The parsha opens with: “This is the blessing with which Moses, the man of God, blessed the Israelites farewell before he died” (Deut. 33:1). One of the Torah readings for Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah ...

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This week’s Torah portion describes the bountiful blessings promised to our people by God, if (ekev) we obey the laws of Torah. Together with these blessings, of ...

This past year, a dear friend underwent surgery. Baruch Hashem, the operation was successful. Her recovery, however, was excruciating. The worst element of her regaining her well-being was that she ...

The act of giving blessing creates connection. Hopefully, we do not wait until the end of our lives to create or facilitate this connection with our loved ones as Jacob did. This week’s Torah portion, ...

“And he [the Kohen] shall be sanctified” [Leviticus 21:8]. I have long been fascinated by the blessing recited by the kohanim (priests) as they call upon God to bless the Jewish people: “Blessed art ...

In 1693, clergyman Thomas Manton published the “Book of Sermons.” In this compilation was a phrase that would become a popular adage, “actions, which speak much louder than words.” But what if we ...

According to our Parsha, one’s religious behavior also plays a role in determining their Matzav (practical situation). This is made clear in the opening verses of our Sedra (Torah portion) in which ...