Deeper Look At The Parsha: Recent Episodes
Rabbi Pini Dunner
In the late 1990s Rabbi Dunner presented his own daily 2-hour radio show on London’s multiethnic station, Spectrum Radio. Tens of thousands of listeners – Jews and non-Jews alike – tuned in every day to hear Rabbi Dunner’s take on current events. In 2011 Rabbi Dunner relocated to the US and became the senior Rabbi at Beverly Hills Synagogue.
Weekly the Rabbi holds a parsha shiur that delves deeper into the Parsha of the week.
The railway revolution transformed Britain, but it also exposed an unexpected problem: every town kept its own time. What followed offers a striking lesson for Parshat Re’eh. Diversity is a blessing, but only when it rests on a common foundation. Without a shared center, even strength, talent and sincerity can leave people fragmented, confused, and unable to move together.
We imagine that seeing is automatic, but Parshat Re’eh insists otherwise. From Harvard’s invisible gorilla to the Torah’s blessing and curse, this shiur explores how easily we miss what matters most. True vision means recognizing where a road leads, seeing the people beside us, and discovering that blessing begins when we learn to look at life through Torah-trained eyes each and every day.
Christopher Nolan’s new Odyssey has revived the world’s fascination with the oldest homecoming story in Western literature. But why does the journey of Odysseus still resonate so deeply—and what can it teach us about Parshat Eikev, Jewish history, and the meaning of coming home? The answer lies not in the voyage itself, but in what begins after we arrive home.
Tisha B’Av asks us to sit with the darkest moments in Jewish history: destruction, exile, massacre and loss. But what are we meant to carry with us when the fast ends and we rise from the floor? Is the lesson that Jews have suffered? The Shabbat that follows, Shabbat Nachamu, offers an answer—and perhaps it is the most important lesson of all.
a document accusing Israel of genocide thirty times over. Meanwhile, as Rabbi Dunner learns from Archbishop Joseph D'Souza of Hyderabad, his Anglican flock in India is persecuted, and the Church of England couldn't care less. Why do they platform a libel against Israel while ignoring their persecuted brethren? For an answer, Rabbi Dunner turns to Parshat Devarim and Moses' final warning: justice means hearing both sides.
During a recent journey through Poland, one unexpected stop transformed Rabbi Dunner's understanding of Parshat Devarim. Standing in a place where the past had seemingly been erased, he discovered why Moshe's final words are not a history lesson at all, but a timeless guide to Jewish fortitude, renewal, and - most importantly - hope.
Belgium’s prosecution of Antwerp mohalim is more than a local legal dispute. As the Three Weeks approach, it offers an early warning about how Jewish life is eroded: not always through violence, but through regulations that redefine sacred practice as criminal conduct. History shows where such pressure can lead when Jews are welcome only after Judaism has been stripped away.
Parshat Chukkat unfolds amid death, transition, failed leadership, poisonous speech, and unanswered questions. Rabbi Dunner explores why Moshe’s old methods no longer worked, how grief disguises itself as anger, why blessings become invisible, and how sacred symbols can become idols. The message is bracing: faith is not certainty, but rather it is the courage to keep moving forward through mystery, loss, and change.
The U.S.–Iran MoU arrived wrapped in the soothing language of peace, restraint, and understanding. But Parshat Korach is a warning that beautiful words can conceal ugly intentions. Korach spoke of holiness while seeking power; hostile regimes speak of diplomacy while buying time. The Torah’s lesson is clear: noble language must always be tested against truth before it is allowed to shape policy decisions.
Haredi opponents of military service argue that army life threatens the spiritual refinement of Torah students. But the spies in Parshat Shlach made the same mistake: treating withdrawal from the world as the only way forward. Their story teaches that when Jewish survival requires responsibility and sacrifice, spirituality cannot become an excuse for leaving the danger to other Jews who must fight instead.
The spies were righteous leaders, yet greatness offered no immunity from failure. Rabbi Dunner explores why Yehoshua needed Moshe’s prayer, why Kalev prayed at Chevron, and why humility is not weakness but spiritual protection. From leadership and groupthink to tzitzis and prayer, this shiur reveals how honest vulnerability gives us the courage to face giants without losing faith in God.
A ruined castle that was never a castle. Memories that improve with age. Longing for places that never existed. In Parshat Beha'alotecha, the Israelites look back at Egypt and remember only the fish, forgetting the slavery. Rabbi Dunner explores nostalgia, memory, and why the greatest danger of idealizing the past is losing sight of the future.
Modern society swings endlessly between indulgence and denial. One day we binge, the next we detox. But in Parshat Nasso, the Torah’s mysterious Nazir presents a far more nuanced vision of spirituality. While Judaism values discipline and restraint, it remains deeply suspicious of extremism, performative piety, and the fantasy that holiness can be achieved by escaping ordinary life.
In an age that worships freedom and personal autonomy, Rabbi Dunner argues that liberty without moral purpose eventually collapses into chaos. Drawing on psychology, history, and the deeper meaning of Shavuot, he explores why Sinai transformed the Jewish people from liberated slaves into a nation bound together by responsibility, purpose, and shared values.
In this richly layered shiur on Megillat Ruth, Rabbi Dunner explores Ruth’s journey from Moabite outsider to matriarch of the Davidic dynasty. Through Chazal, Midrash, Gemara, and modern scholarship, he reveals how the the themes of chesed, gerut, legitimacy, and personal redemption quietly shape the foundations of Jewish kingship, national destiny, and the ultimate vision of Messianic geulah.
In the chaotic aftermath of World War II, military planners discovered that displaced people needed more than food and shelter — they needed structure and belonging. Rabbi Dunner shows how this insight lies at the heart of Parshat Bamidbar, where the Israelites are carefully counted, arranged, and organized before entering the wilderness, teaching a timeless lesson about identity, community, and survival.
At a sparsely attended funeral for a once-prominent philanthropist, an unexpected tenth man completed the minyan — and led the gathered mourners to another grave. There lay an unnamed Holocaust survivor, nearly erased from memory. Two funerals on one day revealed a haunting truth: in Jewish tradition, death is not the end — being forgotten is. And remembering is an act of redemption.
In a world driven by metrics—steps counted, sleep tracked, productivity measured—have we mistaken numbers for meaning? Drawing on a powerful personal ICU experience and the mitzvah of Sefirat HaOmer in Parshat Emor, Rabbi Dunner explores a deeper truth: life isn’t about accumulating totals, but about sanctifying each individual day and recognizing what truly counts in the moments themselves.
“Love your neighbor as yourself” sounds simple—until you try to live it. In this thought-provoking shiur, Rabbi Dunner explores why real love isn’t a feeling but a discipline, built through honesty, restraint, and responsibility. Moving beyond superficial niceness, he uncovers a demanding Torah vision of relationships that challenges instinct, reshapes character, and offers a deeper path to genuine human connection.
Following the rules should be enough—or is it? In this sharp and timely reflection on Parshat Kedoshim, Rabbi Dunner explores how a modern political scandal exposes a timeless Torah truth: process alone cannot guarantee integrity. Drawing on Ramban’s powerful insight, he shows why real holiness demands judgment, responsibility, and the courage to go beyond what is merely allowed.
What is tumah—and why does the Torah connect it to the moment of new birth? In this thought-provoking shiur, Rabbi Dunner challenges the common understanding of impurity, revealing a deeper perspective rooted in absence, potential, and transformation. Drawing on classic and Chassidic sources, he shows how even life’s messiest moments may signal something sacred beginning to emerge.
In an age of viral rumors, conspiracy chatter, and endless scrolling, gossip has become a powerful force shaping how we see the world—and each other. Drawing on Parshat Tazria–Metzora, Rabbi Dunner explores how harmful speech fractures trust, fuels polarization, and why the Torah’s ancient response offers a surprisingly modern blueprint for responsibility, and rebuilding a healthier public discourse.
Good intentions can inspire greatness—but they can also lead to disaster. In a gripping look at Parshat Shemini and the story of Rabbi Joseph Shapotshnick, Rabbi Dunner explores how ego can quietly corrupt even the noblest causes. When conviction overrides humility, the line between leadership and overreach disappears—with consequences that are as timeless as they are sobering.
Pesach feels nothing like Yom Kippur—one is festive, the other solemn. Yet beneath the surface, they share the same transformative power. Rabbi Dunner reveals how the Seder night can achieve what Yom Kippur does—if we are truly present. The question is not whether the door is open, but whether we are willing to walk through it.
As tensions rise in Israel and antisemitism surges across the globe, familiar patterns begin to emerge. As Rabbi Dunner notes, the Haggadah’s call to see ourselves as if we left Egypt is not abstract. Just as in the original Exodus, when things worsened before redemption, today’s chaos may be the prelude to transformation, reminding us that history’s echoes often signal what comes next.
As Iran escalates its attacks across the Middle East, a troubling pattern emerges—one that blurs the line between strategy and sacrifice. But while some ideologies romanticize destruction in God’s name, Sefer Vayikra offers a radically different vision: true devotion is not found in dying for God, but in the far more demanding task of living for Him.
Rabbi Dunner draws on a beautiful essay from the Rav Daniel Alter Haggadah to find the deeper meaning of freedom on Pesach. Moving beyond the physical Exodus, he explores a powerful message about the lingering mindset of slavery, challenging us to shed internal limitations and embrace a renewed sense of identity, dignity, and spiritual independence long after leaving Egypt.
From Socrates in ancient Athens to Moshe Rabbeinu in the wilderness, history’s greatest leaders share a common trait: they create other leaders. Vayakhel reveals how Moshe built more than a sanctuary; he built a generation of builders whose influence would shape the future of the Jewish people.
For decades Israel “mowed the lawn,” responding to attacks without eradicating the source of the threat. October 7 changed everything. As Iran and its terror proxies face unprecedented blows, the story of the Golden Calf in Parshat Ki Tisa offers a striking parallel. Some crises cannot be managed—they must be confronted decisively before chaos spreads beyond control.
A church that took 144 years to complete. A yeshiva built for students who had not yet arrived. A prophet describing a Temple that did not yet exist. In the Haftarah for Parshat Tetzaveh, we discover that redemption does not begin with miracles — it begins with vision, drawn carefully in the mind’s eye.
At Sinai, the mountain hovered overhead and faith felt inevitable. In Shushan, God’s name disappeared and everything could be dismissed as coincidence. So when was Torah truly accepted — in the blaze of revelation or in the darkness of exile? In Rabbi Dunner’s dazzling Purim shiur, he uncovers why Judaism’s deepest commitment was forged not in thunder, but in hiddenness.
Empires self-identify by anchoring themselves to monuments and locations. The Aztecs had Tenochtitlan. The Incas had Cusco. Rome had its “eternal city.” When those centers fell, their worlds unraveled. The Jewish people lost Jerusalem twice — and endured. The secret was planted earlier, in the wilderness: a sanctuary built to move, and a holiness that refused to stay put.
What does it mean to “increase joy” when life isn’t perfect? Rabbi Dunner’s uplifting Adar shiur explores the deeper meaning of Mishenichnas Adar Marbim b’Simcha, showing how the Megillah teaches us to find hidden goodness, laugh at life’s absurdities, and trust that our stories are still unfolding. Through humor, insight, and real-life stories, we learn how to truly spread the joy.
After the thunder of Sinai comes a surprising shift: damages, loans, workers’ rights, and legal liability. Why does the Torah move from revelation to regulation? Rabbi Dunner explores how lofty ideals collapse without structure, and how Judaism insists that holiness is sustained not by inspiration alone, but by disciplined attention to the smallest details of daily life.
A Don McLean concert becomes a meditation on nostalgia, inspiration, and disappointment. Rabbi Dunner reflects on what it means to watch a cultural hero age — and offers a novel insight into why the Torah follows the drama of Sinai with the unglamorous laws of Parshat Mishpatim, where faith is tested not in moments of awe, but in the demands of ordinary life.
The Ten Commandments are among the most famous words in history—and among the least detailed. As Rabbi Dunner explains, this is no accident. By exploring Martin Luther’s literalism, Jewish history’s rejection of text-only faith, and the role of Torah Shebaal Peh, he shows why Judaism insists that sacred words come alive only through interpretation, debate, responsibility, and lived commitment.
Before thunder and lightning, before Anochi Hashem Elokecha, the Torah pauses for a quiet but crucial conversation. Why does a Midianite outsider notice what no one else does? And why does Sinai have to wait? Rabbi Dunner explores Yitro’s unlikely role in shaping leadership, responsibility, and the conditions that make Torah possible.
Why didn’t God take the Jewish people the shortest route out of Egypt? Rabbi Dunner focuses on the opening verse of Beshalach, exploring why detours matter, how the long road shapes resilience, and why growth often comes not from speed or even results, but from taking the longer route we didn’t plan to travel.
Freedom doesn’t always make people braver. Sometimes it makes them afraid. From ancient Egypt to modern politics, moments of success often trigger a dangerous instinct to retreat into familiar but destructive ideas. Drawing on history and the Torah’s account of the Red Sea, Rabbi Dunner explores why even when regression feels good, resisting it is the real test of moral maturity.
A visit to Hiroshima’s Peace Memorial Museum prompts a painful moral reckoning. Using Parshat Bo as his anchor, Rabbi Dunner examines whether decisive, devastating force is sometimes necessary to end evil. Drawing on Ramban, the Maharal, and Hiroshima itself, he challenges modern discomfort with the horrors of war—and the unsettling truth that ending evil can require unbearable, irreversible decisions, guided by moral clarity.
Why did the Exodus begin at midnight, not dawn? Drawing on Talmud, Maharal, Chassidut, Rav Kook, and the Izhbitzer, Rabbi Dunner explores how Judaism understands transformation: that the deepest changes occur in darkness, before clarity, certainty, or visible redemption — and what this teaches us about faith, growth, and living through uncertain times today.
As Iran’s leaders double down on repression, the echoes from history are chilling. From Napoleon to Hitler, and Pharaoh at the beginning of Sefer Shemot, dictators consistently overestimate their power even as it erodes—until reality inevitably breaks through. Rabbi Dunner examines why tyranny so often escalates just before collapse, and how the Torah anticipated this dynamic thousands of years ago.
In 1940, a Japanese diplomat in Lithuania quietly chose conscience over career, saving lives he would never know. From Chiune Sugihara to the midwives of Egypt, Rabbi Dunner explores how small acts of courage by ordinary people set redemption in motion — long before heroes emerge, miracles unfold, or history reveals what those choices ultimately become.
Why do grandparents relate so differently to their grandchildren? Modern neuroscience, Chassidic thought, and Rabbi Jonathan Sacks converge on an ancient insight. In Parshat Vayechi, Yaakov blesses his grandchildren before his sons, teaching that Jewish continuity is not secured by survival alone, but by transmitting meaning, identity, and purpose across generations.
As life nears its end, clarity replaces illusion. From Beethoven and Jefferson to Steve Jobs and Isaac Newton, history shows how perspective sharpens with mortality. Parshat Vayechi captures this truth in Jacob’s final words to his sons, reminding us that legacy is not curated in real time, but revealed only when the dots of a life finally connect.
