Torah.org

One of my teachers told me recently that Rabbi Dr. Yaakov Greenwald zl. had said, “There is nothing more dangerous than someone who does not have a Rebbe.” If we are driving in life without a GPS then it is easy to get lost and stuck. torah.org/torah-portion/…

The four words "Eenah L'yado V'samti Lecha" (brought him into his hand and I will set aside for you) begin respectively with the letters that spell out the word Elul (the month of the Jewish calendar which precedes the High Holiday Days). torah.org/torah-portion/…

There are basically two types of mitzvos, mishpatim & chukim, or judgments & statutes. A mishpat, like “do not steal,” is a law whose relevance to life we can see. A chok, like not cooking meat & milk together, is a law whose rationale seems beyond us. torah.org/torah-portion/…

THE PREVIOUS WEEK I spoke about the idea of the Roshem, and how something so “small” could amount to so much “big.” The same could be said about the first Aleph of this week’s parsha on the word vayikra itself. It’s written smaller than the rest of the.. torah.org/torah-portion/…

Just as a shadow is a reverse silhouette of a person's body, the shadow begins from his feet and extends outwards to the head, so too our perspective is reversed. That is, when we ascend towards G-d, we begin with the least holy, and grow towards that .. torah.org/torah-portion/…

Rav Moshe Soloveitchik was a businessman. He was in the lumber business and he was very successful. His fortune turned and he lost all of his money. It was such a shocking thing that this wealthy patron of so many charitable causes lost all his money... torah.org/torah-portion/…

He used to say: Anyone whose wisdom is greater than his deeds to what is he comparable? To a tree whose branches are many and whose roots are few, and the wind comes and turns it over. as it is stated, 'And he will be like a lonely tree in a... torah.org/learning/pirke…

In a magnanimous show of unity, men and women of all tribes of the nation converge their hearts, minds, and pockets to complete the Mishkan. In the next two Torah portions, the Torah summarizes the accomplishments of the nation by detailing the work... torah.org/torah-portion/…

After eleven chapters of narration of directions for the components and vestments of the Mishkan (Tabernacle), the construction finally began. "From Moses' presence they took the entire gift that the Children of Israel had brought for the work for the... torah.org/torah-portion/…

Conjure up this scene in your imagination. The steering committee of a prestigious charitable organization convenes a meeting of its main benefactors. A new building is needed desperately, the chairman reports, and the projected cost will run high into.. torah.org/torah-portion/…

THE EXPRESSION IS, “You only get one shot at a first impression,” and in life, a first impression can mean everything. A good one can open doors for a person who might not be that worthy, and a bad first impression can leave a worthy person always ... torah.org/torah-portion/…

The laws of Shabbos are juxtaposed to the construction of the Mishkan, Sanctuary. This comes to stress that, however important the building of the House of G-d is, nevertheless this does not override the observance of the Shabbos laws ... torah.org/torah-portion/…

This week we read the double parsha of Vayakhel-Pekudei. Vayakhel begins with Moshe gathering Bnei Yisroel (Children of Israel) in order to command them to observe the Shabbos. "Shaishes yamim tai'a'seh m'lacha ... torah.org/torah-portion/…

THE EXPRESSION IS, “You only get one shot at a first impression,” and in life, a first impression can mean everything. A good one can open doors for a person who might not be that worthy, and a bad first impression can leave a worthy person always ... torah.org/torah-portion/…

See, Hashem has proclaimed by name Betzalel ben Uri… Names are important, teach Chazal. They even influence the actions we take. The Heavens refer to a person by the same name that people use to address him. The letters of a person’s name are his ... torah.org/torah-portion/…

This is a lesson for those who think that spiritual truths can be arrived at through philosophical speculation. No amount of logic, says R’ Nachman, could ever lead to the conclusion that Hashem can exist in our lowly world, while lowly animals can be .. torah.org/torah-portion/…

The following class is the second in a three part series examining the relationship between inner spiritual beauty, our physical bodies, and the physical world in which we live. Our previous class established how spirit and body should ideally function.. torah.org/learning/women…

If one walks into a men's clothing store in the winter, he will inevitably see designer raincoats for sale. If one owns such raingear, or some other garment that is respectable to wear in Hashem's presence, he may wear it for Shemoneh Esrei. However... torah.org/learning/tefil…

HASHEM spoke to Moshe, saying: "And you, speak to the Children of Israel and say: 'Only keep My Shabbos! For it is a sign between Me and you for your generations, to know that I, HASHEM, make you holy. Therefore, keep the Shabbos, for it is a sacred... torah.org/torah-portion/…

However, you must observe my Shabbos. Rashi tells us that this “however” serves to establish that the work of constructing the mishkan should not proceed on Shabbos. Indeed, all such uses of “however”/ach are restrictions and limitations on the extent .. torah.org/torah-portion/…