A WEEKLY TORAH THOUGHT BY RABBI MORDY This week we have a double Parsha (Achareimot-Kedoshim) so there is no shortage of material. They include many laws and stories so it’s not too hard to find one that resonates and can connect to this moment. This week includes what Rabbi Akiva calls “the great principle of the Torah,” the commandment to… Read More

A WEEKLY TORAH THOUGHT BY RABBI MORDY This week’s double Parsha (Tazria-Metzorah) speaks about various purities and impurities, detailing the atonement processes, mostly relating to Biblical times. The Torah references to purity here differ in an interesting way from those given in the times of Noah’s Ark, during which Noah is commanded to bring animals, kosher and non-kosher, into the… Read More

A WEEKLY TORAH THOUGHT BY RABBI MORDY Here’s hoping everyone had an enjoyable Passover. It is so appropriate that we transition from Passover immediately into this week’s Parsha, Shemini. We finally complete the inauguration of the Tabernacle in the desert and Aaron begins his service on the eighth day (Shemini means “eighth”), following the seven days of inauguration. Passover, too,… Read More

A WEEKLY TORAH THOUGHT BY RABBI MORDY Tonight begins the last days of Passover. These are days that commemorate the splitting of the Sea of Reeds (being approximately a week after the Jewish people were freed) as well as celebrate — strangely, in anticipation of—the future Redemption. Much is discussed about what “the Redemption” means and people tend to have… Read More

A WEEKLY TORAH THOUGHT BY RABBI MORDY While we technically start the holiday of Passover tomorrow night, this Shabbos, known as “Shabbat Hagadol,” the Great Shabbos, leads us right into the holiday. Because it’s a busy day, I’ll try to be as brief as possible. Passover celebrates the Jewish people’s liberation from Egypt. The Hebrew word from Egypt is “Mitzrayim,” which,… Read More