Mitzvot

Found 16 Search results

1. "I Have Formed You; You Are My Servant"

   Haftarot: Vayikra

   Rabbi Mosheh Lichtenstein

   The prophet describes the relationship between God and Am Yisrael in terms of a servant and master. Sacrifices are therefore necessary to enable the servant to stand before his master. The reason behind the redemption in the haftara is God's responsibility toward the nation as a master, who is obligated to care for his servants. The haftara ends with the prophet mocking idolaters who create their statues, and emphasizes God's role as a creator.

2. The Covenant on Both Sides of the Jordan

   Rabbi Elchanan Samet

   This article examines the relationship between two covenants: the covenant of the blessing and the curse, and the covenant of Gerizim and Eval.

3. Mishneh Torah - The Book of Second Chances

   Rabbi Yehuda Shaviv

   This article offers an overview of Sefer Devarim, and surveys a myriad of issues raised throughout the book, including: the Divine authorship of Devarim; the centrality of repentance; new Mitzvot that have not yet been commanded; and the role of the community in Mitzvot and in repentance.

4. Shema Yisrael - The Goals of Mitzva Observance

   Rabbi Reuven Taragin

   Moshe delivers two parallel speeches over the first eleven chapters of Devarim. Beyond developing links between Mitzva observance and success, the second speech also redefines the man-God relationship forged by this observance. The first speech focuses on fearing God while the second speech focuses on loving Him.

5. Tefillin- a Remembrance

   Rabbi Shlomo Dov Rosen

   תאריך פרסום: תשס"ז | | 30 minutes

   We now encounter something new. Until now, we have seen continuing narratives in the books of Bereisheet and Shemot, but in Parashat Bo we begin to find sections of mitzoth. Most of those in our parasha appear to be clearly connected to the Exodus from Egypt. Tefillin seems to be an exception. Drawing on traditional works of halakha and Jewish thought, we examine this mitzvah and contrast it with the mitzvoth of sukka and tzitzith.

6. Sefer Devarim, the Most ‘Misunderstood’ Book of the Bible

   Rabbi Menachem Leibtag

   תאריך פרסום: תשסט | |

   What is the purpose of Sefer Devarim? Rabbi Menachem Leibtag challenges the popular assumption that Sefer Devarim is a ‘review’ of the rest of Chumash, and proves that, in fact, Sefer Devarim is a crucial ending to the Chumash. By examining the progression from Sefer Shmot all the way to Devarim, we can see that Devarim is not a historical review; rather it details how Am Yisrael must become a nation representing God, utilizing a whole new set of laws, once they enter the land of Israel. 

7. Commemorating the Exodus from Egypt

   Rabbi Michael Hattin

   In Jewish history, certainly in Biblical history, the defining moment is the Exodus from Egypt. It is this passage from slavery to liberation that marks the birth of the nation of Israel and heralds their entry onto the stage of world history.  For that reason, the pivotal episode is writ large and often upon the pages of Jewish tradition. By exploring the many ceremonies and rituals commemorating the Exodus, we can learn about its more fundamental goal of describing God's relationship to the world – His power, His knowledge and His involvement, and about the power of mitzvot in general as the pivotal elements in guiding our lives towards moral meaning and spiritual substance.

8. Sefer Devarim: The Beginning of the Oral Law

   Rabbi Dr. Joshua Berman

   תאריך פרסום: תשע"ב | |

   This shiur will give us insight into the Mesorah and the way we think about Halakha. Sources from Rav Tzadok of Lublin and the Netziv which are not usually taught will help us understand very difficult questions that arise in Tanakh, about various commandments that contradict one another. We explore how we view our relationship, and the Written Torah’s relationship with the Oral Torah, and we find an evolution of the Oral Torah throughout Tanakh.    

9. Mishneh Torah: The Book of Second Chances

   Rabbi Yehuda Shaviv | 14 minutes

   We survey a variety of issues raised throughout the book of Devarim, including: the Divine authorship of Devarim; the centrality of repentance; new mitzvot that have not yet been commanded; and the roles of the community in mitzvot and in repentance (teshuva).

10. Inseparable Pair

    Rabbi Ben-Tzion Spitz

11. Rav Hirsch and the Netziv on Lekh Lekha: Avraham's Response to God's Command

    Rabbi David Silverberg

12. The Story of Bilaam in the Context of Bamidbar

    Rabbi Menachem Leibtag |

    What is unique about the unit of the story of Bilaam and how does it fit within the context of Sefer Bamidbar as a whole? Through an analysis of the unit we learn about the goal of the story of Bilaam and the purpose of sefer Bamidbar in teaching us about the relationship between God and Israel and the way in which mitzvot give meaning to our lives. 

13. One is Holy

    Rabbi Jay Kelman

14. Kedoshim: Social Values, Laws, and Boundaries

    Rabbi Shlomo Dov Rosen

15. The Condemned City and the Remote City

    Rabbanit Dr. Michal Tikochinsky

16. Nitzavim: It's Great to Be a Jew!

    Rabbi Jay Kelman