Parshah (Weekly Torah Reading)

Who returns when the battle ends?

Anxious Parshah

The Torah portion of Shoftim continues Moses’ final address to the Children of Israel, who are on the cusp of entering the Holy Land. Like a loving father conveying his last will and testament to his children, Moses encourages, admonishes, and reminisces ...

Introduction Perhaps the most defining attribute of leadership is the ability to give others a sense of purpose and identity that transcends their individual selves. Although we all are naturally concerned with our own personal desires and wants, we are u...

Introduction Two Categories of Witnesses The sichah to follow is a classic example of the manner in which the Rebbe develops an intricate, abstract concept in nigleh, the revealed and largely legalistic dimension of Torah study, and then from it, extrapol...

Introduction After commanding the Jewish people to set aside cities of refuge for those who killed inadvertently, the Torah expands the scope of that command, promising Devarim 19:8-9. “When G‑d, your L‑rd, expands your boundaries, as He swore to your for...

Most of us safeguard our computers from contracting harmful viruses, but are we as concerned about our own spiritual contamination?

Continues with the laws of war and besieging a city. (Ch. 20 verses 10 - 20) (Ch. 21 verses 1 - 9) Deals with the law of a dead body found in a field. The ritual of the Eglah Arufah, the calf whose neck we break as a sign that after a war we view a human ...

Preparing for war. Three conditions that exempt a man from going out to battle. Then the fourth, if he is faint of heart. The logic behind these exemptions is perfect! The wisdom of Torah. (Ch. 20 verses 3 - 9)