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The Parsha of Bechukotai contains the tragedies and punishments that G-d threatens to bring upon the Jewish people if they stray from the dictates of the...
This weekend, the eyes of the world will be focused on the pomp and ceremony in London, where King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla will...
Who is holy? Is it the mystic in the mountains, the monk in the monastery, or the guru in the garage? Perhaps it’s the lady with...
Of the many blessings of living in Cape Town, its status as the most beautiful place in the world outside of Israel – my mother-in-law’s judgement,...
Here in South Africa, our national treasure continues to be the late Nelson Mandela. The status and respect he enjoys even after his death are legendary....
Yawn! Not another Torah portion describing the building of the Mishkan (Tabernacle)! Really? Didn’t we cover this in great detail already? If you’re reading this week’s...
My grandfather, Rabbi Jacob J. Hecht, had a dear friend, Yossel Hirsch. He and his brother ran a bakery in Brooklyn, New York, and were survivors...
In describing the goals of the Mishkan and the service of the Kohanim, Hashem uses a strange expression. “I will dwell amongst the children of Israel,...
Our capacity to carry the presence of G-d within us should be the foundation of self-esteem. This liberating idea is the cornerstone of self-worth and confidence....
“If a master beats his servant and causes the damage of a tooth, eye, or limb, then the servant must immediately be released.” (Shemot 21:26-27) The...
This Torah portion is named after Jethro, the chief idolatrous priest of his time, who eventually joined the ranks of the Jews. Rashi says it was...
If you don’t like something, change it. If you’re unable to change it, change the way you think about it. Immediately following the epic splitting of...
In this week’s parshah, Bo, we read of the plague of darkness, the ninth plague to strike the ancient Egyptians. The rich description in the Torah...
In this week’s Parsha, we read the four expressions of redemption. The third expression is G-d’s promise, “And I will redeem you.” The Hebrew word used...
There are two types of traveller. The one likes to feel at home even in temporary lodgings. He unpacks every item in his suitcase, filling the...
Which is the greater test of faith, affluence or poverty? Is it harder to be a good Jew when you’re successful or when you’re struggling? Surely,...
Neither Israel nor South Africa even sent a team to the World Cup, and I won’t bother waving my American patriotism around until soccer becomes an...
The holy day of Shabbat is intimately related to the concept of blessing. Hashem blessed the Shabbat. The rabbis call it the source of blessing. Shabbat...
“He sent them away from Yitzchak, his son, while he was still alive, to the land of the east.” (Chapter 25;6) The building block of Kabbalah...
It was a meeting of opposites. Holy angels visited our patriarch, Avraham, at the beginning of this week’s parsha of Vayera. These celestial beings were eager...
Millennials have grown up in the modern world of the 21st century. Confident, ambitious, achievement-oriented are a few of the adjectives given to this age demographic....
Our Torah portion this week opens with the famous story of Noah, but I want to focus on the end of the parshah and the equally...
The Mishna teaches us to “be as bold as a leopard … to fulfil the will of Hashem”. I aways understood boldness to be an attribute...
It’s the talk of the town, everywhere. Even in our blessed era of liberal democracies, it’s quite amazing how the news about Queen Elizabeth’s passing and...
The Torah gives us a profound psychological insight into the nature of human beings. This life-changing concept gives us the tools to do the work required...
“And you shall not erect for yourself a monument that the Lord your G-d despises.” (16:22). Rashi explains that the Torah specifies that sacrificial offerings must...
This week, we read the parsha of Re’eh, in which Moses instructs the Jewish people to bring their tithes to Jerusalem. For those who lived far...
I like a good advert. Some years ago, McDonald’s was running a campaign, and in the centre of the full-magazine page was a big, fat, juicy...
Tisha B’Av is a day that the Jewish Amoraim attributed to the destruction of the Temple and Jerusalem as punishment from G-d for the baseless hatred...
Tisha B’Av is a confusing day in the Jewish calendar. It shares some contradictory dimensions. It’s known as the saddest day in Jewish history but simultaneously...
One of the most popular Jewish teachings is from the Mishna, that says, “When the month of Adar enters, we increase our joy.” And so, as...
These aren’t exactly the best of times … And even if they aren’t the worst of times either, having Europe toy with a third World War,...
“That’s some new kitchen Sandra just had done. State of the art!” “Hey, did you see that brand-new car Mark just bought? Every gadget in the...
The people complained that they were thirsty. G-d commanded Moses to “speak to the rock” to produce water. Instead of speaking to the rock, he...
According to our sages, Korach made many valid claims about the worthiness of the Jewish people. Chief among them was that he reckoned that, as all...
A high school teacher decided to demonstrate to his class the dangers of alcohol abuse. So, he conducted an experiment. He took one glass of water...
Many consider the end of this week’s parsha, the longest in the Pentateuch, to be boring and repetitive. Truth be told, of the portion’s 176 verses,...
“And they came to the Sinai Desert, and they encamped in the wilderness, and there Israel camped before the mountain.” The festival of Shavuot celebrates receiving...
Bechukotai starts with a famous invitation from Hashem, “If you will walk in my laws…” after which He lists the many blessings that we will receive...
Lionel Messi is arguably the greatest footballer of our generation. Although he may be in the twilight of his career, upon his transfer to Paris Saint-Germain...
