by Moshe Kempinski Wilderness and Exile can be a punishment or a trial or even an opportunity. Clearly we can understand that both exile and wilderness functions as a trial and punishment . we see this in the words of HaShem following the evil report that the ten spies brought after their sojourn in the … Read more
From Rachel Sylvetsky, If it weren’t so sad, the Ulpana saga could be a farce about governments who do not govern, leaders afraid to lead and Peace Now, whose cackles may turn to dismay. And, how will Netanyahu be judged by history? 4 ideas for a sane policy in Yesha . I live in Israel. … Read more
We are living in a disjointed world the sages called Alma Deperuda, wherein the pieces of the puzzle remain painfully distant from their natural partners. In such a disjointed world opposing forces of darkness and light intermingle and it becomes difficult to discern and reveal the goodness within the evil. Yet we read in psalms; … Read more
Moshe Kempinski Shavuot occurs on the sixth day of the Hebrew month of Sivan. It marks the conclusion of the Counting of the Omer and is understood to be the day that the Torah was given at Mount Sinai. The date of Shavuot is not explicitly mentioned in the Torah. Rather, its occurrence is directly … Read more
The first radio reports came through from the Jerusalem front on that hot day in June, 1967. The reporter was breathing hoarsely as he ran with the soldiers entering Lion’s Gate. The sniper fire in the background did not seem to faze either the reporter or the soldiers. The reporter’s microphone did not pick up … Read more
We are told in the beginning of the parsha ; And HaShem spoke to Moshe on Mount Sinai ( Behar Sinai) saying, Speak to the children of Israel and you shall say to them: When you come to the land that I am giving you, the land shall rest a Sabbath to the Lord. (Leviticus … Read more
The kohanim as a model for the requirements of leadership – as early elections are announced. As Israel sinks into the mire of pre election fever it would be instructive to look to the Parshat Hashavua (weekly Torah portion) for insights into what true leadership actually entails. The parsha begins with the words ; “ … Read more
To understand the deep importance of Yom HaAtzmaut ( Israel’s Independence day), one needs to learn to connect the dots. Understanding Jewish history in general and perceiving Jewish destiny in particular necessitates the understanding that nothing in our reality happens by happenstance. Truth can only be comprehended by connecting the end to the beginning and … Read more