Written over two thousand years apart, the first-ever novel - written by a Japanese courtier - and the Torah’s story of Joseph converge on the same unsettling question: how should power be used? Drawing on The Tale of Genji and Parshat Vayigash, Rabbi Dunner explores influence beneath the throne, the danger of unchecked authority, and why true leadership is revealed not by domination, but by restraint.
When experts fail, it is rarely for lack of information. From the Great Storm of 1987 in England, to the 2008 financial crash, and recently Israel’s intelligence failure before October 7th, warning signs were present but misread. What makes Joseph succeed where others fail? Rabbi Dunner unravels the mystery of Joseph’s interpretation of Pharaoh’s dreams—and his uncanny ability to see the wood for the trees.
Power reveals character. From Joseph’s restraint at the height of global authority to the Chashmonaim’s uneasy legacy, Rabbi Dunner explores how Judaism measures leadership once power is achieved. Why did Chazal let the Hasmonean victories fade, but still preserve Chanukah? And what does Parshat Miketz teach us about responsibility, restraint, and the moral test of power in Jewish history today?
History is filled with great people dismissed as useless dreamers, only for their brilliance to be recognized later. From Lincoln to Semmelweis, John Snow to Ada Lovelace, and even Joseph in Parshat Vayeishev, we repeatedly misjudge visionaries because of our own biases. Rabbi Dunner explores how and why genius is so often hidden in plain sight — and so easily ignored.
In Parshat Vayishlach, Yaakov embraces diplomacy eith Esav while Shimon and Levi choose confrontation with Shechem. What determines the difference? Rabbi Dunner explores the Torah’s two models for responding to danger, and how these ancient principles illuminate Israel’s dilemmas today — from the Abraham Accords to October 7th. When do we make peace, and when must we wage war?
AI panic is everywhere—politicians, philosophers, and tech theorists warn that machines may soon outthink or even replace us. But a strange nighttime encounter in Parshat Vayishlach offers a radically different lens. From Jacob’s mysterious struggle emerges a timeless truth about confronting overwhelming forces, giving us a powerful lesson about the challenges of confronting AI.
The latest Ukrainian corruption scandal shows how moral collapse hides in the smallest details — a theme Rabbi Dunner sees echoed in Parshat Vayeitzei. Jacob’s true greatness appears not on a ladder to heaven but in the messy arena of daily life. Rabbi Dunner’s late father always insisted that Vayeitzei was “the most important parsha.” He may have been right.
A mysterious prophecy, a violent struggle in the womb, and two utterly different sons set the stage for one of the Torah’s most profound lessons in Toldot. Rivkah must interpret God’s words, confront human complexity, and choose courage amid uncertainty. Rabbi Dunner explores destiny, free will, and the lifelong battle between the “twins” within each of us.
Rabbi Dunner cites the bizarre Victorian saga known as the Tichborne Case — when a mother’s devotion blinded her to an obvious imposter posing as her son — to draw a striking parallel to Parshat Toldot. Why does Isaac fall for Jacob’s disguise, and what makes this deception fundamentally different? Rabbi Dunner explores how love can obscure truth, yet divine purpose can emerge from confusion, revealing destiny beneath a disguise.
Few revolutions shouted louder about equality, or practiced it more selectively, than the French Revolution. Rabbi Dunner explores the hypocrisy behind Robespierre’s so-called “equality” and contrasts it with the genuine partnership of Abraham and Sarah, who modeled true moral equality millennia before France began shouting about liberté, égalité, and fraternité.
Rabbi Dunner marks the fifth yahrzeit of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks by reflecting on one of Rabbi Sacks’ most moving teachings — that creation, covenant, and love all depend on words. Through the story of Isaac and Rebecca in Chayei Sarah and Toldot, he explores how even holy silence can wound, and why communication — honest, vulnerable speech — is sacred.
In 1946, Howard Hughes’s experimental plane crashed with a fiery explosion into a Beverly Hills home — a modern parable of hubris. Rabbi Dunner compares Hughes’s refusal to yield to limits with the moral failure of Sodom in Parshat Vayera — and contrasts both with Abraham’s enduring humility and greatness.
We live in an age obsessed with movement — new jobs, new cities, constant reinvention. But Lech Lecha teaches that the greatest journey isn’t across continents but into ourselves. Avraham traveled far, but his true destination was his own soul. Before chasing fulfillment elsewhere, pause — the treasure you’re searching for may already be much closer than you think.
When Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Antarctic expedition turned to disaster, his courage and leadership became legend. But 4,000 years earlier, another man faced the same kind of test — not on the ice, but in a land struck by famine. Abraham’s response in Parshat Lech Lecha revealed that true faith isn’t built in comfort. It’s forged when the unexpected shatters our plans.
Rabbi Dunner unpacks the Tower of Babel: Why did God scatter nations and diversify language? Not to punish—but to protect. Unity is holy, yet enforced unanimity is perilous. Discover how Babel warns against groupthink, how Torah sanctifies principled disagreement, and why many voices, under one God, make a symphony rather than a siren.
In this moving reflection, Rabbi Dunner explores the true meaning of the olive leaf brought to Noah by the dove after the Flood. Far from being a symbol of closure, it marked the beginning of humanity’s long journey toward renewal. Drawing parallels to post-Holocaust recovery and Israel’s resilience after October 7th, he reveals how divine light emerges through brokenness.
Throughout history, evil has cloaked itself in virtue — from the serpent in Eden to today’s moral crusaders like Greta Thunberg. Drawing on Niebuhr, Midrash, and classic Torah commentaries, Rabbi Dunner reveals how the language of compassion and justice can become a weapon of destruction when it is stripped of truth, humility, and moral clarity.
Exactly two years after October 7, Israel stands at a turning point: a sweeping hostage deal agreed, Hamas broken, and the horrors since that day nearing an end. From vulnerability and isolation to resolve and renewal, Rabbi Dunner connects this moment to Vezot Habracha—Moshe’s final blessing. How does it all connect, and what are the lessons of Simchat Torah?
When forgiveness is offered without truth or accountability, it may feel noble but it can also ring hollow. From Erika Kirk’s public absolution of her husband’s murderer to the Nuremberg Trials and South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission, history and Judaism teach a harder truth: real reconciliation demands confession, justice, and a reckoning with God. Rabbi Dunner shares the eternal message of Yom Kippur.
Can Israel truly go it alone? Drawing on Chaim Weizmann’s pragmatism, Ben-Gurion’s faith in miracles, and Rav Kook’s timeless insight, Rabbi Dunner explores the balance between alliances and divine providence. As Vayeilech and the High Holy Days remind us, the Jewish people's survival rests not on geopolitics but on our unbreakable covenant with God.
From the latest bizarre conspiracy linking Charlie Kirk’s murder to Mossad, to the viral spread of pro-Nazi propaganda online, antisemitism is mutating yet again. Far-right agitators, far-left activists, and Islamist extremists find common ground in their hatred of Jews. But as Rabbi Dunner explains, Parshat Nitzavim teaches us that every curse only sharpens Jewish identity, resilience, and return.
In a world where truth has become dangerous and reason is met with rage, the assassination of Charlie Kirk is more than a tragedy — it’s a sign of collective madness. Rabbi Dunner explores how Moses foresaw this descent in Parshat Ki Tavo, and what Kirk’s death reveals about the fragile state of truth in our time.
Why does the Torah command us to send away a mother bird before taking her eggs or chicks? From the Mishnah and Rambam to Ramban, Maharal, the Hasidic masters, Rav Dessler, and Rav Kook, Rabbi Dunner shows how this mitzvah is far more than a law about bird nests — it’s a journey into compassion, exile and redemption, spiritual growth, and God’s infinite mercy.
Rabbi Dunner reflects on the remarkable journey of Nikos Sotirakopoulos, who transformed from a virulent antisemite into one of Israel’s fiercest defenders. Connecting Nikos’s story to Parshat Ki Teitzei, Rabbi Dunner highlights the Torah’s lessons about our potential to change, the need to uproot hatred, and why—even though evil exists—it doesn’t have to remain.
Rabbi Dunner explores the Torah’s command in Parshat Shoftim to follow the guidance of our sages — even when they disagree, and even when they might be wrong. Drawing on sources from Chazal to the Rambam, and more recent commentaries, Rabbi Dunner shows how and why emunat chachamim remains the cornerstone of Jewish survival.
Adolf Hitler learned that ballots can be more powerful than bullets — and used that lesson to dismantle German democracy from within. Today, Islamist movements are following the same playbook, exploiting demographics and the ballot box to advance their agenda. Rabbi Dunner presents a lesson from Parshat Shoftim, which reminds us: unless we guard our gates, freedom itself is at risk.
Western governments are rushing to recognize a Palestinian state — but what they are really recognizing is an illusion. Like Voltaire’s famous quip about the Holy Roman Empire, “Palestine” is neither real nor a state. Parshat Re’eh warns against false prophets. Rabbi Dunner shows how rewarding terror with statehood is a false prophecy that imperils truth, justice, and stability.
We live in an age where “compassion” and “tolerance” are paraded as the highest virtues. But when mercy is divorced from truth, it becomes cruelty in disguise. Rabbi Dunner takes us on a journey from Rousseau to Parshas Re’eh, and from woke politics to Rambam, to discover why the Torah warns us: “lo tachmol velo techaseh alav” — that false compassion destroys.
After a dreadful sports accident left James Clear relearning how to walk, he discovered a life-changing truth: greatness comes from tiny, repeated actions. Rabbi Dunner draws on Clear’s story, Britain’s love of a “cuppa” tea, and Japan’s precision culture to show how Moses, in Parshat Eikev, makes the same point—small mitzvot done regularly matter most.
From eighteenth-century Shakers to contemporary celebrity closets, the secret of clarity has always been the same: less is more. In Va’etchanan, Moshe gives us God’s ultimate decluttering rule—“do not add and do not subtract.” Forget spiritual bloat. When we edit down to the essentials, what’s left is powerful, timeless, and exactly as it was meant to be.
Why does Moshe repeat the Ten Commandments in Va’etchanan? Rabbi Dunner explores the hidden power of repetition—from the Sfas Emes to Rav Dessler, from Rambam’s Mishneh Torah to neuroscience and Michael Jordan’s relentless practice—revealing how review transforms knowledge into identity. Discover why repetition isn’t redundant - it’s the secret to becoming the Torah you learn and the mitzvos you observe.
Moshe’s first words in Devarim aren’t fiery accusations — they’re quiet, coded reminders. Out of love and respect, he rebukes without shaming, uniting the nation instead of dividing it. From Rashi to the Toldos Yaakov Yosef, we learn that true rebuke heals, builds trust, and binds us together. Sometimes, the gentlest words have the greatest power.
Heraclitus taught that change is life's only constant—yet many leaders refuse to change when disaster looms. But not all. From Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai, to William of Orange, to Moses in Parshat Devarim, history's great leaders understood when to "recalculate" their approach. As we read Devarim and approach Tisha B'Av, Rabbi Dunner explores how embracing necessary change, rather than clinging to failed strategies, offers the best path forward.
Three travelers, three eras, countless miles—and not one of them racing to a finish line. From Marco Polo’s China, Benjamin of Tudela’s regal Baghdad, to the Chida’s street debates in Livorno and rejected snacks in Amsterdam, none sought fame or fortune. They gathered meaning, moment by moment. Because sometimes, the journey _is_ the destination.
Is Israel a colonial project—or the beating heart of the Jewish people? In this powerful shiur on Parshat Mattot-Massei, Rabbi Dunner unpacks the Jewish people’s eternal bond with Eretz Yisrael, exposing the absurdity of modern attempts to sever that connection. Using classic commentaries, true stories, and bold clarity, this shiur is a must-hear response to today’s anti-Zionist antisemitic narrative.
In 1144, a monk in Norwich invented a lie that has echoed through the centuries: Jews murder gentile children as part of a sinister conspiracy. From medieval England to modern Gaza, the blood libel refuses to die. Rabbi Dunner traces the origins of this hateful myth—and exposes how today’s anti-Israel hysteria is just history’s oldest hate, repackaged.
From Munich 1938, to the JCPOA in 2015, to Parshat Balak, Rabbi Dunner explores how not being present can be devastating—or not, when divine intervention steps in as human diplomacy falls short. A powerful reflection on unseen protection, ancient patterns, and why absence doesn’t necessarily mean you’ve been forgotten.
In this eye-opening shiur, Rabbi Dunner explores how even one’s fiercest enemies can become unlikely allies — from Nazi officer Karl Plagge to the infamous biblical prophet Bilaam. Discover how curses turn into blessings, truth emerges from donkeys, and moral courage pierces the darkness. Parshat Balak has never felt more relevant — or more uplifting.
When Jewish children are expelled for objecting to a Hitler portrait, and music festival crowds chant “Death to the IDF,” it’s time to ask: is it still safe for Jews in the West? Rabbi Dunner draws a chilling parallel from Parshat Chukkat, reminding us what happens when polite requests are met with “You shall not pass.”
Why was Moshe punished so harshly for hitting a rock? In this gripping shiur, Rabbi Dunner unpacks the mystery of Mei Merivah, revealing layers of leadership, trauma, and divine expectation. Drawing on classical commentators, psychological insight, and historical parallels, this shiur offers a powerful reflection on how even the greatest leaders can falter—and what we can learn from it.
Zohran Mamdani’s rise may look like a progressive triumph, but Rabbi Dunner warns it’s a dangerous mirage. In this biting analysis, he exposes Mamdani as a modern-day Korach—charismatic, radical, and ultimately destructive. With sharp observation and Torah insight, Dunner calls out the populist façade threatening to turn New York into a city ruled by slogans, not solutions.
Israel’s strikes on Iran have exposed more than military vulnerabilities—they’ve revealed the deadly consequences of Iran’s religious zealotry. Drawing parallels with the biblical spies in Parshat Shlach and the doomed sectarians of Qumran, Rabbi Dunner explores how absolutist ideology—whether ancient or modern—is not the path to purity or righteousness, but rather to chaos and ruin.
Rabbi Dunner draws a haunting parallel between the leadership failures of 1914 and the Torah’s model of inspired, grassroots leadership, as found in Behaalotecha. From Edward Grey to Jean Jaurès to modern-day prophetic voices, he reminds us that true leaders empower others — and that ignoring the wisdom of those who know, from among the people, always leads to disaster.
In Gaza, Israel and America are upending the usual script, delivering food aid directly to the people and bypassing Hamas’s stranglehold. Yet the critics howl: “You’re weaponizing aid!” “You’re manipulating hunger!” Rabbi Dunner cites Parshat Nasso, where the nazir is described as breaking away from the crowd, refusing to play along. Sometimes doing what’s right—like feeding the hungry—means going against the mob.
