This week’s parsha says that the Torah is no longer in the heavens. Instead, it is for us on Earth. Rabbi Glenn Black of NCSY Canada points out that this same line appears in the Gemara, where it describes an argument between Rabbi Eliezar and the sages and three surprising miracles unfold to prove his
The Torah is one weighty scroll, and not just when it comes time to lift it. Rabbi Yisroel Kaminetsky, the founding Menahel of The Davis Renov Stahler Yeshiva High School for Boys in Long Island, New York, shares the favorite piece of Torah of his grandfather, Rabbi Dr. Joseph Kaminetsky. In Parshat Ki Tavo, not
The month of Elul is here and Rosh Hashanah is nearly upon us. Rabbi Arieh Friedner, City Director of NCSY Cleveland, is reminded by this time of year that we must constantly strive towards perfection: undertaking to build ourselves is like planning to build a house. Find out why we don’t need to be perfect,
In this week's parsha, Moshe is commanded to set up cities of refuge on the East side of the Jordan, but knows that he will not be able to enter the Land of Israel and live to see the fruits of his efforts. Rabbi Yitzchok Dinovitzer points out how this selfless effort is so different than the fashion in which our political leaders operate today.
Is there such a thing as too much Tzedakah? Parshat Reei answers this in two ways. Rabbi Elliot Hecht, alumnus of Long Island NCSY and currently the principal of HANC Middle School, retells a story of two brothers whose generosity knew no bounds.
From this week’s parsha, Eikev, to Migilat Esther and Tehillim, Shoshana Polakoff, alumna of West Coast, Summer and NY NCSY Staff, criss-crosses chapters and verse to weave an incredible interpretation behind bentching, the blessing after eating bread, and how it can inspire action and chesed.
On Erev Tisha B’Av, Karen Hochhauser, a NJ NCSY Alumna who made Aliyah, is thinking about the miracle of life in Eretz Yisrael, but also its challenges. A pasuk from Parshat VaEtchanan reminds Moshe and Bnei Yisroel never to forget about doing chesed and good deeds, adding to an outpouring of love over several generations.
Rashi asks why Moshe Rabbeinu rebukes the entirety of Bnei Yisrael in Parshat Dvarim. Rabbi Tuvia Fried, Learning Director at NCSY Camp Sports, addresses Rashi and reminds us of the power of our words and deeds to carefully create and quickly destroy. Thanks to Shimmy Socol for producing the video.
This week’s parsha, Maasei, goes into such detail about the route that the journey and encampment of the Jewish people took them as they traveled from Egypt to the Land of Israel. Why the 42 specific stops? Rabbi Judah Hulkower, an alumnus of West Coast NCSY, tells us that each location speaks to a different
Rabbi Chaim Loike, Rabbinic Coordinator at OU Kashrut, discusses how the Jewish people were cursed in this week’s parsha, Matot, not directly, but through an indirect weakening of their connection with HaShem by causing them to sin.