Why do we drink four cups of wine at the Seder; can I drink a fifth? Why do we pour another cup for Elijah; is he sitting down at our Seder table?
Pesach: The 5th Cup
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Tazria: Shabbat and Circumcision
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Why do we circumcise on Shabbat? Can't we just delay the surgery by a day, and not violate Shabbat? The history of circumcision and the surprising qualification required of the circumciser.
Parshat Hachodesh: How Much Are 2 Mitzvot Worth?
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2 Mitzvot stood between the Jewish people and the Exodus, and 2 Mitzvot can bring our redemption. A journey between Moses in Egypt, Rabbi Matya in Rome, and the Lubavitcher Rebbe in New York.
Tzav: Blasphemy or Heartfelt Cry?
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A young Jewish woman married to a Greek officer storms the Holy Temple, kicks the altar, and shouts "wolf, wolf..." Can anyone give this story a positive spin?
Behar – Bechukotai: All or Nothing
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If I can’t get it right, why bother?
What do we do when the ideal is just not within reach?
Emor – Pesach Sheni: A Bug in the Divine System?
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Sometimes it seems like there's a bug in G-d's system.
He commands us to do something, but makes it impossible to fulfill...
Did anyone ever ask G-d this question?
Acharei Mos – Kedoshim: Is There Life After Death?
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Will the vision of the resurrection of the dead in the Messianic era actually be realized? Who will be resurrected, and when? Answers to all the questions you wanted to ask about the resurrection.
11 Nissan: Choosing Wisely
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Idolatry seems primitive and ludicrous. Why are the Jewish people called “wise” on account of their choice to serve G-d?
A fascinating discussion about the complexities of life and the courage to choose right.
Shavuos (Bechukosai): “Beauty is Vain…” Really?
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Each Friday night, as the family gathers around the Shabbat table, we sing “Eshet Chayil,” the ode of the Jewish woman.
“Charm is deceptive and beauty is vain,” we declare in its closing.
What exactly does that mean?
Behar (Lag Baomer): Rabbi Akiva’s Students – Lovers or Haters?
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Rabbi Akiva is famous for his motto: Love your fellow as yourself. Yet, his own students died for... disrespecting their peers. Were they sleeping through class?
Siyum Harambam: Can I Master the Entire Torah?
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Only one author in Jewish history had the courage to say that his compilation encompasses the entire Oral tradition.
Who was he? What is his book? And is it practical for us?
Kedoshim: Why Is Judaism Obsessed With Blessings?
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Jews recite blessings constantly: upon awakening, during prayers, before eating and afterwards. Why the obsessiveness? Can't we just do one big 'thank you' each morning?
Acharei: What’s Between the Lines?
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The Talmud records a bizarre argument between the High Priest and the Chief Rabbis.
For generations, readers have been puzzled: Is that behavior befitting the most distinguished members of the Jewish people?
In 1986, the Rebbe explained it's deeper meaning.
Pesach: Security Measures
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The world around us is tumultuous and turbulent. Terrorism in Israel, the war in Europe and divisions in societies around the world evoke feelings of fear and anxiety. What can we do about it?
During the Plague of the Firstborn, blood on doorposts protected the Jews. What its modern day version?
Pesach: Will Everything Be Okay?
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Just as Jerusalem seemed doomed by a massive invasion, matters took a stunning turn. A lesson about hope, vision, and the importance of education.
Tazria: Lamplighters
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Who was responsible for streetlights in the olden days? What is the ultimate Jewish nail treatment? And how does it relate to being a Chassid?
Shemini: The Calf and the Heavenly Flame
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After months of work, Aaron & Moses inaugurate the Tabernacle, and… nothing happens. The Divine presence remained absent.
Why didn’t G-d’s presence rest in the Tabernacle? What was still missing?
Behar-Bechukosai: Three Layers of Comfort
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Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, his son Rabbi Elazar, and the Rebbe each provide a message of encouragement to the Jewish people. The inspiration begins with the Talmud, continues through the Zohar, and receives a new layer of insight through the teachings of Chassidism.
Emor: High Court on the Dock
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The prophet Elijah delivers a scathing rebuke to the High Court, the group of the most respected elders of Israel. Their crime? They failed to wander through the shtetls and teach Jewish children.
Acharei Mot-Kedoshim: Why Did They Cry?
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In the Second Temple era, tensions between the Sadducees and the Pharisees would come to a head when the leading rabbis would coach the High Priest for his worship on Yom Kippur.
They would all leave in tears. What exactly was going on?
Shemini: Behind the Kosher Scenes
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Fins and scales, split hooves and chewing cud. How is it relevant to me?
Pesach: Four Questions for Life
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On Passover eve, we all gather around the Seder table and turn our attention to the children’s recital of the Four Questions. These Questions are not just children’s play. They have deep meaning and relevance for every person’s life. The following pages contain a new and original interpretation for the ancient and beloved text.
Vayikra: How Many Times Could You Ask?
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During the central prayer in Jewish tradition, the Amidah, we ask G-d for health, wealth and happiness. But why is it recited three times a day? Can't I suffice with once a day? And what if I lack nothing--What am I praying for?