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Shalom Orzach

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Jun 4, 2026, 11:37 AM

Defiance or Daring

Many of our foundational stories serve as introductions to Zionism. Paradoxically, one of the most powerful of these emerges from the aftermath of the spies' mission.The Jews are swayed by the perturbing analysis of ten of the twelve spies,...

Apr 29, 2026, 9:14 PM

The word Aveida, is used seldomly in the Torah, to describe what is to be done if someone comes across something that is lost. Perhaps most famously in Devarim 22:3; וְכֵ֧ן תַּעֲשֶׂ֣ה לַחֲמֹר֗וֹ וְכֵ֣ן תַּעֲשֶׂה֮ לְשִׂמְלָתוֹ֒ וְכֵ֣ן תַּעֲשֶׂ֗ה לְכׇל־אֲבֵדַ֥ת אָחִ֛יךָ...

Apr 1, 2026, 4:46 AM

It is an intriguing way to open the Seder, and specifically Maggid the telling of the story. - הָא לַחְמָא עַנְיָא This is the bread of affliction. At first glance, this feels almost pedagogically misplaced. Pesach is built on...

Feb 26, 2026, 10:17 PM

The dramatic and profound statement is this time not made with abstruseness, recorded following the instructions to build the tabernacle 25:8. וְעָ֥שׂוּ לִ֖י מִקְדָּ֑שׁ וְשָׁכַנְתִּ֖י בְּתוֹכָֽם׃ And let them make Me a sanctuary that I may dwell among them. Towards the closing...

Feb 19, 2026, 10:40 PM

The current compulsion to re-imagine Israel education is exhausting and exhilarating - yes, both. The concern of the growing number of non or anti-Zionists within the Jewish Community outlined in the JFNA survey and the more recent Combined Jewish...

Jan 30, 2026, 1:47 PM

Isn’t it wonderful to be able to pray and praise with song? As we know that is not always the case. In fact in this week’s portion of Beshalach, Shabbat Shira, the timeless tense reality brings many forms of...

Dec 25, 2025, 7:09 PM

Response [ibility] Time

Last week, we opened the portion, in an enigmatic and a disquieting manner; וַיְהִ֕י מִקֵּ֖ץ שְׁנָתַ֣יִם יָמִ֑ים It was at the end of two years…and Pharaoh dreamt. This resonates and continues to cry out. Whilst we are very cognizant...

Nov 28, 2025, 5:31 PM

Joseph the Dreamer or Redeemer?

The portion of Vayetze abounds with tension, anxiety, but tragically also anger. Adhering to what appears to be a cruel pattern, Rachel is childless. Her sister Leah, had four children by that point and in her anguish, Rachel beseeches...

Nov 21, 2025, 6:24 PM

The hope that the compulsion to constantly test our matriarchs and patriarchs may have abated after Abraham (Isaac’s and Sarah's) tenth and final test, appears to have been circumvented in the opening of this week’s portion. Last week we...

Nov 13, 2025, 2:56 PM

Post Code… Red

There is a tremendous amount of banter and barter in the portion of Chayei Sarah. From the haggling between Abraham and Ephron and the Hittites, to procure a burial plot for Sarah, his wife, or the extensive interchange between...

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About Me

Shalom is a senior educator and an acclaimed public speaker on contemporary Israel who brings extensive knowledge, humor and passion. For the anniversary of October 7th, his book Telling Times, a weekly exploration of the Torah Portion in the context of its modern day echoes, was published.