A WEEKLY TORAH THOUGHT BY RABBI MORDY This week’s Parsha (Shoftim) is named for the judges which Moses reiterates must be appointed: “Justice, justice you shall pursue.” Moses then continues to reiterate various laws. We find one in the end of the Parsha that brings us back to a much earlier Biblical episode. It’s a bit circuitous so please bear… Read More

A WEEKLY TORAH THOUGHT BY RABBI MORDY They say seeing is believing. Well, if that’s the case, this Parsha is about belief. The Parsha is called “Re’eh,” which literally means “seeing,” and begins with Moses speaking to the Jewish people about important choices they need to make. His exact words? “See, I place before you today a blessing and a… Read More

A WEEKLY TORAH THOUGHT BY RABBI MORDY This week’s Parsha (Eikev) continues Moses’s recapping to the Jewish people. One event mentioned, difficult as it may have been, was the sin of the Golden Calf and how it impacted another event, the Ten Commandments that Moses was carrying down the mountain at the same time. We treat this incident as one… Read More

A WEEKLY TORAH THOUGHT FROM RABBI MORDY Instead of writing about this week’s Parsha (Va’etchanan), I’m going to deviate because this Shabbos is a special and exceptionally joyful Shabbos, called Tu B’av (the 15th of Av). Wait, you may ask, a joyful day? Last Shabbos had us preoccupied with Tisha B’av, considered the saddest day on the Jewish calendar. Give… Read More

A WEEKLY TORAH THOUGHT FROM RABBI MORDY Besides for this week being the first Parsha in the final book of the Torah (Devarim), it also has a special name: Shabbat Chazon. This refers to the Haftara, the reading after the portion that stems from the Book of Prophets. It’s always read on the Shabbat prior to the 9th of Av,… Read More