Davis, CA, may look like a quiet, tree-lined college town — but beneath the surface lies a toxic brew of antisemitism and radical activism. In this firsthand account, Rabbi Dunner shares what he saw and heard during his visit to Davis — and what every Jew needs to understand about what’s really happening on American campuses. Bamidbar’s lessons have never been more urgent.
Why does the Torah fall silent for 38 years in the middle of Sefer Bamidbar? Rabbi Dunner explores this narrative mystery through classic commentaries, Midrashim, and the insights of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks. Discover how silence itself can speak volumes—and how a generation’s quiet transformation shaped the future of the Jewish people. Sometimes, the missing years tell the deepest story.
Two young Israeli diplomats were murdered in Washington, DC—targeted simply for being Jewish. Rabbi Dunner calls out the moral bankruptcy of those still defending anti-Israel hate and draws strength from Parshat Bechukotai. This is a time for clarity, courage, and faith—not fear. The Jewish people have been here before. With God's help, we will endure.
What if the land you live on isn’t just dirt—but a partner in your destiny? In Parshat Bechukotai, we discover that Eretz Yisrael responds to the moral and spiritual state of its people. Join Rabbi Dunner for a powerful journey through blessings, rebuke, Rav Kook, the Chazon Ish, and the land that never forgets.
In the wake of President Trump’s landmark visit to the Gulf, the illusion of Arab unity may finally be crumbling. From multi billion-dollar deals to diplomatic realignments, the Middle East is moving on from outdated identities. Rabbi Dunner explores this seismic shift—through politics, history, and Parshat Emor’s deeper lesson about letting go of pre-set identities and embracing a better future.
What do Speaker Mike Johnson’s pocketful of pebbles from the Valley of Elah and Senator Cory Booker’s emotional words about Joseph the dreamer have in common? In this powerful and personal reflection, Rabbi Dunner shares what happened when 300 rabbis and pastors came to Washington—and how Parshat Kedoshim reveals the secret to bringing holiness into the halls of power.
What if dreams aren’t fantasies, but glimpses of the future? Rabbi Dunner explores J.W. Dunne’s startling theory of “Serial Time,” Herzl’s visionary Zionism, and the prophetic message of Elisha. In a world that's ever more cynical, argues Rabbi Dunner, it's time to reclaim the power of belief — because sometimes, seeing isn’t believing… believing is seeing.
Rabbi Dunner reflects on his family's miraculous survival during the Holocaust and draws a powerful parallel to today’s world, where every Jew is a survivor — especially after October 7th. In this stirring piece, he urges us to recognize our responsibility: survival isn’t just luck, it’s a calling. We are all survivors — and we all have work to do.
A visit to the ruins of Shiloh and an ascent onto Temple Mount reveals a powerful truth for Rabbi Dunner: Jewish history isn’t just about the past—it’s a living legacy. In this stirring reflection on Parshat Shemini, Rabbi Dunner explores how ancient sites and sacred moments continue to shape our destiny, if only we choose to act, not just remember.
Why did Nadav and Avihu die? On the holiest day, in the holiest place, they brought an unauthorized fire—and were consumed by God’s fire. Were they arrogant? Were they drunk? Were they idealists? Rabbi Dunner’s shiur on Parshat Shemini explores the conflicting views of Chazal and the commentaries, the deeper message behind their deaths, and what Rav Kook’s response to the “strange fire” of modernity can teach us about leadership and humility today.
Zionist pioneer Nachum Sokolow secured support for a Jewish State from the Vatican—with nothing but words. Today, you too can support the Jewish State—with your vote. As Pesach approaches, the WZO election gives every Jew a voice in shaping Israel’s future. Our story didn’t end with the Exodus—and it won’t end now. Vote. Because our destiny—and Israel’s—still matters.To vote in the WZO elections, use this link: https://www.votezoacoalition.org/
What happens when keeping strict halacha on Pesach becomes difficult — in war, under tyranny, or during spiritual crisis? From Roman legionaries to Soviet Jews, from Napoleon’s soldiers to early pioneers in Eretz Yisrael, Rabbi Dunner explores the challenges — and the halachic courage and compassion that have kept Jews connected to their heritage through Pesach, even when matzah was scarce.
When a handwritten note was found in the backpack of IDF soldier Hillel Nehemiah Ofen after hedied in training, its opening words—“Ani Shayach”—echoed louder than any headline. In Parshat Pekudei, we’re reminded that true belonging isn’t accidental. It’s built, soul by soul. Rabbi Dunner reflects on connection, identity, and the sacred spaces we create together
What do a bashful patent clerk named Albert Einstein, Apple’s Tim Cook, and a tiny letter in the Torah have in common? Rabbi Dunner connects the dots in this sharply observed reflection on humility, greatness, and why Moshe Rabbeinu made the first aleph in Vayikra so small. Spoiler alert: really great people don’t need to yell to make history.
Rabbi Dunner explores Thomas Jefferson’s passion for architecture and how his iconic home, Monticello, reflects the ideals of design and purpose. Drawing a parallel to the Mishkan in Parshat Vayakhel, he shows how built spaces — whether Monticello, the Mishkan, or the Temple in Jerusalem — were crafted to elevate the human spirit and create a lasting connection to the divine.
Rabbi Dunner explores the transformative power of community through the lens of Parshat Vayakhel. From the unified effort to build the Mishkan to the pivotal role of women in spiritual renewal, he uncovers timeless lessons on collaboration and purpose — culminating in the inspiring story of Sarah Schenirer, a modern-day architect of holiness, healing, and communal strength.
Join Rabbi Dunner for an eye-opening deep dive into the comedy of Tanach and Talmud! From Eliyahu Hanavi roasting the prophets of Baal to Ehud’s slapstick assassination of King Eglon, discover how humor, satire, and sarcasm are woven into Jewish tradition—not just for laughs, but for education and survival. Prepare to see Purim like never before.
New York learned the hard way what happens when essential systems break down—once when the city drowned in garbage, and once when it plunged into darkness. Rabbi Dunner explores the eerie parallels between these moments of chaos in New York and the episode of the Golden Calf in Parshat Ki Tissa. What happens when leadership vanishes and order collapses? And why does it always take a crisis to realize what truly holds civilization together?
Self-driving cars, hospital diagnosis algorithms, and AI-controlled weapons—machines are making more decisions than ever. But can AI ever truly replace human judgment? Rabbi Dunner explores this question through the ancient lens of the Urim VeTummim, the Torah’s own decision-making tool. What does the Urim VeTummim teach us about the limits of non-human guidance? Why must some decisions always remain in human hands?
Universities were once bastions of knowledge and debate, but at Barnard College, masked agitators turned hallowed halls into arenas of intimidation. With drums, slogans, and violence, they demanded immunity for disrupting classes—while weak-willed administrators caved. When mob rule replaces reason, and expediency trumps principle, society suffers.Rabbi Dunner exposes the rot undermining our temples of learning and the urgent need for us to reclaim them.
Hamas’s latest act of depravity wasn’t about returning hostage remains—it was a grotesque spectacle of cruelty designed to inflict maximum pain. Rabbi Dunner contrasts radical Islam’s disregard for human life with Judaism’s deep commitment to human dignity. The time for moral clarity is now.
True kindness isn’t just about giving—it’s about giving without taking away dignity. In this powerful and thought-provoking shiur, Rabbi Dunner explores the Torah’s approach to tzedakah, revealing why an interest-free loan is the highest form of charity. With insights from Rabbi Sacks, Chassidic masters, and Mussar giants, this shiur will change the way you think about generosity, power, and responsibility.
Rabbi Dunner explores what it truly means to be “People of the Book,” reflecting on the Torah’s timeless mission to elevate and enlighten. Using the recent arrests of two East Jerusalem booksellers accused of incitement, he contrasts the Jewish commitment to using books for good with the misuse of books as tools of hatred. A compelling call to uphold the sacred power of the written word in a world where it’s often weaponized.
Join Rabbi Dunner for a fascinating Tu Bishvat shiur exploring the deeper meaning behind the Sheva Minim—the seven species that symbolize Eretz Yisrael's bounty. Discover how wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates, olives, and dates represent profound spiritual lessons about identity, resilience, joy, and growth. Through Torah insights, mystical teachings, and practical reflections, Rabbi Dunner will deepen your appreciation for Tu Bishvat and the timeless values rooted in these sacred fruits and grains.
Rabbi Dunner dives into the explosive proposal unveiled by President Trump unveiled —an audacious vision for Gaza that has the world reeling. But is it really so radical? Rabbi Dunner explores Gaza’s deep Jewish roots, the prophetic warnings of its downfall, and the echoes of Samson’s final act. As history unfolds before our eyes, is this the moment to reclaim Gaza’s destiny?
It’s the most triumphant song in Jewish history—but hidden within Az Yashir in Parshat Beshalach are mysteries waiting to be unlocked. Why is the song written in a unique structure? Why does Moshe sing in the future tense? Why does Hashem remain silent in the face of evil? And what does Mi Kamocha Ba’eilim Hashem really mean? Join Rabbi Dunner as he uncovers the depth, drama, and destiny embedded in Shirat HaYam.
For nearly eight decades, the house next door to Auschwitz—the former home of Nazi commandant Rudolf Höss—stood untouched, a silent witness to history’s darkest crimes. Now, thanks to Ambassador Mark D. Wallace, Elliott Broidy, and Dr. Thomas Kaplan, it is being transformed into a global center for combating antisemitism and extremism. Rabbi Pini Dunner explores how this initiative ensures history’s lessons are neither distorted nor forgotten in an era of rising Jew-hatred.
Rabbi Dunner explores the transformative power of renewal in this shiur on Parshat Bo. Why was the very first mitzvah given to the Jewish people the sanctification of the new moon? What does it teach us about time, destiny, and second chances? And how does the two-day Yom Tov tradition serve as a powerful reminder of what we once had—and what we can reclaim?
When religious leaders trade faith for politics, they don’t just lose credibility—they risk losing the very soul of what they are meant to represent. Rabbi Pini Dunner takes on Bishop Mariann Budde’s politically charged sermon at the National Cathedral, exposing a deeper trend within the Episcopal Church. From anti-Israel activism to clergy who reject God outright, what happens when religion is no longer about faith—but about woke activism?
Hamas calls every war a “victory,” no matter how much devastation they suffer. This time is no different—celebrations erupted in Gaza even as the rubble settled. But history tells a different story. In Shemot, Pharaoh refused to admit defeat, convinced that his defiance was power. In the end, he stood alone, and witnessed the wreckage of his own making. Rabbi Dunner shows how Hamas is following the same doomed path.
As wildfires rage across Los Angeles County, leaving devastation and despair in their wake, one question looms: Why weren’t we better prepared? Rabbi Dunner examines the failure of California’s leadership to address predictable disasters and contrasts it with the timeless wisdom of Jacob in Parshat Vayechi. Discover how Jacob’s guidance to his children can inspire effective leadership in the face of modern crises.
Rabbi Dunner draws a fascinating parallel between Joseph’s dramatic reconciliation with his brothers in Parshat Vayigash and post-World War II leadership. True leadership balances toughness with vision—turning enemies into allies rather than crushing them. With insights from Ramban and Sforno, Rabbi Dunner unpacks Joseph’s strategy of redemption over revenge, showing that the best way to win is making sure everyone shares in the victory.
Rabbi Dunner delves into the vexed legacy of the late Jimmy Carter—a decent man but a disastrous president. Carter’s well-meaning idealism often veered into dangerous naivety, enabling evil to flourish. From abandoning the Shah of Iran and empowering radical Islamists to legitimizing Hamas and labeling Israel as an “Apartheid” state, Carter’s self-proclaimed moral posturing left the world far more dangerous. Rabbi Dunner pulls no punches in this sharp, detailed look at Jimmy Carter’s self-important and deeply flawed outlook.
In this gripping shiur, Rabbi Dunner delves into the dramatic story of Chanukah. Drawing from Maccabees I and II, Josephus, and the Talmud, he unpacks the Jewish rebellion against Antiochus IV, the Maccabees' daring victories, and the miracle of the oil that defied logic. With insights into faith, resilience, and identity, Rabbi Dunner reveals why Chazal shifted the focus from swords to light—and what Chanukah teaches us about survival and hope today.
Poland’s threat to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he attends the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz is a disgraceful insult—not just to Netanyahu, but to Jews everywhere. Rabbi Dunner denounces the move as political hypocrisy and a betrayal of Holocaust memory. Drawing on the bravery of the Maccabees, he challenges Netanyahu to defy the threats, stand tall in Auschwitz, and remind the world that the Jewish people will never bow to humiliation again.
Israel’s decision to close its embassy in Ireland underscores a troubling history of disproportionate criticism and hostility toward the Jewish state. From Éamon de Valera’s infamous actions during World War II to modern legislation targeting Israel, Ireland has consistently singled out Jews and Israel for condemnation while ignoring far graver injustices worldwide. Rabbi Dunner delves into the historical and biblical roots of antisemitism, drawing timeless lessons from Yosef’s story in Parshat Vayeishev.
In this captivating shiur on Parshat Vayeishev, Rabbi Dunner explores the unique role of Yosef, the dreamer who bridges the gap between the patriarchs and the tribes of Israel. Through Yosef’s trials, leadership, and ultimate reconciliation with his brothers, we uncover profound lessons about the balance between engaging with the world and preserving our spiritual identity. Discover how Yosef’s story shapes the redemptive visions of Mashiach ben Yosef and Mashiach ben David.
Bashar al-Assad’s dramatic fall this week mirrors the fates of countless despots whose fleeting power left only ruins behind. From the erratic Al-Hakim bi-Amr Allah to the complacent Al-Musta’sim, and even the tragic Boabdil of Granada, history is strewn with leaders who seemed mighty but were ultimately forgotten. Rabbi Dunner delves into the Torah’s portrayal of Esav’s descendants to uncover a profound lesson about the nature of power, the emptiness of tyranny, and what truly endures.
What’s the deal with Yaakov’s mysterious midnight wrestling match? A man, an angel, Esav’s guardian spirit—who was it, and why did the epic struggle end with Yaakov limping and renamed Yisrael? Rabbi Dunner's shiur dives into one of the Torah’s most puzzling encounters, unraveling layers of meaning with insights from the Ramban, Maharal, the Izhbitzer, and others. Discover how this bizarre struggle wasn’t just a fight but a transformative moment for Yaakov—and for the Jewish people, a timeless lesson in resilience, faith, and triumph.
Ants embody the power of adaptability and collective responsibility, offering timeless lessons for human behavior. Rabbi Dunner explores the wisdom of Proverbs and the Talmud, drawing parallels to the challenges facing Israel’s Haredi community. With insights from Jacob’s journey in Parshat Vayeitzei, he argues for individual initiative and embracing change without compromising tradition, highlighting how adaptability and shared purpose can ensure a thriving future for the Haredi world and all of Klal Yisrael.
Struggling to find your purpose? Rabbi Dunner dives into Parshat Toldot and the timeless lessons of Yaakov and Esav. Discover why some people seem destined for greatness while others wrestle with inner conflict. Learn how modern psychology supports ancient Torah insights. With humor, clever insights, inspiring stories, and a fresh take on self-help, this shiur will leave you with practical tools to align your individuality with your legacy.
