How the debates between the Pharisees and the Sadducees reveal the compassion and human dignity at the foundation
of Rabbinic law.
Ki Tetze: A Tradition of Ahavat Yisrael
K
Shoftim: A War for All of Us
S
The Torah’s perspective on our frontline soldiers, Torah learners, recognizing Divine miracles, and our collective responsibility as a nation.
Re’eh: The Secret of Chabad’s impact
R
Community involvement vs. The mission of the Rebbe
Ekev: No Free Lunch
E
The promise is granted in advance,
but the right to receive it must be earned.
Va’etchanan: When the Student Becomes a Son
V
The biblical approach to education transcended the boundaries of the family unit, transforming every teacher into a father and every student into a son.
Devarim: You’re the Boss – It’s on You
D
Why it's much easier to control our behavior than our emotions, and how the biblical story of the spies offers a fascinating model for self-mastery and personal growth.
Matos-Masei: ”What’s Permitted is Unnecessary”: The Jewish Guide to Minimalism
M
Abstain from pleasure or consume it wisely? The psychology of the biblical "Vow" offers a surprising antidote to overconsumption.
Pinchas: The Men Who Returned from the Abyss
P
When deep down you know you're wrong, but outwardly you
go with the crowd. What can we learn from the historic silence
of Korach’s sons?
Balak: Is Prophecy About to Return?
B
A journey into the idea of prophecy, its place in Jewish tradition, and the question of whether it is still relevant today.
Gimmel Tammuz: Heart of the People
G
A fascinating look at the Jewish leadership model that champions empathy and relentless action.
Shelach: From a Historical Failure to a Guide for Life
S
The Chassidic perspective on facing challenges,
taking responsibility, and the courage to step out
of your comfort zone.
Beha’alotcha: DoorDash in the Desert
B
The remarkable story of the Manna, the power of Shabbat,
and how the Torah provides illuminating guidance.
Ethics of Our Fathers 1: Humanity Before Ideology
E
Three sayings that reveal the secret of Hillel’s enduring wisdom:
an inclusive approach, self-awareness, and the understanding
that success is the greatest test of all.
Shavuot: Seven Weeks of Transformation
S
The Secret of Counting the Omer and How to Turn a Momentary Change into Real Personal Growth
Behar-Bechukotai: From Curse to Blessing: How Do We Get Rid of Trouble and Pain?
B
The message that Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai sent with a carrier pigeon from his cave about positive interpretation and the path to turning our greatest challenges into our clearest blessings.
Emor: A Shadow of Love
E
Why do we celebrate the "Clouds of Glory"
instead of the life-saving Manna and Water? A journey into the secret of "Extraordinary Affection."
Acharei Mot – Kedoshim: Healing the Rift
A
Holding it together when life begins to move in opposite directions, and nurturing an identity that keeps the family and spirit together.
Pesach: Why The Suffering?
P
Did the 210 years of slavery improve our character?
Pesach: Dayeinu: More Than Just a Song
P
The beloved Passover song
is far richer and deeper than it sounds.
Vayakhel Pekudei: Celebrating the Miracles
V
From the Gulf War to the Iran War – Seeing G-d’s Hand in History
Ki Tisa: Give Half – With All Your Heart
K
The secret behind the Half-Shekel and the power of giving with inner fire.
Purim: Let Them Make Noise
P
Why the noise children make during the Megillah reading shouldn’t bother you.
Month of Adar: Winning in Court
M
What the month of Adar can teach us about timing, success, and victory in our internal struggles
Mishpatim: When Reason Understands, Yet Still Gets Confused
M
If It’s So Moral — Why Do We Need the Torah?
Siyum Harambam: A Glimpse into Maimonides’ Life
S
Between Personal Suffering, a Turbulent World, and a Vision of Repair and Hope.
Marking the Completion of the Rambam Study Cycle
Beshalach: Antidote to Apathy
B
Why do we lose inspiration after a spiritual high?
