness to spend time with the fledgling Jewish nation. “Yisro, the priest of Midian,...
The Torah’s description of Matan Torah, the most seminal moment in human history, a moment that defined not only a nation but gave meaning and purpose to the very creation of the world, is extremely powerful and dynamic,...
There are a few passages in the Torah and other sources that deal with prophecies regarding the time of Mashiach’s arrival. Never before in history have these prophecies appeared so relevant to current events. These sources are truly fascinating,...
Dear Rabbi and Shira, I just spent Shabbos at my future in-laws, and I don’t know what to do. They are a wonderful family, sweet, and welcoming. The only problem? The food...
Gambling is very widespread today. People go to casinos, and bet on horses and sporting events. They gamble at slot machines and play various card games. Until recently, gambling was not done on such a wide scale. However, it became legal...
I. The Maximal Tzadik A recent saying has it that every Jew is a tzadik, righteous. Taken literally, the statement strains credulity. Jews, like everyone else, commit sins, some grievously so. Even the conscientious Jew is marked by inconsistency and...