Rabbi Dunner explores the timeless allure of greed and duplicity through captivating stories of history's greatest con artists. From Gregor MacGregor's mythical paradise to Sarah Howe's hollow promises and James Reavis's fabricated aristocracy, these tales of audacious fraud echo the Torah's account of Ephron the Hittite in Chayei Sarah. Drawing powerful lessons from Abraham’s integrity, Rabbi Dunner reminds us that honesty and enduring values always triumph over fleeting gains.
Rabbi Dunner delves into the timeless story of Eliezer’s search for Yitzchak’s wife, and Rivka’s remarkable entrance into the story of the Jewish people in Parshat Chayei Sarah. Discover how this ancient tale speaks to today’s “shidduch crisis” and the challenges of finding meaningful relationships. Through Torah insights, Midrash, and contemporary takeaways, Rabbi Dunner explores Rivka’s kindness, courage, and decisiveness, offering inspiration for singles, families, and anyone navigating life’s big decisions.
In a world where misplaced compassion can embolden evil, Rabbi Dunner explores the harsh but essential lesson from Parshat Vayeira: not all causes are worthy of mercy. Reflecting on historical examples like Sir Winston Churchill and General William T. Sherman, Rabbi Dunner draws powerful parallels to Israel’s current struggle against Hamas and Iran. While compassion is important—it has its limits.
Rabbi Dunner delves into Avraham's unexpected test upon arriving in Canaan—facing a famine in the very land God promised him. Why would God introduce this obstacle right at the start of Avraham’s journey? With insights from Rashi, Ramban, Rav Hirsch, and Rav Dessler, Rabbi Dunner explores how challenges often conceal deeper lessons of faith and resilience.
Rabbi Dunner reflects on the lessons of principled leadership following the recent election. Drawing on examples from history and the Torah, he explores how true leaders exercise restraint and magnanimity in victory, using their power not for retribution but to foster unity and healing. Through the stories of William the Conqueror, Emperor Meiji, President Lincoln, and the patriarch Abraham, Rabbi Dunner highlights the timeless power of humility and ethical clarity in shaping a lasting legacy.
Join Rabbi Dunner as he dives into one of the Torah’s most mysterious stories—the Tower of Babel. What really went wrong with humanity’s grand plan to reach the heavens? Was it rebellion, fear, or a misguided quest for unity? With insights from Rashi, Midrash, Abarbanel, the Haamek Davar, and the Dubno Maggid, this shiur explores the clash between human ambition and divine purpose.
Rabbi Dunner explores the Overton Window and its lessons through the Torah’s stories of Noah and the Tower of Babel. By examining societies that pushed boundaries too far, we uncover the chaos that ensues when the unthinkable becomes acceptable. From moral decay to unrestrained ambition, Parshat Noach offers powerful warnings about the risks of shifting societal norms without restraint.
In this remix of Lema'an Achai, Rabbi Dunner revisits his time as a member of Yigal Calek's renowned choir, blending his own voice with the original 1976 London Live recording. This heartfelt song, centered on the theme of brotherly harmony and unity, has remained a meaningful part of Rabbi Dunner’s life. Singing it again alongside the choir evokes a powerful sense of nostalgia and pays tribute to the musical legacy that shaped him. (With thanks to Sam Glaser for the studio production.)
Rabbi Dunner’s rendition of Hamalach merges his voice with the original recording from Yigal Calek’s Tenth Anniversary Celebration album of the London School of Jewish Song (1978). The song is a soothing lullaby traditionally sung to children at bedtime, and features a beautiful melody perfectly aligned with the words. For Rabbi Dunner, this remix is both personal and emotional—a way to honor the music he once performed under Yigal’s direction. (With thanks to Sam Glaser for the studio production.)
Yigal Calek’s passing has stirred deep nostalgia for those who cherished his music and teaching. A gifted musician with the heart of a teacher, Calek’s compositions transformed obscure Jewish texts into unforgettable melodies. His music not only entertained but taught, inspired, and connected listeners to their heritage. Through Yigal’s legacy, we are reminded that nostalgia is more than emotional longing—it’s about cherishing the lessons and joy that continue to resonate and shape us today.
Rabbi Dunner reflects on the profound challenge of celebrating Simchat Torah on the first anniversary of the October 7th massacre. Drawing from his mother’s remarkable experience of Simchat Torah in post-Holocaust Rotterdam, he explores how Jewish joy has always coexisted with grief. He reminds us that even in the darkest times, dancing on Simchat Torah is an act of defiance and hope—an enduring declaration that the Jewish people, no matter the adversity, are still here.
Rabbi Dunner draws powerful parallels between the ruins of medieval castles and the resilience of the Jewish people in this thought-provoking reflection. Using the image of the fallen 'Sukkah of David,' he explores how the Jewish people and the Davidic dynasty continue to rise again and again after every fall.
True leadership is more than just standing tall—it’s about the qualities that define a person’s character. In this thought-provoking reflection, Rabbi Dunner explores the history of height in leadership, contrasting the superficial focus on physical stature with the timeless lessons of Yom Kippur.
Rabbi Dunner reflects on the profound shift in the global landscape following the horrors of October 7th and the rising antisemitism that has left the Jewish community reeling. Amid the darkness, he highlights the inspiring spirit of Israel’s younger generation, whose incredible commitment to defending Israel stands in stark contrast to youth elsewhere around the world.
Rabbi Dunner draws powerful parallels between the teachings of the Piaseczner Rebbe during the Holocaust and how our response should look after the events of October 7th and since. Reflecting on Rav Shapira's incredible faith amidst the torment of Nazi persecution, Rabbi Dunner explores how even in the face of unspeakable horrors, the Jewish people’s resilience remains unbroken. As Israel’s enemies crumble, he reminds us that unwavering faith and determination will once again ensure that the Jewish people rise stronger than ever.
In a world where hidden truths are suddenly exposed, how do we respond? Rabbi Dunner explores the profound tension between the hidden and revealed, drawing on the events of October 7th and their aftermath. Through the contrasting perspectives of theologians like Richard Rubenstein and Rabbi Yitzchak Hutner, he challenges us to confront unsettling revelations with faith and resolve.
Discover the profound message of unity in Parshat Nitzavim, where Moshe Rabbeinu gathers the entire Jewish nation, from leaders to laborers, emphasizing the essential role of every individual in the covenant with God. Through insights from Ramban, Sforno, and Chassidic masters like the Baal Shem Tov and Kedushas Levi, Rabbi Dunner explores how unity strengthens the Jewish people.
Rabbi Dunner takes a look at the profound role of joy in both personal and spiritual fulfillment. Drawing on the wisdom of C.S. Lewis, neuroscience research, and Jewish teachings, he reveals how cultivating joy not only fuels success but transforms religious practice into a source of strength and meaning. With practical advice from experts like Viktor Frankl and Ronald Reagan’s infectious optimism, Rabbi Dunner inspires us to make joy a daily, intentional choice, even in life’s toughest moments.
In this inspiring shiur, Rabbi Pini Dunner delves into Parshat Ki Tavo and the mitzvah of Bikkurim, exploring the deeper meaning of gratitude and its impact on our lives. Learn how the ancient practice of offering the first fruits teaches us to recognize divine blessings, stay humble, and express thanks. With engaging stories and timeless wisdom, Rabbi Dunner shows how gratitude can transform our spiritual growth and strengthen our connection to God. Listen now for a powerful message on living with gratitude!
Rabbi Dunner explores Alexis de Tocqueville’s timeless observations on America's ability to self-correct and how the nation’s foundational ideals are deeply intertwined with ancient Torah teachings. Drawing parallels between historical and modern struggles for justice and equality, he argues that America's greatness lies not in perfection, but in the ongoing pursuit of a balanced society where justice is guided by compassion, freedom is tempered with responsibility, and equality is a lived reality.
Amidst the palpable grief enveloping Israel, Hersh Goldberg-Polin’s tragic story of love and loss resonates deeply. As the fight for his release becomes a painful memory, we are left grappling with leadership failures and the high stakes in the battle against terror. Rabbi Dunner reflects on the powerful lessons of courage, accountability, and justice demanded by Parshat Shoftim—and challenges us to seek more from our leaders and ourselves in pursuing true righteousness.
Rabbi Dunner explores the modern paradox of choice, using observations from travel writer Bill Bryson and insights from psychologist Barry Schwartz to highlight how excessive options often lead to frustration and poor decisions. Drawing on the wisdom of Parshat Re’eh, Rabbi Dunner proposes the value of clear decisive action and the narrowing down of choices to find true fulfillment.
Rabbi Dunner explores the delicate balance between material success and spiritual fulfillment. Drawing on timeless wisdom from the Torah, as well as insights from modern psychology and real-life stories of influential figures, Rabbi Dunner delves into the true sources of happiness and contentment, challenging the notion that wealth alone can bring joy. Discover how to nourish both body and soul.
Rabbi Dunner delves into the power of repetition. Drawing on the wisdom of great thinkers, the journey of sporting legends like Michael Jordan, and insights from Jewish tradition as found in Parshat Va'etchanan, Rabbi Dunner explores why practice isn't just about getting better—it's the key to mastering any skill. Learn how the timeless concept of 'chazara' can elevate your spiritual and professional life.
Rabbi Dunner explores the Shema, Judaism's quintessential declaration of faith. Discover how this daily recitation is more than just words—it's a call to love God with all your heart, soul, and might, expressed through intentional actions in every aspect of life. Through inspiring stories and teachings from rabbinic giants, Rabbi Dunner offers a guide to understanding how the Shema challenges us to live our beliefs, ensuring our love for God is reflected in every deed.
In a world where complaints have become second nature, Rabbi Dunner explores the impact of our collective grumbling and the transformative power of gratitude. Drawing from Will Bowen’s global "Complaint Free" movement and lessons from Parshat Devarim, Rabbi Dunner delves into how our words shape our reality. Instead of perpetuating negativity, Rabbi Dunner challenges us to adopt a positive, solution-oriented mindset that can lead to a more harmonious and fulfilling life.
Rabbi Dunner explores the remarkable transformation of Moshe Rabbeinu in Sefer Devarim. Discover how he evolved from a reluctant speaker to a master orator, and learn the critical importance of memory and history in shaping Jewish identity. Drawing on classical commentaries and contemporary insights, Rabbi Dunner examines Moshe’s legacy and the enduring lessons we can apply to our own lives.
Rabbi Pini Dunner delves into the ethical implications of targeted assassinations in modern warfare, drawing parallels with the Torah's commandment to confront the Midianites in Parshat Mattot. Examining historical examples and contemporary military strategies, Rabbi Dunner questions the effectiveness of appeasement and highlights the necessity of confronting evil to ensure lasting peace and justice.
Rabbi Dunner explores Parshat Massei, delving into the significance of the 42 journeys and stops of the Israelites in the wilderness. Discover how each stop, both detailed and obscure, shaped their spiritual growth and resilience. Drawing insights from the Netziv, Shadal, and Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, and relating these ancient travels to our modern experiences, Rabbi Dunner illustrates the timeless importance of place and journey in shaping our identity and faith.
Drawing parallels with the Torah’s account of Joshua succeeding Moses, Rabbi Dunner explores the qualities needed in a leader to inspire progress and hope for a brighter future, amidst President Biden's stunning announcement not to seek re-election. Thrusting Vice President Kamala Harris into the spotlight as the presumptive Democratic candidate, this unexpected shift mirrors historical leadership changes that reshaped nations.
Rabbi Pini Dunner explores the controversial figure of Pinchas from Parshat Pinchas. Delve into the complexities of zealotry, divine justice, and the covenant of peace. Discover the balance between righteous zeal and compassionate leadership through historical and contemporary stories, including about Rabbi Menachem Ziemba of Warsaw and Rav Kook in Jerusalem.
In a world where social media drives people to dangerous extremes for fame and validation, Rabbi Dunner draws a poignant parallel to the biblical story of Bilam in Parshat Balak. Discover how ancient wisdom sheds light on modern obsessions and the perilous quest for external approval. Learn why true worth comes from within and why it is so important to seek validation through genuine connections rather than fleeting online fame.
Discover the intriguing narrative of Bilam, the non-Jewish prophet whose extraordinary abilities rivaled even Moshe. Rabbi Dunner delves into the complexities of Bilam's character, exploring his initial reluctance to curse the Israelites, his ultimate downfall, and the profound lessons we can learn from his story.
Rabbi Dunner pays tribute to Bishop Robert Stearns at his 30th-anniversary gala celebration in Buffalo NY, on July 11th, 2024. Using an extraordinary story from 1979, of the notorious "Jim twins", Rabbi Dunner reveals the secret behind the incredible bond between faithful Christians and Jews, particularly since the creation of the State of Israel in 1948.For further information regarding Bishop Stearns and his incredible work for Israel, see: https://eagleswings.org/
Rabbi Dunner explores the significance of water as a metaphor for Torah and spiritual sustenance. Beginning with the story of Rabbi Akiva's realization of the power of water, prompted by observing water drops wearing away a rock, Rabbi Dunner cites the dreadful story of the water crisis in Flint, MI, comparing it to the biblical narrative regarding the water stopping its flow from Miriam's well in Parshat Chukat. Rabbi Dunner emphasizes the importance of pure, untainted leadership and continuous spiritual nourishment for the Jewish people.
Rabbi Dunner explores the devastating impact of internal divisions, drawing parallels between the American Civil War and the biblical story of Korach's rebellion. Highlighting the term "War of Brothers," he reflects on how the Civil War pitted family members against each other, leaving deep emotional scars. Rabbi Dunner emphasizes the importance of unity, warning that internal discord poses a greater threat than external enemies.
Rabbi Dunner explores the rebellion led by Korach against Moses and Aaron, highlighting the dangers of unchecked ambition and demagoguery. Drawing parallels to modern leadership, he emphasizes the importance of humility, unity, and service to the community. Rabbi Dunner contrasts positive examples of leadership from history, such as Antoninus Pius and Dwight D. Eisenhower, with negative figures like Jeremy Corbyn and Adolf Hitler. The shiur concludes with lessons on fostering genuine leadership and promoting collective well-being.
Following his latest visit to Israel, Rabbi Dunner notes how unity is once again being tested as tensions resurface. A landmark ruling by Israel’s High Court has mandated Haredi conscription to the IDF, and halted state funding for non-serving yeshiva students. Rabbi Dunner highlights the inspiring collaboration in Kibbutz Be’eri between secular and Haredi Israelis, and calls for Israeli Haredim to work together with secular Israelis, so that Israel is guaranteed a stronger future.
Rabbi Dunner explores the moral and ethical complexities surrounding Israel's recent hostage rescue operation. He critiques the hypocrisy of media and international actors who condemn Israel while ignoring the realities of the conflict and the necessity of such missions. Rabbi Dunner emphasizes Israel's robust commitment to protecting its citizens against terrorist threats.