Lessons from an ancient enemy in maintaining passion and vitality.
Bo: “I And Not An Angel”
B
Why did G-d insist on carrying out
the Plague of the Firstborn Himself?
Vaera: To Question Without Questioning
V
A faith unshaken by questions
Shemot: In the Footsteps of Moses
S
From the palace, through the sheepfold, to the question no one dared to ask.
Vayechi: Growth Through Humility
V
How humility, self-awareness, and embracing imperfection become engines for real growth
Vayigash: Where Were You When Joseph Was Sold?
V
Who was wrong, who prayed, and who should not have left - the inquiry commission's findings.
Chanukah: The Origins of The Haftarah
C
How a decree against Torah readings gave birth to the Haftarah custom. A story of Jewish survival.
Chanukah: The Battle for Jewish Identity
C
Why did the Greeks defile the oil in the Temple, and what does this teach us about the Torah and Jewish identity?
19th of Kislev: “Rabbi, What is Chabad?”
1
Chabad, from Czarist Russian prison to today.
Vayetze: The People of Israel – A Source of Blessing
V
From Laban’s House to the Nations of the World: How the Presence of the Jewish People Draws Prosperity and Positive Influence to the Host Country.
Month of Kislev: When Kislev looked for meaning
M
The Midrash tells of the month that felt offended, revealing how a Jew turns delay into opportunity and darkness into light.
20th of Cheshvan: Why Does G-d Not Appear to Me?
2
A tale of a child's spiritual quest that reminds us that we, too, can see the light.
Vayera: How To Talk When People Won’t Listen
V
From Abraham until today: Turning a closed heart into an open conversation.
Lech-Lecha: Building Something That Lasts
L
The crucial difference between temporary career achievements and a true legacy - and the only way to ensure your values continue to live on.
Rosh Hashanah: Drunk on Prayer
R
What are we really praying for on Rosh Hashanah?
Ki Tavo: The “Right” Approach
K
Curses and blessings in the Torah - which one comes first? A guide to healthy relationships and positive influence.
Ki Teitzei: Peace Begins at Home
K
To achieve world peace and bridge heaven and earth, we must begin with inner harmony between the mind and heart, and between the positive and negative inclinations.
Shoftim: “Do not destroy”— When is it Allowed?
S
Why is it forbidden to cut down a fruit tree, but permitted to burn clothing?
The Month of Elul: Demanding vs. Beseeching
T
A Discussion of the Different Approaches to Rosh Hashanah, and What Truly Works.
20th of Av: Generosity Genes
2
A surprising Talmudic discussion: Who has better genes? The warrior or the scholar?
15th of Av: The Holiday of Love or the Holiday of Unity?
1
A fascinating exploration of the story behind the 15th of Av.
Beit Hamikdash: Everyone Is Talking About Destruction—But Who Is Talking About Construction?
B
What is the Rebbe's proposal for the national days of mourning?
Matot-Masei: Responsibility Starts at the Top
M
How did the High Priest become responsible for an unintentional killing, and what can this teach us about the responsibility spiritual leadership bear for the people?
Pinchas: Grassroots Revolution
P
Why did Pinchas earn eternal reward—and what does that teach us about the power of one person who takes action, even when everyone else stays silent?
Balak: Rising Lion
B
Balaam saw what we too often forget: the Jewish people have a G-d-given strength to recover from any fall and rise again.
Chukat: Once, it was a sin. Now—it’s a vision.
C
The new spies do exactly what the original spies did - but out of faith, not fear.
Korach – Gimmel Tammuz: What’s Funny About Destruction?
K
An Optimistic Approach to Coping with Pain.
Shelach: Do We Need a Leader?
S
Since leaving Egypt with Moses, the Jewish people have always had leaders to guide them and pray for them. But can't I pray to G-d on my own?
