There is a familiar Mishnah that outlines different periods of Divine judgment occurring at various points of the year. Most of them are listed in a fairly straightforward manner, but a curious elaboration appears in connection with the judgment of Rosh Hashanah. B’nei Maron This may be somewhat surprising, for the matter of judgment on Rosh Hashanah is a well-known entity: it is the time when man [...]
This week’s parshah contains the familiar passage (Devarim 26:5-8), which forms a central part of the Seder on Pesach night. As the Mishnah states (Pesachim 10:4): וְדוֹרֵשׁ מֵאֲרַמִּי אוֹבֵד אָבִי, עַד שֶׁיִּגְמוֹר כָּל הַפָּרָשָׁה כֻלָּהּ. “One expounds upon the section that begins, ‘Arami oveid avi’ and continues with the remainder of that section (which discusses Ya’akov’s descent to Mitzrayim and all of the events that unfolded there for the [...]
A poignant lesson in the realm of leadership emerges, in a most interesting way, from one of the (numerous) items featured in this week’s parshah. The Torah relates the law pertaining to an individual convicted of a capital transgression. As the passuk states: וְכִי־יִהְיֶה בְאִישׁ חֵטְא מִשְׁפַּט־מָוֶת וְהוּמָת וְתָלִיתָ אֹתוֹ עַל־עֵץ – “And when there shall be in a person a sin that carries a death-sentence, and he be put to death [...]
This week’s parshah devotes a substantial section to the laws pertaining to a rotzei’ach b’shogeg, an accidental murderer. City of Refuge Someone who accidentally murders his fellow is mandated to enter and remain with the confines of an ir miklat, a designated city of refuge. There is some discussion as to the underlying nature of this obligation. Does it carry a quality of punishment, as the murderer is sentenced to spend [...]
One of the mitzvos in this week’s parshah provides some insight into the proper (and improper) way to relate to the most unfortunate of circumstances. The passuk states: לֹא תִתְגֹּדְדוּ וְלֹא־תָשִֹימוּ קָרְחָה בֵּין עֵינֵיכֶם לָמֵת – “Do not lacerate yourselves, nor shall you set a bald spot (in your hair in the area) between your eyes on (the occasion of) death” (Devarim 14:1). This was the practice of the gentiles; upon losing a loved one, [...]
Torah literature is replete with exhortations to do teshuvah (repentance); and there are countless teachings of Chazal lauding this wondrous institution bequeathed to us from Hashem. One example out of many is the Medrash’s statement: “(Regarding) the gates of prayer – sometimes they are open, sometimes they are locked. But when it comes to the gates of repentance – these are always open” (Devarim Rabbah 2:12). Exceptions? However, it [...]
Powerful Words of Inspiration
From Rabbi Yissocher Frand
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