Commentaries on the Torah

Two altars -- one inner, one outer; one of gold, one of copper -- as they correspond to two very different versions of our emotional experience of life.

A deeper meaning to why the copper wash-basin in the Temple was made from mirrors used by the Jewish women to beautify themselves throughout their slavery in Egypt.

Mordechai’s and Esther’s different roles in the Purim story, and their influence on the way in which the megillah was ultimately written and canonized as part of the Bible.

A series of questions regarding the opening paragraph of the Passover Haggadah leads to an analysis of the true meaning of freedom.

Differing opinions of the sages in the haggadah as to how the Ten Plagues affected physical matter.

The world was created with ten utterances. What does this come to teach us? Certainly, it could have been created with a single utterance...

The story of Pesach Sheni (the Second Passover) and its timeless lesson for us.

A look at the increasingly popular interest in the holiday of Lag BaOmer, which was instituted by the author of the Zohar, Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, to commemorate the day of his passing.

Ask any child what we celebrate on Shavuot, and the obvious answer is the giving of the Torah at Sinai; yet the Torah makes no mention of it. How do we make sense of this glaring omission?

Korach led a mutiny to usurp the position of Kohen Gadol (High Priest) for himself. What did Korach understand -- and misunderstand -- about the greatness of serving G-d as the High Priest.

This class begins with a history of the three-week period of mourning for the Destruction of the Holy Temple and continues with an analysis of a prophecy of Jeremiah that hints to the future transformation of "bitterness into sweetness."

"By the mouth of two witnesses, or three witnesses, shall the one liable to death be put to death; he shall not be put to death by the mouth of one witness." (Deut. 17:6) What does it mean that the Jewish people are "witnesses" to the truth of G-d's existence?

In Part 1 of this two-part class, we learned about two different categories of witnesses -- witnesses who corroborate the truth and witnesses who actually "make" the truth. In Part 2, we learn how the Jewish people's testimony that G-d exists leads to the Messianic perfection of this world.

The connection between the start of a new year and the 98 curses read in this weeks Torah portion.

Rosh Hashanah is not just the start of a new calendar year, it is the renewal of G-d's interest in our world that comes as a result of our accepting Him as King.

One of the emotional peaks of the Yom Kippur prayer service is a description of the ceremony performed by the High Priest in the Holy Temple.

Some of the Sages say that "Noah was righteous in his generation" means that if Noah had lived in another generation, he would not have been considered so righteous. The Zohar compares the generation of Noah to those of Abraham, Moses and King David.

How the three spiritual levels of Shabbat (the feminine, the masculine and their union) correspond to three stages of the day (evening, morning and afternoon). A deeper understanding of the layered nature of the day of rest.

Abraham baked matzah on Passover over four hundred years before the Exodus. How did the patriarchs and matriarchs know how to observe mitzvos before the Torah was even given at Sina?

What did Abraham mean when he told the Hittites (Genesis 23:4) "I am a visitor and a resident among you"? Was he a visitor or was he a resident in the land? A lesson about the relationship between a Jew and the physical location where he or she is found.

Esau married his uncle Ishmael's daughter Machalat. Was Machalat righteous or wicked? Scripture gives us evidence to argue both ways.

As a remembrance that Jacob's sciatic nerve was damaged in his wrestling match with an angel, the Torah forbids us from eating the sciatic nerve (gid hanashe) of an animal. Interestingly, this also shows us the extent to which every detail of our lives is directed by Divine Providence.

Among the early Talmudic commentaries, there are two opinions about the chronology of events commemorated on Chanukah. One says that the war was won on the 24th of Kislev and that the first day of Chanukah, the 25th of Kislev, is the anniversary of the first day of peace. The other says that on one day, the 25th of Kislev, the Maccabees both won the war and rededicated the Temple.

The Sages of the Talmud, in their debate whether one may discuss Torah while consuming a meal, address the existential quandary of whether it is better to transcend nature or conform to it. (Based on Likutei Sichos, Vol 35. Vayechi 3.)

