Rabbi Chanan morisson During these days of Purim, in this difficult hour, many troubles from without besiege and afflict the entire nation of Israel. Yet our greatest anguish stems from troubles from within. We lack internal unity, peace in the House of Israel. Let us recall those days and their events as they are recorded … Read more
Rabbi Chanan Morisson What is so important about the construction of the Tabernacle that the Torah describes in such loving detail its measurements and furnishings? Was it not just an interim precursor to the Temple? What eternal message does this temporary structure have to impart? The Tabernacle enabled the Jewish people to express their devotion … Read more
by Rabbi Chanan Morrison The Talmud (Berachot 10b) tells a puzzling story about the righteous king Hezekiah. It is related that the king secreted away the medical books of his day. Why? King Hezekiah felt that the people relied too heavily on the prescriptions described in those texts, and did not pray to God to … Read more
Rabbi Chanan Morisson “And all the people saw the sounds …” (Ex. 20:15). The Midrash calls our attention to an amazing aspect of the revelation at Sinai: the Jewish people were able to see what is normally only heard. What does this mean? Standing near the Source At their source, sound and sight are united. … Read more
Moshe Kempinski The 2013 elections have passed and the Netanyahu government finds itself constrained by newer complications and confusing boundaries. Yet those constraints were created by Netanyahu’s own short sightedness. He and his advisers decided to begin an all out war of hatred and misinformation regarding the “Jewish Home ‘party and its leader Naftali Bennet. … Read more
Rabbi Chanan Morisson The Torah commands us to commemorate the Exodus from Egypt by wearing tefillin (phylacteries) on the arm and head. “These words will be for a sign on your arm and a reminder between your eyes, so that God’s Torah will be in your mouth; for God brought you out of Egypt with … Read more
Moshe Kempinski When one thinks of “exile” one thinks of punishment. ” My G-d will cast them away, because they did not hearken unto Him; and they shall be wanderers among the nations.(Hoshea 9:17).Then again in the book of Deuteronomy we read; ” Hashem will bring thee, and thy king whom thou shalt set over … Read more
Rabbi Chanan Morisson Appearing in a burning bush, God charged Moses with the task of leading the Jewish people out of Egypt. Moses, however, had doubts about the feasibility of the mission: “They will not believe me and they will not listen to me, because they will say, ‘God did not appear to you.’” (Ex. … Read more
