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May 19, 2016, 2:26 AM

For we are strangers and guests in His Land

Our especially short sedra begins by broaching the Eretz Yisrael-directed themes of Shemita and Yovel. These two mitzvot, whose complete observance is exclusive to the Holy Land, not only change the dynamic of every seventh and fiftieth year- they...

May 13, 2016, 6:15 PM

The Tikun of Counting and Celebrating Together

Among the diverse plethora of topics discussed in our sedra, the long section of “Mo’adei Hashem,” which begins in the middle of the fourth aliyah, stands out in familiarity. After all, we read it three times every year, most...

Apr 22, 2016, 1:53 PM

After we wash our hands and return to the table, the karpas is offered around. The Shulchan Aruch lists several different types of vegetables that can be used for karpas or maror, but most contemporary sources conclude that Ashkenazic...

Apr 14, 2016, 3:28 PM

Tzara’at… but in a good way!

וַיְדַבֵּ֣ר ה' אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה וְאֶֽל־אַהֲרֹ֖ן לֵאמֹֽר׃ כִּ֤י תָבֹ֙אוּ֙ אֶל־אֶ֣רֶץ כְּנַ֔עַן אֲשֶׁ֥ר אֲנִ֛י נֹתֵ֥ן לָכֶ֖ם לַאֲחֻזָּ֑ה וְנָתַתִּי֙ נֶ֣גַע צָרַ֔עַת בְּבֵ֖ית אֶ֥רֶץ אֲחֻזַּתְכֶֽם׃ And Hashem spoke to Moshe and Aharon saying: When you come to Eretz Canaan which I will give to you...

Apr 7, 2016, 6:29 PM

Seeking the King on the Bed of the Exile

Our sedra opens with a discussion of the impurities which a woman who has just given birth experiences, and the length of time which she remains impure after giving birth to a son or daughter. The Zohar (beginning of Tazria) doesn’t...

Mar 31, 2016, 9:06 PM

This Is Not the Time to Be Silent

In our sedra, at what is perhaps the climax of chanukat hamishkan, Aharon’s precious two older sons are killed by a heavenly fire, after they offer an “אש זרה” in the heichal. We’ve already discussed that this may have...

Mar 24, 2016, 12:41 AM

Purim — Shaking off our servitude

On nearly every Jewish day of celebration, including our second most recent salvation of Chanukah (and, according to most gedolim, even the most recent one, Yom Ha’atzma’ut), we read and sing a specially curated collection of Tehilim in praise...

Mar 17, 2016, 11:12 AM

The danger of not having doubts

In the world of psychology, one of the most powerful motivators for human behavior is doubt. Human nature dictates that as long as an person is sure of their beliefs and intentions, they cannot be stopped -- one needs...

Mar 10, 2016, 12:06 PM

May this month be an end to our suffering

As we slowly but surely approach the holiday of Purim, Jewish people around the world celebrated the second Rosh Chodesh Adar over the past two days. In nearly all synagogues in Israel and a select few outside, the congregants...

Feb 25, 2016, 1:17 PM

The Thin Jew Line: The Danger of Crossing Into Avodah Zarah

In our sedra, as Moshe concludes his conference with Hashem on Mt. Sinai, the Jewish People sense that their leader had "delayed" in returning. They decide to build a golden calf, to be an "אלהים" for them. At this point,...

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About Me

Born and raised in Teaneck NJ, Tzvi Silver moved to Israel in 2012 after catching aliyah fever while learning abroad. Tzvi is now pursuing a degree in Engineering from the Jerusalem College of Technology, and works on the side as a contributor for local newspapers in the New York Area. Tzvi's interests include learning Torah, rabble-rousing, and finding creative ways of mixing the two.