Behaalotecha: Two Jews, Three Opinions
B
The Jewish culture of disagreement, and the challenge of living together even when our views differ.
Shavuot: Women Who Charted the Way
S
The fascinating journey of Naomi and Ruth the Moabite,
which charted the path for sincere and meaningful conversion.
Behar-Bechukotai: Small Nation, Big Idea: How Did They Survive?
B
All the ancient empires have disappeared, but the Jewish People are still here. How does one simple mitzvah reveal the secret of Jewish survival?
Emor: Primetime Surprise
E
In middle of the Torah's list of Jewish holidays—between Passover and Rosh Hashanah—a societal mitzvah suddenly appears. How does that fit in?
Acharei – Kedoshim: Love your fellow —Even when it’s dangerous?
A
What is more important: my own life, or saving someone else's? A discussion on moral dilemmas and courage.
Tazria-Metzora: When Love Pushes You into The Sea
T
A surprising journey sparked by an ancient love song that encapsulates the Jewish story
Pesach: Matzah without Charoset?
P
The Halachic debate that reveals the true meaning of the seder night.
Pekudei: Things Worth Repeating
P
Are some things worth writing and saying twice? It turns out, yes, and it's not what you think.
Vayakhel: Affirmative Action or Natural Selection?
V
Does the Torah teach us to balance talent and social status? Lessons from the selection of the artisans of the Mishkan.
Ethics of The Fathers Chapter 1: Moses Received the Torah at Sinai
E
Why is it so important to specify the location of the giving of the Torah? And what kind of flawed education caused someone to go off the path of Judaism and found Christianity?
Purim: The Purim Roller Coaster
P
The dramatic journey of the Jewish people in the Purim story—rising to the heights of power and influence, only to become targets of destruction. What sparked this shocking reversal of fortune?
Tetzaveh: Will Everything Be Good?
T
Are we supposed to believe that everything that will happen to us is good, and how should we handle the bad?
Terumah: The Gift of Wealth: A Blessing or a Trap?
T
Do we control our wealth, or does it control us? The Torah challenges us to use it wisely, before our wealth uses us.
Mishpatim: Struggling? Lift Up Another!
M
Should we focus on lifting ourselves out of the quicksand,
or can we accomplish that by lifting up another?
Yitro: Why Was Moses Reluctant to Delegate?
Y
Jethro comes for a visit and suggests that Moses delegate authority to judges; otherwise, he will collapse under the burden. Did Moses not realize this himself? The fascinating difference between the approaches of Moses and Jethro—and G-d’s surprising decision.
Beshalach: The People’s Torah
B
Is Torah study only for those able to dedicate their lives to it? How regular people can make Torah study part of their lives.
Bo: “The Third Generation Destroys…”
B
Popular wisdom suggests that the first generation makes it, the second maintains it and the third destroys it. Can this be applied spiritually as well?
Blessing the New Month: “Keep Your Opinions to Yourself!”
B
How to speak in a way that others will listen.
Shemot: The Snake that Swallowed Moses
S
What did Moses do to deserve this? And how did a Woman save the day again?
10th of Tevet: Unity at All Costs?
1
Should we unite with everyone at the cost of our principles, or are there those with whom we cannot unite?
Vayigash: What Motivates Mutual Responsibility?
V
What does a loan guarantor have to do with loving our fellow Jews? And what really lies behind the expression "All Jews are responsible for one another?"
Chanukah: Hidden Miracles
C
When does G-d choose to hide, and when does He reveal Himself? How the natural and miraculous come together.
Chanukah: The Menorah: Public or Personal?
C
Should the Chanukah lights be placed at the window to illuminate the world, or rather be set inside, warming the home and hearth?
Vayishlach: Kidnapped Jewish Children
V
A historic Chassidic discourse addressed the kidnapping of Jewish children and their forced draft into the Russian army for 25 years of service. The Rebbe explores the contemporary lesson from this tragic episode.
