Reuven Chaim Klein, at The Blogs

Oct 7, 2024, 4:02 AM

In part one of this series, we explored the Hebrew words hevel, rik, and efes, which all mean “nothing.” In this installment, we will deal with the terms tohu and bohu used to describe the state of “nothingness” before the Six Days of...

Sep 29, 2024, 6:48 AM

Empty Nothingness (Part 1 of 2)

The Aleinu L’Shabeach prayer — which is recited multiple times daily and in the Amidah on Rosh Hashanah — declares the universal dominion of Hashem’s sovereignty and His special relationship with the Jewish People. That prayer contrasts the Jews who worship the “King...

Sep 14, 2024, 11:01 PM

Hebrew Bachelors

The Talmud (Pesachim 113a) that each and every day, Hashem “announces” in the Heavens that He is impressed with three categories of people: poor people who exert themselves to help return lost objects to their rightful owners, rich people...

Sep 8, 2024, 9:59 AM

Collateral for Sureties

Step into the fascinating world of Hebrew synonyms and explore the rich tapestry of linguistic nuances surrounding the concept of "collateral" and the act of "taking a collateral" from a debtor. For those who don’t know, a collateral refers...

Aug 4, 2024, 4:41 PM

The Temple Stomping Grounds

In the Haftarah customarily read the Shabbat before Tisha B’Av, the prophet Isaiah expresses Hashem’s dissatisfaction with the Jews’ sinful ways and how He is no longer interested in their ritual services. In that context, the prophet relates that...

Jul 27, 2024, 11:58 PM

Searching for the Shiloah

One of the most intriguing passages of the Creation narrative in Genesis states that a river exits from Eden and splits into four tributaries, with the second of those being the Gichon River — said to circumscribe the entire...

Jul 21, 2024, 10:34 PM

Spears, Lances, and Scimitars

In one of the most dramatic acts of zeal preserved in the Bible, Aaron's grandson Phineas responded to a very public sin committed by Kozbi and Zimri with righteous indignation. Outraged with the horrid desecration of Hashem’s name that...

Jul 14, 2024, 10:31 PM

Put on the muzzle

When Balaam (under contract for the Moabite king Balak) attempted to curse the Jewish People, the Torah reports, “Hashem happened mouth” (Num 23:16). The Hebrew word for “word” in this sentence (davar) can also mean “thing/object,” so Rashi...

Jul 7, 2024, 4:40 AM

Locating the Place

After Aaron’s death in the Jews’ last year wandering the wilderness, the Canaanite king of Arad in the south heard that the Jews were traversing the derech ha’atarim on their way to the Holy Land, and decided to pre-emptively attack them...

Jun 29, 2024, 11:02 PM

All about Number One

When Korach rebelled against the authority of Moses and Aaron, he engaged in a classical mudslinging campaign that accused Moses of monetary impropriety and taking public funds for personal use. Moses defended himself to Hashem by saying, “I did...

About Me

RABBI REUVEN CHAIM KLEIN is a researcher and editor at the Veromemanu Foundation in Israel. His weekly articles about synonyms in the Hebrew Language appear in the OhrNet and are syndicated by the Jewish Press and Times of Israel. For over a decade, he studied at preimer Haredi Yeshivot, including Yeshiva Gedolah of Los Angeles, Yeshivat Mir in Jerusalem, Beth Medrash Govoha of America. He received rabbinic ordination from multiple rabbinic authorities and holds an MA in Jewish Education from the London School of Jewish Studies/Middlesex Univeristy. Rabbi Klein authored two popular books that were published by Mosaica Press, as well as countless articles and papers published in various journals. He and his wife made Aliyah in 2011 and currently live in the West Bank city of Beitar Illit. Rabbi Klein is a celebrated speaker and is available for hire in research, writing, and translation projects, as well as speaking engagements.

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