Devarim

Devarim: Tofel or Bust! – Yehoshua Steinberg

Tophel or Bust! Abstract for Parashat Devarim Essay: The Torah relates that Moses spoke with the Israelites "between Paran and between...

Devarim: The Number Eleven ~ Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein

The Number Eleven R. Yonah ibn Janach (990–1055) explains that ashtei-asar is a contraction of the words al (“on”) and shtei-asar...

Devarim: Giving Sound to the Silence ~ Tzvi Abrahams

Parshas דְּבָרִים Giving Sound to the Silence דְּבָרִים: words דָבָר: thing מִדְבָּר: desert דְבִיר: Holy of Holies אַבְּרָא כְּדַבְּרָא:...

Va'etchanan: Beware of Different Kinds of Guarding – Yehoshua Steinberg

We encounter an unexpected phenomenon in this week's portion: two derivatives of the same root, שמר (guarding), in a single verse,...

Va'etchanan: Listen Up! ~ Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein

“Listen O heavens, and I will speak, and the earth shall hear the words of my mouth…” (Deut. 32:1). These are the opening words of a...

Va'etchanan: A Bridge Over Troubled Waters ~ Tzvi Abrahams

Parshas וָאֶתְחַנַן A Bridge Over Troubled Waters עָבַר: past עִבְרִי: Hebrew (person) מַעַבַר: bridge, crossing עַבֵירָה: sin, a breach...

Eikev: Whipped-Up Anger? ~ Yehoshua Steinberg

Abstract for Parashat Eikev essay: There are many synonyms for anger in the Hebrew language. This article examines one of them in depth...

Eikev: Comforting Anger? – Yehoshua Steinberg

Parshat Eikev – Whipped-Up Anger The root ketzef(קצף) appears in Parashat Eikev more times than in any other Parsha, as follows: Moses...

Eikev: Rain, Rain Come Again ~ Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein

The Bible uses many words that mean “rain”. The rationale for this might simply be that rainfall was so important to ancient Jewish...

Eikev: Heal the Heel and Walk the Straight Path ~ Tzvi Abrahams

Parshas עֵקֶב Heal the Heel and Walk the Straight Path עֵקֶב: if only, to step upon, because of, end reward עֵקֶב: heel עִיקוּב: curved...

Re’eh: The Slippery Year? ~ Yehoshua Steinberg

Article abstract for Parashat Re'eh: The word שמיטה (shemita), mentioned in our Parashah, refers to the Sabbatical year, during which the...

Re'eh: Acting like an Animal ~ Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein

Have you ever heard an old Jewish Bubby (Yiddish for “grandmother”) refer to wild kids as chayot or behemot? Do you know what she’s...

Re’eh: A Sky Full of Stars – Knowing Our Place ~ Tzvi Abrahams

Parshas רְאֵה A Sky Full of Stars — Knowing Our Place שָׁם: there שֵׁם: name הַשֵׁם: Hashem, the name שֵׁם: son of Noach נְשָׁמָה: soul...

Shoftim: A Shifty Article ~ Yehoshua Steinberg

Parashat Shoftim article abstract: Regarding the laws concerning accidental manslaughter, the Torah relates the case of a blade flying...

Shoftim: Divine Dictator or Populist King ~ Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein

fter Joseph told his brothers about his dreams, which seemed to foretell Joseph’s eventual rise to greatness and leadership over his...

Shoftim: The One Who Has the Light Shines the Way ~ Tzvi Abrahams

Parshas שׁוֹפְטִים The One Who Has the Light Shines the Way שֶׁמֶשׁ: sun שִׁמוּשׁ: to use, to serve שַׁמַשׁ: shammash שַׁמַשׁ: shammash...

Ki Teitzei: Get Connected ~ Yehoshua Steinberg

Parashat Shoftim article abstract: This week’s Torah portion prohibits the taking of a widow’s clothing as security, using the expression...

Ki Teitzei: A Variety of Enemies ~ Rabbi Reuven Chaim Klein

The Torah mentions a special prayer which Moshe would say when the Ark of the Covenant would begin to travel (we say this prayer when...

Ki Teitzei: War – What is it good for? ~ Tzvi Abrahams

Parshas כִּי תֵצֵא War — What Is It Good For? לֶחֶם: bread מִלְחָמָה: war כִּי תֵצֵא לַמִּלְחָמָה עַל אֹיְבֶיךָ וּנְתָנוֹ ה’ אֱ-לֹהֶיךָ...

Ki Tavo: Looking With Your Heart ~ Yehoshua Steinberg

Article abstract for Parashat Ki Tavo: The word להשכיל (derived from the root שכל) generally means to become wiser, more educated. And...

Ki Tavo: A Collection of Curses ~ Reuven Chaim Klein

The Torah says, “A judge you shall not curse and a prince/king in your nation shall you not curse” (Ex. 22:27). This passage forbids...

Ki Tavo: There Is Nothing Greater ~ Tzvi Abrahams

Parshas כִּי תָבוֹא There Is Nothing Greater אָמֵן: Amen אֶמוּנָה: trust אֻמָנוֹת: trade, artisan אוֹמֶנֶת: midwife, nurse, babysitter...

Nitzavim: Getting to the Root of Uprooting ~ Yehoshua Steinberg

Article abstract for Parashat Nitzavim: This week's Torah portion uses a word –ויתשם, from the root נתש– used nowhere else in the...

Vayelech: The Good, The Bad, & The Beautiful ~ Tzvi Abrahams

Parshas וַיֵלֶך The Good, the Bad, and the Beautiful רָעָה: evil, bad רוֹעֶה: shepherd מַרְעֶה: pasture תְּרוּעָה: teruah, sound of the...

Nitzavim: Sweetening The Din ~ Tzvi Abrahams

Parshas נְצָבִים Sweetening the Din עֶרֶב: evening מַעַרַב: west, מַעַרִב: evening prayers עַרָבָה: desert עַרָבוֹת: willow branch עַרַב:...

Vayelech: Eternal and Internal Strength ~ Yehoshua Steinberg

Article abstract for Parashat Vayelech: There are at least fifteen words for "strength" in Biblical Hebrew, but one of them, the root...

Haazinu: Unbendingly Twisted ~ Yehoshua Steinberg

Summary of the essay for P' Haazinu: The word עקש appears for the first time in Scripture in this week's Parashah. Rashi explains the...

Ha’azinu: Do We Hear What’s in the Balance? ~ Tzvi Abrahams

Parshas הַאַזִינוּ Do We Hear What’s in the Balance? אָזֶן : ear מֹאזְנַיִם : scales אִזוּן : balance הַאֲזִינוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם וַאֲדַבֵּרָה...

Vezot Habracha: Eternal Security ~ Yehoshua Steinberg

Vezot Habracha: Eternal Security The roots שכן and בטח appear together twice in Parashat Vezot Habracha: דב‘ לג:יב – לְבִנְיָמִן אָמַר...