Rabbi Dunner critiques the inadequate response of East Brunswick school leaders to a yearbook incident where a Jewish student group's photo and names were replaced with those of Muslim students. He emphasizes the need for true leadership that goes beyond apologies, insisting on accountability, proactive measures, and preventing such incidents. Drawing from Parshat Bamidbar and the teachings of Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch, he underscores the importance of responsibility, inclusion, and community in effective leadership to uphold values of respect and justice.
In the wake of an extraordinary tweet by the Supreme Leader of Iran, Rabbi Dunner reflects on the troubling alignment between progressive groups in the West and regimes like Iran and terrorist groups like Hamas, which starkly contradict the values these groups claim to uphold. Highlighting the dangerous cognitive dissonance in supporting oppressive movements, he draws on the teachings of Bechukotai to urge progressives to reconsider their alliances and return to their foundational values of justice, freedom, and human dignity.
Rabbi Dunner condemns the decision by ICC prosecutor Karim Khan to propose war crimes arrest warrants for Israel's leaders. He criticizes this move as politically motivated rather than a pursuit of justice, highlighting the bias and pressure from other nations, like Libya. Citing the Haftarah of Behar, in which Jeremiah's land purchase symbolizes hope and resilience despite impending doom, he asserts that notwithstanding the hatred and spurious accusations, the Jewish connection to Israel remains unbroken and will always flourish.
Rabbi Dunner reflects on the tragic loss of five IDF soldiers from his son Meir's unit in Gaza in a 'friendly fire' incident. This prompts a deep exploration of the theological problem of unbearable human suffering. Rabbi Dunner contrasts two perspectives - the Rambam’s rational approach and the Izhbitzer Rebbe’s more radical view - and highlights the struggle to find meaning and maintain faith amidst tragedy, offering both these theological perspectives as sources of comfort and guidance.
Rabbi Dunner delves into the concept of sacred time in Judaism, drawing from Rabbi Jonathan Sacks' teachings. He explains how Shabbat, likened to a temporal sanctuary, offers a break from daily life, fostering reflection and spiritual renewal. By exploring the duality of time—both cyclical and linear—we discover the importance of balance, illustrating how these sacred moments enhance spiritual growth and communal unity.
Using a classical story from the Talmud about Hillel the Elder, Rabbi Dunner blasts pro-Palestinian social justice activists for using hateful methods that go against their own stated goals of justice for all. In particular, he targets the Neo-Marxists who are behind the protests and fund them, claiming they exploit these events to spread their ideology and undermine Western democracy.
In this shiur, Rabbi Dunner emphasizes the communal aspect of holiness, inspired by the Torah's command "Kedoshim Tiheyu" — "You shall be holy." The significance of this directive being delivered publicly to the entire Jewish community underlines the collective responsibility and effort required to achieve holiness. Rabbi Dunner integrates stories of Rav Samson Raphael Hirsch and the Chofetz Chaim, who uplifted their communities by embodying and teaching these values, demonstrating that true holiness is achieved not in isolation but through communal harmony and shared spiritual goals.
Rabbi Dunner delves into the persistence of antisemitism, comparing its inevitability to "death and taxes." Drawing on insights from the late Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, he explains how antisemitism mutates but remains equally virulent. The latest guise of antisemitism has seen hatred of Jews cloaked in anti-Israel sentiment. Citing recent events at UCLA, Rabbi Dunner urges American Jews to awaken from complacency and confront this resurgent bigotry, emphasizing that the fight against antisemitism is a fight for the moral integrity of America.
Rabbi Dunner takes us to the heart of a cherished Passover tradition: opening our doors for Elijah the Prophet towards the end of the Seder, as we solemnly declare ‘Shfoch Chamatcha El Hagoyim Asher Lo Yeda’ucha’ - ‘Pour out Your wrath on the nations that do not know You.’ What is the origin of this strange custom? Why does Elijah the Prophet appear at our Seder? How does the harsh sentiments of ‘Shfoch Chamatcha’ fit in with the Seder night theme? Rabbi Dunner examines the origins and significance of inviting Elijah into our homes juxtaposed with the powerful plea to God to pour out His divine wrath upon oppressors, uncovering the layers of meaning behind these rituals and how they challenge us to reflect on what celebrating the Exodus from Egypt is all about.
Rabbi Dunner discusses how the late Henry Kissinger's innovative diplomacy, which balanced out-of-the-box thinking with established structures, parallels the dynamic interplay of tradition and creativity in the Pesach Seder. A thought-provoking exploration of how tradition and innovation coexist, shaping both global politics and Jewish religious observances.
Rabbi Dunner discusses the importance of deeply engaging with the Exodus story during the Seder, offering participants two methods to enhance their personal connection with Yetziat Mitzrayim. The shiur focuses on the second suggested model: applying the lessons of the Exodus story to present challenges. This transforms the Seder into a personal and communal journey of meaningful liberation.
Rabbi Dunner reflects on the profound challenges facing Israel and its people amid the ongoing conflict. He draws on the timeless teachings of Ramban to explore the unique spiritual and historical significance of Eretz Yisrael. Despite the current adversity, Rabbi Dunner offers a message of hope and resilience, urging us to remember the land's enduring sanctity, asserting that today's trials are merely temporary shadows over the nation's perpetual light.
Rabbi Dunner's shiur delves into the significance of the four cups of wine at the Pesach Seder. He explains their connection to the four expressions of redemption in the Exodus story, offering insights into their symbolic meanings. Rabbi Dunner also touches on various interpretations from Talmudic and Midrashic sources, including an interesting link between the four cups and Pharaoh's butler's dream.
Rabbi Dunner meets one of his great heroes, Hillel Neuer, Executive Director of UN Watch. Rabbi Dunner lauds Neuer's relentless advocacy against UN biases, particularly its disproportionate focus on Israel. He draws parallels between Neuer’s work and the Jewish values of truth and justice, invoking Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch's commentary on Shemini to emphasize the importance of integrity in leadership. Despite facing significant opposition, Neuer's optimism and determination embody resilience in the pursuit of justice, serving as a moral compass and a beacon of hope for future generations.
Rabbi Dunner revisits a pivotal moment in Israeli diplomacy through the lens of an interview with Chaim Herzog, Israel’s sixth President, conducted weeks before his passing in 1997. He weaves Herzog’s diplomatic insights with reflections on the recent controversial U.N. Security Council resolution. Drawing parallels between historical skepticism of international organizations and current events, Rabbi Dunner argues for proactive engagement without compromising core values. Some fascinating reflections involving facts from history and sharp diplomatic analysis.
Rabbi Dunner examines the profound teachings that can be drawn from the Terumas Hadeshen ritual, highlighting the spiritual and ethical lessons derived from the seemingly menial task of removing ashes from the altar. By exploring how this act symbolizes humility, renewal, and the readiness for new offerings, the shiur connects ancient ritual to contemporary life. Rabbi Dunner includes stories of notable figures like the Chofetz Chaim and Rav Moshe Feinstein, who actively embodied these lofty values in their daily lives.
Rabbi Dunner pays tribute to Senator Joseph "Joe" Lieberman, focusing on his unique blend of devout Orthodox Jewish faith and distinguished American political leadership. Senator Lieberman seamlessly integrated his religious practices with a high-profile public life, and set a precedent for integrity and bipartisanship based on faith in an increasingly polarized political landscape. Rabbi Dunner explains the transformative power of faith in guiding moral action and fostering societal engagement, presenting Senator Lieberman as an exemplary figure for future generations.
Rabbi Dunner dissects T'ruah's letter to President Biden, expressing his strong disapproval of their call for an immediate ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas conflict. He argues that T'ruah's stance, while seemingly rooted in humanitarian concerns, overlooks the complex realities on the ground and the strategic necessity of Israel's war against Hamas. He invokes the Shem Mishmuel's commentary on Vayikra, in which the purity of words is underscored in the context of Moses' contribution to the Mishkan.
Rabbi Dunner cites Ben Shapiro, who argues for the value of working beyond age 65. Likening society to an ecosystem, where every part, including the elderly, plays a crucial role, Rabbi Dunner draws parallels to Jewish community dynamics, emphasizing the interdependence of Israel and Diaspora Jews. Highlighting the communal spirit illustrated in Parshat Pekudei, he champions the Jewish tradition of unwavering support and collective contribution, asserting that active participation sustains community strength and resilience, ensuring a vibrant future for all.
Rabbi Dunner explores Parshat Pekudei through the lenses of charitable giving and consistency in Torah study. Invoking Rabbi Meir Shapiro of Lublin and his Daf Yomi project, Rabbi Dunner contrasts the phenomena of studying Torah in great depth and daily study sessions, highlighting the bridge between devoted regular learning and high-level scholarly pursuits.
Rabbi Dunner presents a captivating blend of Jewish folklore and psychological research, illuminating the profound significance of communal participation. Through the lens of a classic tale from Chelm, and the seminal 1968 "bystander effect" study by two leading psychologists, Rabbi Dunner explores the Torah's mandate for a universal half-shekel contribution.
Rabbi Dunner explores the themes of Shabbat, the Mishkan, and the Golden Calf, drawing on a remarkable insight from a Meshech Chochma commentary on Parshat Vayakhel. Weaving together a synthesis of Jewish thought, halacha, and philosophy, Rabbi Dunner contrasts the two associations of Shabbat and the Mishkan project, offering an original take on why the order changes from Mishkan/Shabbat to Shabbat/Mishkan.
The classic bible story of David vs. Goliath is much overused and employed as a means to paint parties in a fight as the victims of rivals much stronger than them. Rabbi Dunner uses analogies from the business world, and cites the story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal, to demonstrate the unique position of Israel, which is painted as a Goliath but is in reality the quintessential David.
Rabbi Dunner presents a wonderful range of insights into Parshat Ki Tissa, including a unique take on the fascinating debate between the Rema and the Gra about the custom of giving a Machatzit Hashekel-style donation on Taanit Esther, and a dramatic story about the disappearance of the Ktav Sofer's treasured Machatzit Hashekel at a meeting of distinguished rabbis.
The constant stream of antisemitic incidents as reported in the news can be disheartening and depressing. But Rabbi Dunner sees things differently. Citing a powerful Midrash at the beginning of Parshat Tetzaveh about the comparison of the Jewish people to an olive tree, Rabbi Dunner charts a course that allows us to truly appreciate the concept of faith through adversity.
One of the events Rabbi Dunner attended in Israel during his trip last month was the dedication of an apartment in Jerusalem for Nahal Haredi soldiers. Rabbi Dunner explains why the Haredi community in Israel needs to throw its full weight behind this incredible project, so that Haredim can participate fully in the defense of Israel and the Jewish people.
Why does God ask the Jewish people to "take" instead of "give" to the campaign collecting materials for the Mishkan's construction? A wonderful explanation by Reb Shlomke Zviller headlines a series of insights into Parshat Terumah, offering us a glimpse into the eternal messages embedded in this ancient sacred project.
Over the past week, everyone Rabbi Dunner has met has asked him - what was it that left the deepest impression on you during your recent trip to Israel? It was hard for him to pin it down, but after some reflection, this is it.
Rabbi Dunner shares a Midrash that indicates the importance and centrality of civil law in the Jewish faith. With the help of the Darash Mordechai, multiple Chazals, and a beautiful piece from the Chida, Rabbi Dunner explains why ritual law must always take second place to civil law in the conduct of a Jew.
On their recent trip to Israel, Rabbi Dunner and members of his community heard from Oz Davidian, the remarkable hero who saved 120 partygoers by rescuing them from the site of the Nova rave music festival. One particular aspect of Oz's story caught Rabbi Dunner off guard. But on reflection, what Oz did on October 7th makes perfect sense.
Why were the Jewish people credited with having followed God's directives - before they had even carried them out? Rabbi Dunner cites Rashi quoting a Midrash that offers a solution. But Rashi's explanation creates more problems than it solves. Rabbi Dunner charts a path through this puzzling issue with the help of the Darash Mordechai.
Prompted by the ICJ genocide trial in The Hague aimed at Israel, Rabbi Dunner visited the Auschwitz Exhibition at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library - just to refresh his mind regarding the dire consequences of Jews ignoring existential threats. These are his reflections following the visit.Photograph: UN Photo/ICJ-CIJ/Frank van Beek. Courtesy of the ICJ. All rights reserved.
A central part of the Exodus narrative revolves around the ten plagues meted out by God against Egypt, as punishment for not releasing them from bondage. Rabbi Dunner demonstrates how these plagues were not random - each one communicated a specific message, and these messages continue to resonate for us today.
Rabbi Dunner shares the poignant stories of the final communications between 3 IDF soldiers and their families, one on October 7th, and two of them since that terrible day. Rabbi Dunner connects these heartbreaking messages from beyond the grave to the opening verses of Parshat Shemot.
One of the most famous radicals of the twentieth century was the Argentinian-born Cuban revolutionary Che Guevara. Rabbi Dunner looks at his legacy and the jarring idolization of violent terrorists by the progressive left. A revealing statement by Jacob in Vayechi offers a relevant insight into those who think the end justifies the means.
Jacob’s blessings for his children are extremely puzzling. The language is rich and poetic, but the content is not what one might expect as a blessing. Rabbi Dunner focuses on the blessings given by Jacob to his four eldest sons - Reuven, Shimon, Levi, and Yehudah. With the help of Ramban, Rabbi Dunner reveals the timeless messages behind each one.
Rabbi Dunner cites a poignant Hasidic legend as he delves into the complexities of antisemitism and critically examines the conflation of Israel and Jews by anti-Israel activists. A thought-provoking look that includes an original take on a Midrash from Parshat Vayigash, which helps to dissect the warped perspective on this deeply contentious issue.
Rabbi Dunner reflects on a difficult week of antisemitism in the US, and particularly in Beverly Hills, where a violent attack on a Jewish couple made international news. Citing a powerful message drawn from the story of Joseph by the late Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, Rabbi Dunner offers an important lesson for our times.
How are we to make sense of Pharaoh's dreams at the beginning of Parshat Mikeitz, and Joseph's dream interpretation - which earned him the coveted role of Viceroy of Egypt? Rabbi Dunner uncovers an unknown secret at the heart of Pharaoh's dreams which unlocks this entire episode at every level. A truly fascinating shiur!
Rabbi Dunner addresses the shocking spectacle of three Ivy League university presidents refusing to commit their institutions to a robust response if students on campus call for genocide against Jews. What does George Orwell's "Animal Farm" and the story of Joseph and his brothers have to teach us about this extraordinary moral failure?
In the saga that was Joseph's rollercoaster life, one moment sticks out as particularly startling - when his master's wife tries to seduce him, and later accuses him of rape. Rabbi Dunner explores this shocking episode, offering insights from classical commentaries, as well as ideas from some of the mussar giants. From every angle, and by every measure, Joseph's character emerges as exemplary.
Rabbi Dunner shares his soul-draining experiences after participating in a 2-day solidarity and fact-finding mission to Israel, visiting sites of the Hamas massacre, and meeting people directly affected by the savage events of October 7th.
