Torah, The

There are four approaches to understanding what the Torah is all about: a) it means what it says; b) it's all a metaphor; c) it should be read from the top down; or d) from the bottom up

Does G‑d care if I cheat on my taxes? Am I going to be a better husband/wife/parent if I keep kosher? Are these the same question?

Cyberspace, outer space, inner space. Genome maps, globalization. Smart cards, smart bombs, stem cells and cell phones. . . . Should we still need to subscribe to an ancient code of laws, when we are so further advanced than our ancestors?

Our Sages differentiate between the rational mitzvot (mishpatim) and the supra-rational mitzvot (chukim); a third, intermediate category are the "testimonial" or commemorative mitzvot (eidot). But in essence, says the Rebbe, the most rational mishpat is a...

In this day and age, most of the military is used for helping people around the world, reminiscent of Isaiah’s prophecy about the time of Moshiach.

What symbolism does this hold?

The Talmud discusses this week’s Torah portion more than any other—by a wide margin. Many of the largest tractates are based on it. Mishpatim is filled with laws—civil, tort, damage, and business laws, among others—and contains 53 of the 613 commandments,...

The portion of Mishpatim starts with practical laws and teaches us how to apply the inspiration of revelation to every day living. This coincides this year with the yahrztzeit of the Rebbetzin, who through her private life taught us how to strengthen our ...