Rabbi Adam Ruditsky: Emor
Rabbi Ruditsky quotes Rashi, who stipulates that the Levitical text addressing methods of execution for specific crimes is not to advocate the execution, but to underscore the difference between the holy and the secular.
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks: Parashat Emor Holy Times
Rabbi Sacks also quotes Rashi, but he addresses the issue of Shabbat and its inclusion in the instructions for the Shalosh Regalim. Rashi explains that this is to emphasize the holiness of the festivals by comparing them to Shabbat.
Parrashat Acharei Mot – Kedoshim: Rabbi Adam Ruditsky
Rabbi Ruditsky addresses multiple themes in this week’s parashat, starting with the concept of separation between the Holy and the secular.
Parashat Acharei Mot: Rabbi Chaim Ovadia
Rabbi Ovadia addresses the key themes of the weekly parashah, which covers the importance of following God’s commandments.
Rabbi Adam Ruditsky: Shabbat Mevarchim: Food for Thought
Rabbi Ruditsky tackles the challenging problem of why some foods are not kosher, while others are, yet the distinction, as we understand the science of diet today, is not necessarily conducive to good physical health. He addresses it from a fascinating and unique perspective: entitlement; namely, humanity tends to feel a sense of entitlement to whatever they want, yet we are not entitled.
Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, z/l: Pesach – Turning Curses into Blessings
“The worse things get, the stronger we become. Jews are the people who not only survive but thrive in adversity.” This capacity to turn weakness into strength has its origin in the event when Jacob wrestled with the angel and became Israel.
Rabbi Cantor Eva Robbins: Spiritual Preparation for Passover
For those who missed Rabbi Robbins’ email on “Spiritual Preparation for Passover”, please follow the link below to read this beautiful article
Rabbi Adam Ruditsky: Parashah Tzav – The Reward of Participation
The parashah continues the discussion of the 5 basic sacrifices. However, the focus in this parashah is on the manner in which the offering is made; every step in the process must be correct. The objective is for us to become holy by engaging in partnership with God.
Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz: Do Not Eat Life!
Parashat Tzav covers details on the prohibition against consuming blood, which is equivalent to life. He quotes Arbarbanel, stating that “eating blood is a show of contempt for the animal’s life.” Kook states that in a perfect world, everyone would be vegetarian, but the world is not perfect. The prohibition against the blood requires us to acknowledge the living animal with respect.
Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks: Tzav
The principle of ritual sacrifice seems incomprehensible, irrelevant to our contemporary lives. Yet, Rabbi Sacks informs us that “we love what we are willing to make sacrifices for”. The sacrificial offerings in Biblical agrarian society consisted of the beloved output of our work, offerings of love for God. It is the element of love that makes sacrifice relevant today.