Open Search form

Mordechai Silverstein

Apply for a Blog

Aug 11, 2026, 10:40 AM

Making Justice Real

The Jewish tradition has always been deeply concerned with the pursuit of justice (tzedek), as expressed so powerfully in the opening of Parshat Shoftim: “Justice, justice shall you pursue (tzedek, tzedek tirdof), that you may thrive and occupy the land...

Aug 4, 2026, 5:52 AM

How To Be God’s Children

The opening verses of Deuteronomy 14 develop the idea that the children of Israel are God's children. As such, God commands that His people, like the kohanim (priests), must not deface themselves in mourning for the dead: You are children...

Jul 28, 2026, 10:35 AM

A Little Bit A Lot

The second word of the parashah—ekev, from which the portion takes its name, seems innocuous enough. At first glance, it simply means "as a result of" or "because." Yet, as is often the case in the Torah, this seemingly...

Jul 21, 2026, 6:45 AM

Being Intimate With God

Despite the diminutive stature of the children of Israel, Moshe nevertheless describes them in strikingly hyperbolic terms: "For what great nation is there that has a god so close at hand as is the Lord our God whenever we call...

Jul 14, 2026, 7:39 AM

Everything Has Consequences

It is no mere liturgical coincidence that Parshat Devarim always falls on the Shabbat preceding Tisha b’Av, the day that marks the destruction of both the First and Second Temples, the devastation of Jerusalem, and, with it, the loss...

Jul 7, 2026, 10:31 AM

Birkat Hamazon – The Making of The Complete Jew

At the conclusion of Sefer Bemidbar (the Book of Numbers), the children of Israel stood on the threshold of entering the land that God had promised them: And the Lord spoke to Moshe, saying: “Charge the children of Israel, and...

Jul 1, 2026, 10:11 AM

In The Cause of Truth and Justice

When Bnot Zelophehad, the daughters of Zelophehad, learned that, as orphaned daughters, they would not inherit land when the tribes conquered Eretz Canaan, they believed an injustice had been done. After consulting with one another, they decided to confront...

Jun 23, 2026, 2:24 PM

It’s the Little Things that Count

Balak, the king of Moab, is gripped by fear that his kingdom may be overwhelmed by the children of Israel. To avert this threat, he hires Balaam, the renowned sorcerer-prophet, to curse them. After much cajoling, Balaam accedes to...

Jun 23, 2026, 9:58 AM

The Mystery and Meaning of Ritual

Without a doubt, the rite of the Red Heifer (Parah Adumah) is striking in its strangeness, both in its purpose and its preparation. It was intended to produce ashes that, when mixed with spring water, were sprinkled upon those...

Jun 17, 2026, 9:47 PM

One Word Says It All

Parshat Korah centers on an attack against legitimate authority, and its essence is captured in the unusual choice of its opening word: And Korah, son of Izhar son of Kohath son of Levi, and Datan and Aviram, sons of Eliav,...

Load more

About Me

Mordechai Silverstein is a teacher of Torah who has lived in Jerusalem for over 30 years. He specializes in helping people build personalized Torah study programs.