A WEEKLY TORAH THOUGHT BY RABBI MORDY This week we begin the fourth Book of the Torah, the Book of Numbers, also called Bamidbar. Bamidbar is the name of the Parsha as well and, while the book overall is called Numbers, the word Bamidbar is actually translated to mean “in the desert.” It speaks of Moses counting the Jewish people… Read More

A WEEKLY TORAH THOUGHT BY RABBI MORDY Here we are this week, back at another double portion with Behar and Bechukotai. Behar means, “On the mountain,” referring to Mount Sinai where G-d revealed the Torah to the Jewish nation; the timing is perfect since we are about a week away from the holiday of Shavuot which commemorates this pivotal event.… Read More

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