What can Lavan teach us about how to deal with Qatar, the rogue state that funds Hamas and deceives the world by claiming it is an "honest broker"? As Rabbi Dunner explains, the lessons of Parshat Vayeitzei are as relevant today as they have always been.
In December 2002, Qatar hosted the FIFA World Cup - the world's largest sporting event, with millions of live spectators and billions of TV viewers. Although it was widely known that Qatar bribed and cheated its way to hosting this event, they somehow got away with it. But since the October 7th massacre which was funded by Qatar, things may finally have shifted. Rabbi Dunner urges the world to act against Qatar before it is too late.
The biblical patriarch, Jacob, married two sisters: his cousins, Rachel and Leah. He was only meant to marry Rachel, but was duped into marrying Leah - with deep and lasting repercussions. Rabbi Dunner examines this troubling narrative from Parshat Vayeitzei, and offers some enlightening insights.
What happens once the war in Gaza is over? The problems between Israel and the Palestinians will remain, and may well have deteriorated. Many on the international scene are once again pushing for a two-state solution. Rabbi Dunner dismisses this as premature. Instead, citing a 2014 study that is underscored by the sibling rivalry narrative in Toldot, Rabbi Dunner offers a tentative suggestion for the long road ahead.
What made the patriarch Abraham so special? Rabbi Dunner reveals that according to one rabbinic source, dealing with the death of his wife Sarah was Abraham's most challenging test, and he rose to that challenge with flying colors.
As the war with Hamas enters its second month, and Israel battles challenges on multiple fronts, Rabbi Dunner finds comfort in a puzzling Midrashic narrative about Rabbi Akiva, revealing how he dealt with his students when they began to doze off.
Rabbi Dunner reflects on his 36-hour trip to Israel in the middle of the war with Gaza, which was prompted by the horrific Hamas-perpetrated massacre on October 7th. Rabbi Dunner's visit followed the passing of 96-year-old Ernie Goldberger, a member of Beverly Hills Synagigue who survived the Holocaust and fought with the Palmach in the 1948 war for Israel's independence. What lessons can be drawn from Ernie's eventful life relevant to the current situation in Israel?
A shocking tweet prompts Rabbi Dunner to consider the irony of a world that continues to work closely with Qatar, and even praise Qatar, which is the world's most active and generous patron of terrorist organizations, including Hamas. Qatar's fingerprints are all over the October 7th massacre in Southern Israel. It's time for the world to wake up, and to act against Qatar and its leaders.
A second week has passed since the Hamas massacre of 1400 Jews in Southern Israel, and Rabbi Dunner reflects on the fact that the world having their eyes opened to the evil of Hamas has not made them see any better. And until they realize their vision is impaired, nothing will improve.
Why is the Jewish claim to the Land of Israel always being challenged? This is not a new question. In fact, as Rabbi Dunner shows, a robust defense of the Jewish claim to Eretz Yisrael is embedded right at the beginning of the most ancient text of Judaism: the Torah.
Some thoughts and reflections from Rabbi Dunner regarding the horrific terrorist invasion of Southern Israel by Hamas murderers on Shemini Atzeret. How is it that there are people who remain sympathetic to Hamas?
The message of Simchat Torah transcends the annual completion of the Torah portions reading cycle. It emphasizes the importance of joy even when faced with adversity. Rabbi Dunner reveals the underlying message of Simchat Torah, illustrated with a moving story from the Holocaust.
On Sukkot, we use four diverse plant species for a daily ritual - Etrog, Lulav, Hadassim and Aravot. What is the purpose of this daily ritual, and what is the significance of these 4 species? And why are they connected to "joy"? An amazing piece from the Nesivos Sholom offers a fabulous explanation that ties everything together.
How did Jewish communities obtain their Arba Minim before the era of globalization? Rabbi Dunner delves into the fascinating and occasionally jarring history of Arba Minim, and in particular the etrog - whose origins will take you by surprise.
"Who am I?" is the most important question for us to ask over Yom Kippur. But answering it accurately is not so easy. An article about two Canadian men who discovered their true identity late in life prompts Rabbi Dunner to consider the implications of delving beyond the superficial in order to discover to truth of who we really are.
Rabbi Dunner explores the vexed topic of allowing the use of musical instruments in shul during davening – is it appropriate to have live music to accompany tefillot? A rollercoaster ride, involving history, intrigue, rabbinic debate, religious evolution, and a wealth of information.
The late Charles Ticho was born in Brno in 1927. In a moving article published in 2020, he described his final Rosh Hashana in his place of birth. The year was 1939, and the Nazis had recently taken over the country. Ticho's moving account of this festival dovetails with a famous prayer that is the centerpiece of High Holidays' prayers.
Following a groundbreaking ruling in the New Jersey Appellate Court, Rabbi Dunner dwells on the topic of "agunot" - woman caught in marital limbo by estranged husbands who refuse to give them a Get. An interesting reading of the first verses in Parshat Nitzavim reveal our collective responsibily regarding this vexed issue.
Rabbi Dunner marks the 96th anniversary of the passing of Rabbi Yisrael Abba Citron (1881-1927) by recalling a remarkable exchange of correspondence that Rabbi Citron had with his father-in-law, Rabbi Yosef Rozin, better known by his moniker: "The Rogachover." How can one best define the Jewish connection to the Land of Israel? Rabbi Dunner explains.
There is a curious anomaly in Parshat Ki Tavo -- those who will adhere to God's Torah are promised to be "on the top," and also not "on the bottom." Why the repetition? Surely, if you're on top, then you won't be on the bottom! Rabbi Dunner cites an insightful interpretation by Rav Tzadok Hacohen of Lublin, which incidentally also provides a life hack for lottery winners.
Rabbi Dunner shares his view on "The Rest is History" podcasts, which he recently began listening to. He is particularly struck by learning something new regarding the Jewish Revolt against the Romans, which ultimately led to the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple. He sees a connection between the lesson learned and the initial passages in Ki Teitzei.
Rabbi Dunner looks at a series of seemingly unconnected mitzvot that appear in Parshat Ki Teitzei. Why are they all included by the Torah on the same list? Rashi offers an answer - but his answer solves one problem while creating another. An insightful suggestion from Rav Dessler comes to the rescue.
Julius Caesar's decision to cross the Rubicon River in 49 BCE was a pivotal moment that ultimately led to the collapse of the Roman Republic and the beginning of a dictatorship headed by emperors. It all began with undermining the judiciary. Rabbi Dunner explains why listening to the echoes of history would be very advisable, particularly in the wake of the multiple indictments against former President Donald Trump.
Over the past century, Dr. Hulda Regehr Clark, Dr. William Donald Kelley, and many other fellow travelers have claimed to have found the cure for cancer. Sadly their pseudo-medical "cures" have been eagerly embraced by cancer sufferers and their families. Citing a passage in Parshat Re'eh, Rabbi Dunner draws a parallel between these fake doctors and the false prophets that the nascent Jewish nation was warned about by Moses.
Rabbi Dunner returns to the theme of joy, using a wonderful piece by the late Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l as a base for some wonderful stories, from history, from chasidic folklore, and from the Talmud. As Rabbi Dunner explains, at its core, the Jewish faith is all about joy.
Ewen Montagu was a high-flying London lawyer who was drafted by British naval intelligence during the Second World War. He came up with the audacious plan for Operation Mincemeat, which changed the course of the war, and enabled the Allies to gain a foothold in mainland Europe. Rabbi Dunner wonders whether the secret to Ewen's success might have been a Midrash at the beginning of Eikev.
Rabbi Dunner uses an Ohr Hachaim commentary on the opening words of Parshat Eikev, and a remarkable piece in Maimonides' Mishneh Torah, to offer some insights into the concept of joy, and its centrality in the Jewish faith.
Rabbi Dunner confesses his devoted interest in controversies and feuds, the focus of his collection of books, pamphlets, manuscripts, and broadsides. Drawing on his knowledge and expertise in this vexed field, Rabbi Dunner offers his assessment of the current crisis in Israel, and draws a parallel from Parshat Va'etchanan.
Rabbi Dunner responds to the shocking statement by Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) that Israel is a "racist state", and her subsequent retraction, in a letter that focuses on how her u-turn will only be meaningful if she begins to see Israel differently.
Rabbi Dunner shares his thoughts on the Jenin operation, and the remarkable precision of the IDF activities that has seen no civilian casualties, and a total focus on rooting out terrorists and terrorist activities. Rabbi Dunner finds a remarkable parallel in the opening passage of Parshat Pinchas.
During his first few months in exile on the island of St. Helena, Napoleon Bonaparte spoke at length to his confidant, Emmanuel, comte de Las Cases. Their conversations were later published as a book, revealing a side to Napoleon that the public had never previously encountered. Rabbi Dunner draws on one oft-cited quote from de Las Cases' book, and finds a parallel in the first daily Jewish prayer - a verse in Parshat Balak.
Why do we keep a mitzva we don't understand? The quintessential "chok" is Para Aduma at the beginning of Parshat Chukkat. Rabbi Dunner turns to Sefer Hachinuch for an answer, but before he does -- he presents a list of every one of the Sifrei Hamitzvot: the works that list all the 613 mitzvos of the Torah. Who were their authors, and what makes each one of these works unique?
The remarkable Universe 25 experiment of the late 60s and early 70s provides a backdrop to Rabbi Dunner's analysis of the lessons of Korach and his rebellion against Moses. An enclosure of mice billed as "mouse heaven" turned out to be "mouse hell" -- and a lesson for all of us. But Korach got there first!
Korach had a grisly end, swallowed up by a sinkhole in the desert. But according to a kabbalistic tradition, Korach's rebellion against Moshe was history repeating itself - and his predecessor's opponent was not as successful as Moshe was against him. Rabbi Dunner reveals a fascinating parallel to the Korach story from the dawn of human history.
Rabbi Dunner describes the incredible journey of Rabbi Chaim Gantz, whom he recently met for the first time. Rabbi Gantz has led a yeshiva in Tel Aviv for almost 30 years, but has recently been the subject of extraordinary hostility by a very vocal group of local residents. Rabbi Dunner finds a parallel in the story of the spies in Shlach, and also in Korach's rebellion.
Rabbi Dunner explores the mitzvah of tzitzit - the ritual fringes mandated for every four-cornered garment, as found in Parshat Shlach. What are the hidden messages of this curious mitzvah, all the more curious because one is not mandated to wear a four-cornered garment, only to ensure that if one is worn, it has tzitzit on it.
Rabbi Dunner shares his experience attending an incredible event in Philadelphia this past Sunday night - 25,000 people paying tribute to all those who devote their lives to Torah study. What a difference 100 years makes, as Rabbi Dunner explains.
The older generation tends to be disdainful of foolish youthful enthusiasm. But the young have the advantage of being more open to change, pivoting from one thing to another with ease. Rabbi Dunner finds a fascinating reference to this quality hidden in the laws of Nazir.
Details of a fascinating archeological discovery in Jerusalem, in 1979, launch this shiur about one of the best-known but least-understood rituals of Judaism: the priestly blessing. Rabbi Dunner examines Birkat Kohanim from every angle, looking at its historical origins, its meaning, and its practical application.
Why would God have dangled a mountain over the Israelites threatening their annihilation if they didn't accept the Torah -- if they had already accepted the Torah? Rabbi Dunner offers a compelling solution to a most puzzling Talmudic conundrum.
There are countless examples of great intellectuals descending into bitter disputes. Rabbi Dunner cites "Sayres Law" as he introduces some of the most notorious examples. But how about religious scholars? Are they vulnerable to this phenomenon? Rabbi Dunner explains how a Midrash on Parshat Bamidbar sheds light on this troubling topic.
Rabbi Dunner examines the topic of humor and comedy in Judaism. Does the halacha allow it? What does the Talmud say? When is it appropriate to laugh and engage in humor and comedy? Rabbi Dunner shares a range of sources. (This shiur was sponsored by Lee Samson to commemorate the yahrtzeit of his mother, Sylvia Samson, Sheindel bat Aryeh Leib a”h, whose yahrtzeit is on 26 Iyar.)
Rabbi Dunner describes a recent TikTok trend encouraging young people to spend their money on travel. But how could this be good advice in the midst of an economic downturn? Despite the kneejerk disdain for this trend, specifically among older people, perhaps the TikTokers have it right. A commentary on Behar might be the key.
The widely held view is that religious people are kinder and more altruistic than non-believers. Rabbi Dunner challenges this view, citing studies that prove the opposite. Some people even use God as an excuse not to be kind. An Abarbanel interpretation in Emor reveals that the Torah is acutely aware of this phenomenon, and warns us against falling into this trap.
Rabbi Dunner shares his incredible encounter with an unexpected treasure trove in Miami, Florida. Presiding over this remarkable repository is an unassuming scribe, Rabbi Moshe Druin, whose determination and expertise are the backbone of an organization with an international reach. Rabbi Dunner finds inspiration in Rabbi Druin's work, which he sees reflected in a lesson from Parshat Kedoshim.
What does it mean to "be holy"? An instruction at the beginning of Vayikra Chapter 19 directs us to "be holy" - but there is no indication of what being "holy" means. Rabbi Dunner shares Rashi's commentary, and Ramban's, and also the perspective of Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch.
Rabbi Dunner addresses the scourge of half-truths, citing examples and explaining why they are such a danger to society. And, as he explains, certain aspects of the tzara'at phenomenon described and discussed in Tazria and Metzora, as well as in the Talmud, relate to this idea of half-truths being the blackest of lies.
Rabbi Dunner addresses the anomaly of anti-anarchists also harboring disdain for conformity and conventionality. Citing a wonderful Ohr Hachaim commentary on Parshat Shemini, Rabbi Dunner suggests that conformity is not necessarily the opposite of anarchy after all.
The splitting of the Red Sea was the greatest miracle of the Exodus story, and in human history. An entire nation was miraculously saved from certain death, while their genocidal pursuers perished. Upon reaching safety, the Jewish nation immediately and spontaneously began singing God’s praises. And yet we know that Judaism discourages joyous celebration if a victory involves the destruction of an enemy. In fact, according to some, this why we don’t say full Hallel after the first day of Pesach. Rabbi Dunner unravels this topic, demonstrating how careful one has to be even when one is triumphant.
Modern science has struggled to find evidence that thoughts in the human brain can alter reality, and yet the Jewish faith believes in the power of thoughts and prayers. Rabbi Dunner explores this phenomenon from several angles, and draws proof from Parshat Tzav that thoughts really do count.
Twenty years after the start of the Iraq War, Rabbi Dunner reflects on the leadup to the conflict, which was heavily leveraged on faulty intelligence that purported that Saddam Hussein had amassed WMDs which were a danger to the West. What are the long-term implications if George W. Bush and his aides knew they were lying, but believed that regime change in Iraq was for the best? Rabbi Dunner weighs in.
Rabbi Dunner puzzles over the fact that Maximilien Robespierre was known as "the incorruptible", bearing in mind that he presided over the most violent period of the French Revolution, known as the Reign of Terror. A midrash on Parshat Pekudei helps clear up the definition of integrity and incorruptibility once and for all.
