Today marks the fast of the 17th of Tammuz, a solemn day that marks the breaching of the walls of Jerusalem before the destruction of the Second Temple. It is the beginning of the Three Weeks, a time ...

The story of Pinchas reminds us that even someone who once acted boldly in zeal can also become a leader of peace and understanding. Zealotry, when it stems from jealousy or a malicious heart, is ...

The celebrated first Chief Rabbi of pre-state Israel, Rav Avraham Yitzchak HaCohen Kook (1865-1935) is recognized as being among the most important Jewish thinkers of all time. His writings reflect ...

In an ideal world, peace would be accomplished peaceably. There would be no need for violence or force. Strength would not need to be displayed, and enemies would not need to be eliminated. But the ...

Last week we began the story of Pinchas, grandson of Aaron and great-nephew of Moses. Pinchas saw Zimri, a Jewish leader, and Cozbi, a Midianite princess, engage in a public display of immorality ...

With this week’s parasha, Pinchas, we see another commonly held assumption about Judaism challenged; this time by the rabbis of the Talmud. In last week’s commentary/perush, we learned how the rabbis ...

Pinchas the son of Eleazar the son of Aaron the kohen has turned My anger away from the children of Israel by his zealously avenging Me among them, so that I did not destroy the children of Israel ...

A torah (Hebrew scripture) reading. The "yod" - a hand-shaped silver pointer - is used by the reader to mark his or her place in the text.

AS WE CONTINUE reading about the Israelites’ journey in the Torah, we come to a time when God tells Moses that he will not lead the people into the Promised Land, and must choose a new leader. In ...

Zionism begins and ends with Torah. Even Jon Voight who is a Righteous Catholic Actor understood this when he said in the Knesset on January 31st 2011 that the "Torah has all the answers." He further ...