Long before the fidget spinner became the world’s favorite pastime, Jewish children played with spinning tops on the holiday of Chanuka.
Torah
Parshas Vayishlach: Angels and Agents
A “messenger of G-d” refers to either an angel or a prophet, but what about a “messenger of Jacob”? When Jacob sent a message of peace to his older, belligerent brother Esau (Gen. 32:4), the Torah says that he sent Esau malachim (“messengers”). While the word malach in Hebrew may mean “messenger”, it also means Read more
Parshas Vayeitzei: Stoned and High
How can the Torah say that G-d hates single-stone altars if we find in the time of the forefathers that G-d was pleased with such worship?
Parshat Toldos: Splitting hairs
According to what it appears the Torah has to say about hair, though, the issue about a woman’s hair is less about the actual object—the collection of the follicles—but what it represents.
Parshas Chayei Sarah: Maybe Yes, Maybe No
In Biblical Hebrew, there is no neutral word for ‘maybe’.
Parshas Lech Lecha – Exhausted or Just Tired?
Say your prayers, eat your Wheaties, take your vitamins, and you will never go wrong.
Parshas Ki Savo – A Collection of Curses
Regarding the judge, the Torah uses the word kelalah to denote cursing, while regarding the king, the Torah uses the word arur. Why, in the self-same verse, does the Torah switch from using one word to using the other?
Parashat Ki Tavo: The seeds sown in darkness
Parashat Ki Tavo begins with the description of the bringing of the First Fruits. However, the second half of the parasha describes the horrendous fate that will befall the nation of Israel in the future. The juxtaposition of these two discordant descriptions is no coincidence. Parashat Ki Tavo is a lesson in learning from history.
Parshas Ki Seitze: The War Within
Just as in a war against a physical enemy, we must put our trust in Hashem and know that He is with us in our battle against the yetzer hara
A Woman Learning Talmud
Just as no other place in the world has a heart like the heart of Jerusalem, no other Talmud teacher is quite like ours.