At the beginning of Parshat Pekudei, Moshe Rabbeinu offers up a detailed accounting of all the precious metal collected for use in the construction of the mishkan, down to the last ounce. What was the purpose of this accounting, and why are there crucial details of the gold missing from the record? Rabbi Dunner addresses these and other questions relating to this fascinating parsha.
Learning self-love is not narcissism, rather it is the precursor to all healthy relationships. Using this as his model, Rabbi Dunner explains a puzzling phrase about Shabbat in Ki Tissa, and a confounding Talmudic passage about the path to messianic redemption.
Rabbi Dunner shares his memories of his primary teacher and lifelong inspiration, his late mother's younger brother, Rabbi Avrohom Cohen z"l, who passed away at the age of 76. "Uncle Bram" was an extraordinary individual who purposely stayed in the background, but whose impact on his students was lifechanging.
You might think that the Academy Awards has nothing to teach us that is meaningful and worthy. Well, if so, you'd be wrong, says Rabbi Dunner. There is one group of important people that are at the Oscars every year who have a very important role, and who embody a very important lesson for all of us - and it's especially relevant to Parshat Tetzaveh.
Scientific studies prove that people in close relationships use similar language to each other in their speech and writing, while the vocabulary of those whose relationships have broken down diverges, making it harder for them to communicate. Rabbi Dunner goes over the evidence, and finds a powerful message relating to the four parshiot that deal with the construction of the Mishkan.
Parshat Terumah seemingly deals with a timebound set of instructions and events relating to the Mishkan, the temporary traveling sanctuary that was put together for religious worship in the Sinai wilderness. Not so, as Rabbi Dunner explains. The messages and symbolism of the Mishkan and its vessels reverberate throughout Jewish history, down to this day.
In this episode of the "Rogues, Rascals and Rapscallions" series, Rabbi Dunner charts the extraordinary life story of the only rabbi who wrote a letter to defend the convicted felon Zeide Meir Schmellner, after his arrest in the late 1930s. Who was Rabbi Yisroel Twersky, the celebrated Kozhnitz-Chernobyl Rebbe of New York? Where was he from? How did he end up in New York? What compelled him to defend Schmellner? And why did he fade into complete obscurity long before he died? Once again, Rabbi Dunner presents a stunning story from the margins of Jewish history.
Sigmund Freud came up with the concept of sublimation as one of psychology's "defense mechanisms." Or did he? Rabbi Dunner discovers an ancient reference to sublimation in Parshat Mishpatim, buried in the pasuk that instructs the Jewish people to observe Shabbat.
At the beginning of Parshat Mishpatim, God says to Moses “these are the laws that you shall set before them.” What does the expression "set before them" mean? Using Rashi as his base, Rabbi Dunner shares beautiful insights and uses a host of wonderful stories, as he explains why teaching Torah is compared to setting the table for a meal.
Rabbi Dunner reflects on a very special reunion in London, of former members of the Saatchi Synagogue, who gathered together to mark 25 years since the synagogue started. As he chatted and mingled, Rabbi Dunner recalled the powerful message of his first address at a Saatchi Friday night dinner -- a message that is embedded at the heart of the Ten Commandments.
Rabbi Dunner describes a weird sect of Shabbat-observant Russian gentiles that emerged in the eighteenth century - the Subbotniki. Who were they, and how are they relevant to the first Shabbat ever observed by the Jewish nation, referred to in Parshat Beshalach? Rabbi Dunner explains.
Rabbi Dunner cites U.S. founding father polymath Benjamin Franklin, as he explores the extraordinary results of a social psychology study that emanated from the Vietnam War. Initially rejected, the data are now accepted, and they correlate with Rashi's interpretation of a superfluous word in Parshat Bo.
The first mitzva given to the Jewish nation as a whole is in Parshat Bo, and it is about how they should determine the calendar, which under Jewish law is a cycle of lunar months. Why is this the first mitzva given to the Jewish people? And why was it given to them just before they were liberated from slavery? Rabbi Dunner offers a selection of ideas to explain the reasoning behind this unusual mitzva.
At the beginning of Parshat Va'era, Moshe complains to God that He has set him up for failure. "Even the Jewish people won't listen to me, how can you expect Pharaoh to listen to me?" Rashi suggests that this is one of 10 instances of "kal v'chomer" (a fortiori) logic being used in the Torah. Rabbi Dunner shares a powerful question on Rashi's statement, and offers various solutions.
Are we ready to admit to our mistakes? We all make them. Stubborn refusal to acknowledge when we are wrong is one of life's gravest errors. Learning to correct that mistake is one of life's most important lessons. Rabbi Dunner explores this topic via historical anecdotes and a lesson in Parshat Va'era.
The Book of Exodus begins with an extraordinary statement: "A new king was appointed over Egypt, who did not know Joseph." In the Talmud, the sages Rav and Shmuel debate whether or not a new king was appointed, or whether it was the same pharaoh, but he had deliberately chosen to forget Joseph. But how is that even possible? Rabbi Dunner explains, using Darash Mordechai by the late Rav Mordechai Druk z"l, Maggid Meisharim of Jerusalem.
Rabbi Dunner reflects on the passing of the prolific journalist and author, Paul Johnson, whose seminal book "A History of the Jews" is one of the best comprehensive studies of Jewish history ever published. Johnson was very taken by the centrality of history to Jewish identity and to Judaism, and Rabbi Dunner takes up this theme and connects it to the final episode in Parshat Shemot.
Rabbi Dunner tackles the vexed issue of the so-called "grandchild-clause" in Israel's Law of Return. Charting the history of Jewish immigration into Eretz Yisrael, and citing an episode at the beginning of Parshat Vayechi, Rabbi Dunner explains why the clause must be rescinded as soon as possible.
A Shabbes in Williamsburg NY among Satmar chasidim inspires Rabbi Dunner to address the complex dynamic of sibling rivalry, a staple feature in the book of Bereishit, which crops up again at the beginning of Shemot. Citing the teachings of Rabbi Jonathan Sacks z"l, Rabbi Dunner reveals how the dramatic scene at the very end of Parshat Vayechi holds the key to it all.
Rabbi Dunner cites and unpacks a famous aphorism from the nineteenth-century German philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900), founder of existential philosophy. Nietzsche's understanding of the human condition dovetails with a unique explanation of the curious conversation between Jacob and Pharaoh in Parshat Vayigash.
Rabbi Dunner explores Sir Winston Churchill's little-known emotional side, and his uninhibited crying when confronted by the suffering of others. This extraordinary characteristic may very well be the reason why Churchill was such a successful leader. And it is this unknown but important leadership quality that can explain why Joseph was successful at interpreting Pharaoh's dreams when all the experts were stumped.
One of the enduring mysteries of Jewish history is what the Temple vessels looked like. Described in the Torah, they were lost after the destruction of the Temples, and have never been recovered. The tantalizing image of the menorah on the Arch of Titus in Rome has generated fierce debate - is it accurate or is it not accurate? Rabbi Dunner dives into this controversy, citing countless sources and using various images along the way - in a presentation that opens up this topic from every possible angle.
Rabbi Dunner weighs in on the overwhelmingly negative international Jewish reaction to the political success of Israel's Itamar Ben Gvir, and the formation of the "most right-wing government in Israeli history." After chatting through the issues with Ben Gvir himself, Rabbi Dunner unpacks a puzzling Midrash that offers a message of guidance for Jewish supporters of Israel struggling with the political makeup of Israel's new government.
Rashi interprets the word "vayeishev" to mean that Yaakov wanted to live out the remainder of his life in peace in tranquility. God's response was to put him through the difficult episode of Joseph's disappearance -- on the basis that tranquilty for righteous only occurs in the world to come. Rabbi Dunner shares an insightful Mikdash Halevi, and delves deeply into the story of Joseph's treatment by his brothers.
The scourge of antisemitism has reemerged with a vengeance. The recent outbursts by Kanye West seem to be the tip of the iceberg, indicating something much wider and much deeper. Rabbi Dunner addresses the recent surge, and offers a suggestion for those shocked by the dreadful reality of current antisemitism.
Before meeting up with Esau after a separation that had lasted many years, Jacob sends messengers with gifts to appease his brother. The messengers were instructed to convey the gifts with a specific script. Rabbi Dunner shares an array of interpretations drawn from his grandfather's sefer, Mikdash Halevi, offering a backdrop to these seemingly innocent communications.
Rabbi Dunner reflects on the life of his rabbinic mentor, Dayan Chanoch Ehrentreu (1932-2022), for over 50 years one of the leading rabbis in the UK and Europe, whose passing has left a difficult vacuum in London and well beyond. Sharing personal stories and observations, Rabbi Dunner pays tribute to a titan of the rabbinic world.
Rabbi Dunner delves into the golf handicap phenomenon, differentiated instruction as a system of education, and a controversial commentary on the differences between Esau and Jacob by Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch.
This week the FBI announced it was launching an investigation into the death of Shireen Abu Akleh, a Palestinian journalist killed in Jenin by a stray bullet from an IDF soldier's gun. Why is it that Israel comes under such scrutiny, and that no matter what happens elsewhere -- including the death and even murder of journalists -- nobody seems to care quite as much? Rabbi Dunner cites a stunning Nesivos Sholom on Chayei Sarah to give us all pause for thought.
Rabbi Dunner commemorates the second anniversary of the passing of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l. Initially citing the ideas of the world's first sociologist, Emile Durkheim, the atheist scion of a family of French rabbis, Rabbi Dunner uses Durkheim's ideas and Rabbi Sacks' powerful words to demonstrate the value of faith and faith communities, even in the modern world. A meaningful tribute to one of the greatest Jewish thinkers of modern times.
The delegitimization of Israel is constant and unyielding. And yet, the facts speak for themselves: Israel was established via a U.N. resolution on the basis of the historic ties between the Jewish people and the Land of Israel. Rabbi Dunner goes back to the very origins of this close association between Jews and Israel, and counters the claim that the Jews are guilty of dispossession.
At the beginning of Lech Lecha, God instructs Abraham to leave his country, his birthplace, and his father's home. Rabbi Dunner shares a question generated by this instruction: who is still in their father's home at the age of 75?! Abraham was 75 years old, surely he was fully independent? The answer is both revealing and critical to understanding who Abraham was, and what God wanted from him.
Acts of kindness are hugely important for the functioning of society. Countless studies have proven that doing acts of kindness has an impact well beyond the individual acts themselves. Rabbi Dunner cites a wonderful Midrash that reveals a conversation between Abraham and Noah's son Shem, about the reason God allowed Noah's family to leave the ark. As it turns out, Noah's most outstanding quality was kindness.
Rabbi Dunner explores some interesting insights into the early part of Parshat Noach from his grandfather's sefer, Mikdash Halevi, including a remarkable interpretation of a curious Midrash regarding the attempt of "lies" to enter Noah's Ark.
Both the Book of Bereishit and Parshat Bereishit contain important lessons, many of them tucked away in quite obscure references. Rabbi Dunner turns to his grandfather's sefer, Mikdash Halevi, to explore why Sefer Bereishit is referred to as "Sefer Hayashar"; what the story of the double portion of manna on Fridays can tell us about Shabbat; and why Adam was asked to name all the animals immediately after he was created.
One of the most important events in modern history, the U.N. partition plan vote of November 1947, is often overlooked because subsequent events eclipsed it. But it remains incredibly important. The 75th anniversary is coming up and Rabbi Dunner reflects on this far-reaching moment, associating it with the very first commentary of Rashi on the Torah.
Jewish law prohibits imposing a celebration onto an already joyful time – a rule known as “ein me’arvin simcha besimcha”. And yet, Simchat Torah, when we dance with the Torah scrolls having completed the reading of the entire Torah, appears to have been imposed onto the festival of Shmini Atzeret. Rabbi Dunner explains why this is not the case, and how Simchat Torah is the perfect vehicle for joy on Shmini Atzeret.
It comes in many sizes and colors, and even the shape varies considerably. The etrog is undoubtedly one of the world's most remarkable fruits, whose only use is as one of the "four species" (arba minim) on Sukkot. Rabbi Dunner delves into the history of the etrog, and particularly into the modern controversy over hybridized etrogim. A modern scientific study offers a fascinating revelation that ties in with a famous passage in the Talmud.
One of the most challenging stories in Tanach is the narrative contained in four short chapters of Sefer Yonah. Even more surprising is the fact that the entire Sefer Yonah is included in the mincha service on Yom Kippur, read as the Haftora at the conclusion of the Torah reading. Rabbi Dunner unpacks the narrative in exquisite detail, and explains why Yonah is the perfect companion for Yom Kippur, particularly as it comes to a close.
As far as everyone is concerned, "the road to hell is paved with good intentions." That is the accepted wisdom, but as Rabbi Dunner reveals, scientific studies paint quite a different picture. And Judaism has a very different view of good intentions, the source for which is found in Parshat Nitzavim.
Parshat Nitzavim is always read on the Shabbat before Rosh Hashana. According to Rabbi Dunner's grandfather, the Mikdash Halevi, this is not random. The first few words contain an essential message for the start of the New Year, and important lessons for Yamim Noraim.
The Mishna in Bikkurim (3:8) discusses the different baskets that people used as containers for the first-fruit bikkurim offering that was brought to the priests in the Temple. Wealthy people used gold or silver containers, while poor people brought their bikkurim in simple woven baskets. Curiously, the gold and silver baskets were handed back, but the weave baskets were retained. Rabbi Dunner explores this interesting contrast through the eyes of his grandfather's sefer, Mikdash Halevi.
Rabbi Dunner pays tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II, whose passing has engendered an incredible outpouring of affection and mourning around the world. What does the ritual blessing that we pronounce over a monarch mean in modernity, and what special lesson can the life of Queen Elizabeth teach us all?
Rabbi Dunner presents an array of beautiful insights regarding two of the mitzvot in Ki Teitzei using his grandfather's sefer, Mikdash Halevi. The first mitzva addresses the desire of an active combat soldier to marry a captive girl encountered in the midst of war. The second is about a wayward child. What are the lessons of these obsolete mitzvot for us today?
Rabbi Dunner delves into the life of Rabbi Yose Hagalili ("the Galilean"), one of the towering rabbinic luminaries of the Talmud. An outsider who became a major player, his views were often at odds with Rabbi Akiva. In Parshat Shoftim, the two rabbis debate the meaning of the final exemption offered to military conscripts. But as Rabbi Dunner explains, their debate may not be a debate after all.
Rabbi Dunner shares some wonderful ideas on Shoftim from his grandfather’s sefer, Mikdash Halevi, including a captivating look at the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Torah commissioned by the Egyptian king, Ptolemy II Philadelphus, in the third century BCE. The Talmud in tractate Megillah reveals that all the seventy-two translators, despite being separated from each other, miraculously added a word to the translation, to avoid potential heresy. The Mikdash Halevi queries why the original Hebrew didn’t simply include that extra word, and offers a fascinating explanation.
