Rabbi Chanan Morisson Based on the teachings of Maran Harav Kook The Torah describes the offerings presented for each holiday, starting with those brought on Rosh Chodesh, the first day of the lunar month. “This is the burnt-offering of the new month, throughout the months of the year. And one male goat for a sin-offering … Read more
Rabbi Chanan Morisson Based on the teachings of Maran Harav Kook Together with Shema In the parashah of Balak, we find prophetic verses of exquisite beauty and an inspiring story of God’s vigilant watch over the Jewish people. But to truly appreciate this Torah portion, consider this remarkable teaching of the Sages. The Talmud (Berachot … Read more
Rabbi Lord Sacks Korach had a point. “You have gone too far! The whole community is holy, every one of them, and the LORD is with them. Why then do you set yourselves above the LORD’s assembly?” (Num. 16:3). At the heart of his challenge is the idea of equality. That surely is a Jewish … Read more
Rabbi Chanan Morisson ( Based on the writings of Maran Harav Kook) Every evening and morning, we say the Shema, Judaism’s supreme declaration of monotheistic faith. In the first passage, we accept upon ourselves the yoke of God’s sovereignty. And in the second, we accept God’s commandments. Interestingly, the Sages added a third paragraph to … Read more
by Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks The meaning of tikkun and its connection to Shavuot. ] Excerpted from the Koren Shavuot Mahzor with introduction by Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks The word tikkun, as in tikkun olam, “mending the world,” and tikkun leyl Shavuot, the custom of staying up and studying Torah all night on the first … Read more
Moshe Kempinski This past week has seen thousands come through the gates of the old city, to sing dance and pray. Yesterday a group of seemingly secular Jews formed a circle at the foot of the Hurva synagogue and began to sing songs of Jerusalem. One man then pulled out a large shofar and began … Read more
Rabbi Chanan Morisson based on the writings of Harav Kook In 1751, the Pennsylvania Assembly ordered a special bell be cast, commemorating the 50th anniversary of William Penn’s ‘Charter of Privileges.’ The Speaker of the Assembly was entrusted with finding an appropriate inscription for what later became famous as the Liberty Bell. The best expression … Read more
Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo This year’s Yom Ha’atzmaut commemorates the 68th anniversary of a marriage that has lasted more than 3,500 years. This may sound like a paradox, but it is the inescapable truth about the Land of Israel and the Jews. No marriage has lasted so long, been so deep in its commitment and … Read more