Vayetze: The Uniqueness of Every Prayer
V
Can we break through nature and change reality? An exploration of the unique power of each of the three daily prayers.
Toldot: To Live in the Israeli Mode
T
Whether we live in Israel or the diaspora,
we should adopt the spiritual mindset of Israel:
G-d’s continuous presence in our lives.
Chayei Sara: The Power of the Three-Year-Old
C
Facing a moral decline of society stand Jewish women and girls on a mission to brighten the darkness. The Rebbe's Shabbat candle lighting campaign.
Vayera: Who is the Boss of the Home?
V
A bitter argument between Abraham and Sarah is settled by G-d Himself, teaching us the Jewish model for running the home, and the proper roles of husband and wife.
Lech-Lecha: Abraham – Atomic Power
L
From the beginning of history until today, the Jewish people have been a minority among the nations. How can a minority survive, and how can it have an impact?
Simchat Torah: The Shofar of Love
S
The prophets of Israel prophesied about the shofars that will herald the coming of the Messiah. The Rebbe explains that these shofar blasts were expressed by the terrible world wars on the one hand, and the victory of the Six Day War on the other hand. A fascinating exploration of the deeper meaning of the shofar blasts and their role in preparation humankind for the upcoming redemption.
Nitzavim-Vayelech: Behind the Mask
N
The Torah warns that G-d may leave the Jewish people and conceal His face from them. But Rashi sweetens the pill and tells us that this isn't literal. Consolation in the concealment.
Ki Tavo: Can Self-Reflection be a Communal Exercise?
K
The secret advantage of the synagogue, and can others help us repent sincerely?
Ki Teitzei: Who Gets the Credit?
K
A person influenced someone else to do a good deed. Who gets the credit? The influencer or the actor?
Shoftim: Do Not Fear?
S
During Israel's War of Attrition, Moshe Dayan exhorted the troops not to be afraid, citing the Torah verse "Do not fear." The Rebbe highlights the end of the verse, which tells us why we should not fear.
Re’eh: Jewish Vegetarianism?
R
What is the Torah's stance on meat consumption? Is it permissible? Recommended? Was there time when it was forbidden? The evolving Jewish stance on meat consumption.
The 20th of Av: The Tip of the Needle
T
The piercing tip of the needle facilitates the connection between two parts of a garment. What is the lesson we can learn from this, and how can we "sew" materialism and spirituality together?
Va’etchanan: The Might of The Jewish People
V
What's the biblical mitzva that strikes fear in the heart of an enemy? An exploration of The Rebbe’s Tefillin campaign.
Rosh Chodesh Av: Biblical Yartzeit
R
Of all the holy people in the Torah, from Abraham to Moses, the Torah only mentions the yartzeit of one - Aaron. Why?
Beit Hamikdash: The Raised Temple
B
The Holy Temple was not built on flat ground but rather atop a storied structure on a mountain. Was this just an architectural marvel, or is there a deeper significance?
Pinchas: How Many Keys Do You Have?
P
This world has three critical keys of blessing: life, livelihood, and children. How many keys can a person receive?
Balak: Leadership During Crisis
B
Should a leader reveal the magnitude of the enemy threat or project confidence and strength?
Gimmel Tammuz: Don’t Abandon Ship
G
Why was Moses buried in the desert? Why are the Chabad Rebbes buried in the Diaspora? A fascinating mystical discussion about the responsibilities of Jewish leaders and how they continue to tend to their communities—even after their passing.
Gimmel Tammuz: Is Immortality Attainable?
G
Judaism claims “Jacob did not die” and “King David is alive and well.” What does that mean? A Talmudic adage that has become ever-relevant in the past three decades of the Chabad movement
Ethics of the Fathers 2: Learn to Fly
E
I have too many responsibilities in my life. Is prioritization the solution, or is there a more powerful tool?
Pesach: The 5th Cup
P
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?
Tazria: Shabbat and Circumcision
T
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.