by Chavi | May 17, 2017 | Parshat Hashavua, Vayikra
By Batya Hefter The blessings in parshat b’chukotai echo of gan eden, “I will make you fruitful and multiply you’, ‘the trees of the field shall yield their fruit’, and most significantly, “ and I will walk among you’, restoring the harmonious pre-chet adam HaRishon...
by Chavi | May 8, 2017 | Parshat Hashavua, Vayikra
By Batya Hefter Contact with death can cause crises of faith. Believers often despair of the meaning of their own existence and doubt in a benevolent God creeps in. At such times, it is not apparent that the events in the world are for the best. In this week’s parsha,...
by Chavi | May 1, 2017 | Parshat Hashavua, Vayikra
by: Batya Hefter “Al ta’ashok“: Learning to give of ourselves Parshat Kedoshim provides an example of how Rabbi Mordechai Yosef, the Mei HaShiloach, casts a spiritual dimension on a halachic obligation. In a strictly halachic context, the phrase “Do...
by Chavi | Mar 23, 2017 | Parshat Hashavua, Shemot
by: Batya Hefter “Moshe said to the children of Israel, ‘See, the Lord has called by name Bezalel, the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Yehuda, and he has filled him with the spirit of God – in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and with...
by Wbm | Nov 20, 2016 | Parshat Hashavua, Shemot
By: Batya Hefter “The cloud covered and filled the Tabernacle. Moshe could not enter into the Communion Tent, since the cloud had rested on it and God’s glory filled the Tabernacle” (Shemot 40:35). As Sefer Shemot comes to a close, we find Moshe, God’s devoted...
by Wbm | Nov 19, 2016 | Parshat Hashavua, Shemot
by Batya Hefter Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berdichev teaches us that “Moshe is the tikkun (repair) for the soul of Noah” (Keddushat Levi, Noach). This idea is based on the Ari z”l in Sha’ar Hagilgulim who says that Moshe is a gilgul, a reincarnation of Noah. This idea...
