Jerusalem and Rome: The Clash of Tzniut and Chitzoniut
As we progress further into Sefer Bereishit, we turn from the rivalry of Yitzchak and Yishmael to the struggle between…
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Ornan’s Threshing Floor: The Purchase of an Exclusive Relationship
Our parsha opens with the account of Avraham Avinu’s purchase of a burial plot for Sarah Immeinu. Seeking to bury…
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The Akeidah and Jerusalem’s Pillar of Holy Fire
The famous story of the akeidah is familiar to us: Avraham Avinu is called upon by God to bring his…
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The Battle, the Bread, and the Wine of Jerusalem
Ma’aseh Avot Siman L’Banim, the actions of the forefathers are a sign for the children. Four kings, led by Amraphel…
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The Lowly Jew’s Fire for Jerusalem
The Midrash Rabbah (Noach, 32) recounts a bizarre story about the great Tannaitic sage Rebbe Yonatan, who was a principal…
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What can we do for Eretz Yisrael now?
I’ll be honest. After a week of standing in stairwells or bomb shelters with children in my arms, after a…
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Jerusalem: The Sukkah of Peace
Every day, when praying tefilat Arvit, we recite the blessing of hashkiveinu, asking Hashem to safeguard us from all kinds…
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Seeking Tzion: The Missing Ingredient of Our Lulav Experience
With the oncoming Chag HaSukkot, Jews around the world will be enthusiastically choosing their daled minim in order to fulfill…
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Yom Kippur’s Final Call
While every tefillah of Yom Kippur is essential, Neilah (the last tefillah of Yom Kippur) is probably themost potent and…
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Rosh HaShanah and Shabbat: Sounding the Shofar in the Streets of Jerusalem
This year, on the first day of Rosh Hashanah, our shuls will be silent from the sound of the shofar.…
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