Rabbi Chanan Morisson Based on the writings of Maran Harav Kook According to an intriguing Midrash (Tanchuma Toldot 4), Abraham would not have made it out of his hometown of Ur Casdim alive were it not for the intervention of his grandson Jacob. King Nimrod ordered Abraham to be thrown into a fiery furnace because … Read more
Rabbi Chanan Morisson The Torah counts the years of Sarah’s long life: “A hundred years and twenty years and seven years; these were the years of Sarah’s life” (Gen. 23:1). Noting the verse’s wordiness, the Sages commented that throughout all the years of her life — whether at age seven, twenty, or a hundred — … Read more
Rabbi Chanan Morisson based on the writings of Maran Harav Kook “Abraham rose early in the morning, to the place where he had [previously] stood before God.” (Gen. 19:27) What does it mean that Abraham “stood before God”? The Talmud interpreted this phrase to refer to prayer. (The central prayer is called the Amidah, meaning … Read more
Lech Lecha: Father of Many Nations Rabbi Chanan Morisson Notarikon in the Torah Abbreviations and acronyms are common in rabbinic writings, but they are rare in the text of the Torah itself. Nonetheless, the Sages observed that a few acronyms — notarikon in Aramaic — may be found in the Torah. The first and clearest … Read more
Rabbi Chanan Morisson After the Flood, God informed Noah: “I will make My covenant with you, and all flesh will never again be cut off by the waters of a flood.” “This is the sign of the covenant that I am placing between Me, you, and every living creature that is with you, for all … Read more
Rabbi Chanan Morisson The Midrash relates how the first letter of the Torah was selected. Before the world was created, the letters of the alphabet presented themselves before God. The letter Aleph then announced: I should be used to create the world, since I am the first letter in the alphabet. But God replied: No, … Read more
by Lauren Shaps A long time ago I ran away from home. Little did I know that it would teach me the meaning of Sukkot. A long time ago and far, far away, I got mad at my parents. This was many years before the concept of stranger danger had become part of every pre-school … Read more
By Rabbi Jonathan Sacks \At the end of his life, having given the Israelites at God’s behest 612 commands, Moses is instructed to give them the last; command 613: Now therefore write down for yourselves this song, and teach it to the people of Israel; put it in their mouths, that this song may be … Read more