"Think good and it will be good" is not just a feel-good slogan. It means that by trusting in G-d, we actually elicit His help from on High. Find out what happened when Moses doubted if he was deserving of G-d's help. (Based on Likutei Sichos volume 36, Sicha 1.)

The plague of darkness did not affect the Jewish people, as the Torah says (Exodus 10:23), "For Israel, there was light in all the places they were." Why does Rashi differ from the Midrash as to whether this light was one of the miracles of the plague? (Based on Likkutei Sichos vol. 31)

Saturday night, after Shabbat ends, we eat a special meal called "Melave Malka" (lit. "bidding farewell to the Queen.") What are the sources in Scripture and Talmud for this custom? What are its deeper meanings?

In addition to the regular Rosh Hashanah, the mishnah teaches that there are actually four different Rosh Hashanahs (New Years) on the Jewish calendar: the new year for kings, for festivals and for trees. (Based on Likkutei Sichos vol. 36.)

How does a convert finish the conversion process? In the times that the Holy Temple stood, it was necessary to bring a sacrificial offering. What do we do now after the Temple was destroyed? We look closely at the opinion of Maimonides that a convert requires "circumcision, immersion in a mikveh, and when the Temple will be rebuilt, the bringing of an offering." (Based on Likkutei Sichos vol 26, p. 160.)

One of the four special mitzvot to observe on the day of Purim is giving gifts to the poor. Why is this practice termed "gifts" (matanot) to the poor and not "charity" (tzedakah) as we might expect?

The High Priest's apron-like garment called the "ephod" had gems over the shoulder straps with the names of the twelve tribes engraved in them. The classical sources differ as to the order in which the tribes were named on the jewels. A spiritual interpretation of these opinions is that they describe two kinds of Jewish unity. (Based on Likutei Sichos, vol. 31.)

What is the meaning of the charoset at the Passover seder? And why do two of the greatest halachic codifiers (Maimonides and Raavad) argue over whether we dip the matazah into the charoset? (Based on Likutei Sichos, vol. 32, pp. 44-53.)

How does a food item become susceptible to ritual defilement? This class analyzes the three requisite conditions in Halacha and relates each to a parallel in the service of G-d. (Based on Likkutei Sichos vol. 27, pp.74)

In the Mishnah, R' Yehudah says that if a metzorah (one who suffers from Biblical leprosy) enters someone's home uninvited, the home becomes defiled within the amount of time it takes to light the Shabbat candles. What is the deeper, spiritual meaning of this law and how does it help us understand the tremendous power of the Shabbat candles? (Based in Likkutei Sichos, vol. 17, pp. 141)

Why does Maimonides equate the commandment of keeping fair weights and measures to the commandment of believing in the Exodus? The answer leads to a better understanding of the Exodus as the foundation of all commandments and also the issue of free choice in the face of Divine decree. (Based on Likkutei Sichos, vol. 27, pp. 149)

The commandment to count the Omer comes from the verse: "You shall count for yourselves, from the morrow of the Sabbath from the day you bring the Omer as a wave offering seven weeks; they shall be complete" (Leviticus 23:15). The term "Sabbath" in this context refers to the first day of the holiday of Passover and not the weekly Sabbath. However, in some years, when Passover begins on Sabbath, the weeks of the Omer do coincide with the seven-day week. Is there an aspect of extra "completeness" that occurs in such years? (Based on Likkutei Sichos vol. 12 p. 16 and vol. 22 p. 143)

The Sages say that he who acquires a slave acquires a master for himself. What are the rules that govern indentured servitude? Maimonides "Laws of Slaves" is used as a primary source. (Based on Likkutei Sichos vol. 37)

In the Talmud, there is a dispute between the sages as to what date the Torah was given at Sinai. According to one opinion, Moses added an extra day of preparation before the giving of the Torah. How could Moses depart from G-d's timeline?

This class analyzes an aspect of the weekly Torah portion. While providing a basic understanding of the subject matter, the lesson delves into its deeper and more complex dimensions with emphasis on the spiritual relevance to our daily lives. Inspiration for both the novice and advanced student.