After watching a Holocaust documentary that examines Polish collaboration with the Nazis in the genocide against Jews during the Second World War, Rabbi Dunner notes that one of the documentary's central figures - a budding Polish gentile historian - has trouble accepting the overwhelming evidence of the Polish support for Jew-killing. A warning at the beginning of Parshat Re'eh reveals that this blind spot is nothing new.
Zeide Meir Schmellner was the scion of a distinguished Hasidic dynasty, and married into a similarly elevated family. Although he was a brilliant rabbinic scholar and a charismatic speaker, his explosion into the field of international peace in 1925 took everyone by surprise. Rabbi Dunner delves into the story of this unusual Romanian rabbi, charting a career that took him from Bukovina, to Paris, to New York, and eventually a brush with the law that landed him in Sing Sing. One of the most shocking stories of any rabbi in modern history.
He may or may not have said it, but Bertrand Russel's riposte about not being a triangle has become famous. A reference in Parshat Eikev - said twice daily in the Shema prayer - offers the Jewish view on Russell's alleged remark.
The word "eikev" that is used to title the third portion of Sefer Devarim is usually translated as "if" - based on the first verse which reads: "and it will be 'if' you will listen to my laws." But Rashi has a homiletic interpretation which is based on the idea that "e-k-v" is also the root of the Hebrew word for heel. Rabbi Dunner uses his grandfather's Mikdash Halevi to expand on this idea, which adds context from multiple sources, and even suggests another interpretation for the word "eikev."
At the beginning of Va'etchanan, Moses describes how he prayed to God that he be allowed into Eretz Yisrael. As part of that prayer, he also asked to see the land, not just to be there. But this request seems superfluous -- if he's there, he'll obviously see it. Rabbi Dunner shares a beautiful piece from Mikdash Halevi, his grandfather's sefer, which gives context and offers depth to Moses' request.
What is the common denominator between King Louis XV of France and King Chizkiyahu of the First Temple in Jerusalem? And how exactly do they differ? Rabbi Dunner explains that the answer can be found in the Haftora for Parshat Va'etchanan, which begins with God's incredible declaration: "Nachamu Nachamu Ami".
Rabbi Dunner weighs in on the Alex Jones defamation trial in Texas. Jones spent years claiming that the Sandy Hook Elementary School massacre never took place. The trial has been a cathartic moment for voices of reason, underscored by a desire to look evil in the eye and face it off. The theme of Devarim coincides with this idea, which runs all the way through the fifth book of the Torah.
Rabbi Dunner shares his grandfather's introduction to the final book of the Torah, Devarim. Why repeat elements of the Torah that appear in the previous three books? Why is Devarim also called Mishneh Torah? What lessons are there to be learned? The answers are compelling and gratifying.
What happened during the 38 years between the end of the first year in the wilderness and the beginning of the last year? Why are there no details of the events that occurred during this extended period? Rabbi Dunner cites his grandfather's sefer, Mikdash Halevi, which offers an array of remarkable insights into Parshat Massei.
Rabbi Dunner describes his recent visit to Mexico, where he visited Mount Sinai Congregation, the "oldest synagogue in Mexico City." Surprisingly, the Jewish community in Mexico is barely a century old. Rabbi Dunner explains why, and reveals an epiphany that he had while praying mincha at Mount Sinai. There is a powerful message embedded in Parshat Massei that reflects the success of Jewish immigration over the past 3,500 years.
An article in the New York Times about the entrenched views by many on the right that the 2020 election was stolen prompts Rabbi Dunner to consider the concept of motivated reasoning. A remarkable insight by Rabbi Yechiel Yaakov Weinberg (1884-1966) regarding Moses' act of omission at the beginning of Parshat Pinchas is underpinned by the idea of motivated reasoning, and offers timely guidance for us all.
After settling a Torah law anomaly regarding inheritance, Moses segues into a discussion with God regarding his as yet unnamed successor. The Midrash explains that he has his own sons in mind for the job, but God has other ideas -- and Joshua is named as Moses' leadership heir. Rabbi Dunner cites his grandfather's sefer, Mikdash Halevi, to explain why Joshua was far better suited to the position than either of Moses' sons.
Rabbi Pini Dunner once again travels down the side roads and into cul-de-sacs of the Jewish yesteryear with the help of exhaustive research – sharing countless anecdotes and previously unrevealed details. In Part 2 of “Rogues, Rascals, and Rapscallions”, Rabbi Dunner explores the rollercoaster life of a scion of the Nadvorna Hasidic dynasty, Rabbi Yitzchak Leifer, whose brush with the law in 1938 made international headlines. Who was Rabbi Yitzchak Leifer, and how did he end up as the center of attention for multiple law enforcement agencies? The answers to these questions, and the details of his life and the life of his family, will astound you.
On the anniversary of his passing, Rabbi Dunner describes the incredible 1939 rescue project of Sir Nicholas Winton -- "Operation Kindertransport" -- and why he thinks that Sir Nicholas Winton was a very great and righteous man. The cryptic clue is in a verse from Micah, that we read in the Haftarah for Balak. Rabbi Dunner's verdict is drawn from Micah -- and it's not what you think!
Rabbi Pini Dunner travels down the side roads and into cul-de-sacs of the Jewish yesteryear with the help of exhaustive research – sharing countless anecdotes and previously unrevealed details. This first episode of "Exploring Jewish History" is titled “Rogues, Rascals, and Rapscallions”, and looks at characters from traditional Jewish society whose personal lives did not quite match up to the norms of the world they were a part of. In Part 1 Rabbi Dunner offers a revealing glimpse into the life of the early twentieth-century Orthodox rabbi of Zanesville OH, and the sad secret that he took with him to his grave.
How would Rashi have responded to the countless scholarly rabbinic critics who leveled objections to his interpretations of the Hebrew Scriptures and the Talmud? Rabbi Dunner suggests a solution for Ramban's particularly notorious rejection of Rashi's explanation of Moses' sin during the dried-up wellspring episode in Parshat Chukkat.
From satire to slapstick, and via every available medium, we are constantly surrounded by humor and jokes. But there seems to be a red line that, once crossed, turns humor from funny to harmful, and from innocuous to dangerous. Rabbi Dunner cites a fascinating Midrash that casts Korach as a comedian who used humor to bring down Moses. What lesson can we learn?
The shocking challenge to Moses' authority by his cousin Korach has generated countless explanations and moral lessons. Rabbi Dunner shares some ideas from his grandfather's commentary on the Torah, Mikdash Halevi, which offers some refreshing ideas to explain the flaws in Korach's tactics and character.
A powerful lesson from the powerhouse success of Thomas Jefferson as a founding father of the United States offers us an inspiring insight into a troubling question at the heart of the spies narrative in Parshat Shlach. Rabbi Dunner explores the Jefferson phenomenon and shares a wonderful piece by Shadal.
In Parshat Shlach, Moses changed Joshua's name from "Hoshea" to "Yehoshua". The Talmud teaches that this hinted at a prayer that Moses prayed for God to save Joshua from the influence of the other spies. But why send those other spies in the first place if they were going to be a danger to Joshua, and by extension the Jewish people? And if Moses was willing to pray for Joshua, why not pray for the others too? Rabbi Dunner shares a beautiful piece from the late Lubavitcher Rebbe.
Rabbi Dunner debates radio talkshow host Dennis Prager on the topic “Are Humans Inherently Good?” An invigorating discussion, moderated by Rabbi David Baron of Temple of the Arts, at the Saban Theater in Beverly Hills. The event was held on June 8, 2022.
Did you know that complaining is not just annoying, it's actually bad for you? Chronic complaining has been scientifically proven to decrease your brain capacity -- even listening to complaints is bad! Rabbi Dunner delves into the story of the "complainers" in Parshat Behaalotecha, and shares insights that reveal what this ancient story has to teach.
If Aaron the High Priest was so upset about being excluded from giving a gift on behalf of his tribe, why didn't he just give it anyway? And what kind of consolation is preparing and lighting the Temple menorah? Rabbi Dunner answers these and various other Behaalotecha-related questions, using his grandfather's sefer, Mikdash Halevi.
Following his debate with Dennis Prager on whether humans are inherently good, Rabbi Dunner ponders the question of the existence of evil, and how it is possible that people can perpetrate evil if they were born good. A beautiful Midrash in Parshat Nasso offers an insight into why part of the rabbinic tradition disparages the Nazirite vow, with the story of the handsome Nazirite and Simeon the Just shedding light on traditional Judaism's view of the human condition.
In a world full of challenging problems, one of the most difficult challenges is loneliness. Rabbi Dunner focuses on this difficult topic, and connects it both to Shavuot and to the Yizkor service that we say on yomtov.
Rabbi Dunner shares some remarkable facts about deserts, and the life they support, offering us a glimpse into why the Book of Bamidbar begins with the desert reference that gives it its name. An incredible insight into the power of Torah also offers us a message for Shavuot.
The history of Manhattan Island in New York is both intriguing and revealing. Before emerging as one of the world's urban economic engines, it was a swampy island principally populated by beavers. Sold to the Dutch for a pittance in 1626, and then exchanged with the British for a spice island in 1667, it seemed destined for continued oblivion. Rabbi Dunner considers how New York would react if the original owners would demand it back, and how this question relates to the Jewish claim to Israel, based on an obscure verse in Bechuukotai.
Tucked away at the end of Sefer Vayikra, Parshat Bechukotai is known for the litany of "curses" listed for those who won't observe the Torah's commandments. But rather than focusing on the negative, Rabbi Dunner instead focuses on the blessings that kick off the parsha. Using his grandfather's Mikdash Halevi commentary, Rabbi Dunner reveals the incredible messages contained in the opening verses of Bechukotai.
How do we know if a "cohen" is a "cohen"? The answer is we can't know and we don' know. And yet, if someone self-identifies as a "cohen" we accept him as one. Rabbi Dunner charts a course through this fascinating halakhic topic, shedding light on a variety of related issues.
Rabbi Dunner recalls a foundational memory of his early childhood, involving the late Prime Minister of Israel, Menachem Begin. Inspired by an omission in the new documentary about Begin's life, Rabbi Dunner ties in a unique aspect of Begin's personality with a core ideal of Jewish identity found at the beginning of Parshat Kedoshim.
Why was the instruction to "be holy" deliberately given to the entire Jewish nation? Why do the directives that follow this instruction relate to the most ordinary aspects of civil and religious life? Rabbi Dunner shares some wonderful ideas from his grandfather's sefer, Mikdash Halevi, on the opening verses of Parshat Kedoshim
What does the heinous genocide atrocity, The Rape of Nanking, have to teach us about current genocides and the world's reaction? Rabbi Dunner, fresh from his participation at the Yom Hashoah event in Yad Vashem, offers his own perspective, particularly as the world watches unfolding atrocities in Ukraine. The opening verse of Acharei Mot contains a powerful lesson for us all.
Oscar Wilde's most famous novel is The Picture of Dorian Gray, about a hedonistic, handsome young man pursuing all the pleasures of life. Gray wishes for his perfect appearance to remain unaffected by this lifestyle, and instead for a portrait image of him to age and wither. Rabbi Dunner uses this remarkable narrative to illustrate a moral lesson regarding the Pharaoh of ancient Egypt, in a message that resonates for us all today.
In 1775, Rav Yaakov Emden published his Shabbat Hagadol Drasha originally delivered in 1730, when he was the rabbi in Emden, Germany. Why did the B'nei Beteira forget a basic halakha relating to Korban Pesach? And why did this episode result in the appointment of Hillel Habavli as head of the Sanhedrin? Rabbi Dunner summarizes Rav Yaakov Emden's tour-de-force Talmudic discourse in this fabulous shiur, full of incisive insights and fascinating historical vignettes.
Ancient Egypt dominated world culture for millennia before being confined to history, with no contemporary traces. Rabbi Dunner explores this curious phenomenon, and offers a wonderful insight as to why the Passover lamb was such an important part of the process of driving a wedge between the Jewish nation and its pagan inclinations.
Rabbi Dunner shares a wonderful piece from Nesivos Sholom describing the power of faith - "emunah" - and its close association with the month of Nissan in general, and with Seder night in particular. Find out why the first night of Pesach is the "Rosh Hashana of Emunah."
With alarms, devices and apps to monitor every aspect of our lives, and to warn us when we are straying off target, it comes as no surprise that the Torah describes an illness known as "tzara'at" that was triggered by a spiritual deficiency. Nowadays "tzara'at" no longer exists, but, as Rabbi Dunner explains, the message of "tzara'at" lives on.
Parshat Tazria describes the malady known as "tzara'at" in great detail. Rabbi Dunner shares some inspiring ideas regarding "tzara'at" in particular, and ritual impurity in general, all drawn from his grandfather's sefer, Mikdash HaLevi.
Rabbi Dunner describes the unique experience of harvesting snow for a mikvah. His trip to Utah to collect snow for the new mikva in Beverly Hills is an inspirational moment, and Rabbi Dunner reveals every aspect of his incredible journey -- not just to Utah, but going back many years. But it is no accident that this journey ended in the week we read Parshat Shemini.
On the "eighth day", the Mishkan, which was the first-ever Jewish Temple, was inaugurated in the wilderness, under the leadership of Moses, and the priestly guidance of his brother Aaron. The Torah doesn't specify what "eighth day" it was, and the Midrash steps in to fill in the gap. Rabbi Dunner shares inspiring and insightful insights from his grandfather's sefer, Mikdash Halevi, shedding light on this ambiguity, and on other aspects of this auspicious day in Jewish history.
There is an interesting disagreement between Rabbi Moshe Sofer and Rabbi Meir Simcha HaCohen of Dvinsk regarding the festive meal for Purim that makes up for the seudah one has to miss on a Purim that falls on Shabbat. According to Rabbi Meir Simcha one can have the Seudah on Saturday night, while according to the Chatam Sofer one has to wait until Sunday, as the Purim feast must be during the day. Rabbi Dunner explains why the Chatam Sofer’s view is so significant, and how it relates to broader issues and not just the laws of Purim.
The military and humanitarian crisis in Ukraine has shocked the world. But could it have been avoided? Rabbi Dunner has some interesting lessons from history for you to consider, including the first battle fought by the Jewish nation after they left Egyptian slavery.
The book of Vayikra, beginning with Parshat Vayikra, focuses on the ritual sacrifices that were a central feature of Jewish life starting with the Sinai revelation, right up until the destruction of the second Jerusalem Temple some 1,500 years later. Rabbi Dunner delves into the concepts behind ritual sacrifice, honed and refined by the sages of the Talmud in the years after the destruction, here revealed through the eyes of the Mikdash Halevi, written by Rabbi Dunner’s grandfather, the revered Rabbi Yosef Tzvi Halevi Dunner z”l.
A full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine was a remote possibility even as recently as a couple of months ago. And yet, we are now a week into the most devastating war in Europe since the Second World War, with a refugee crisis to match. How are we to make sense of it all. Rabbi Dunner cites an insightful interpretation of the first verse in Pekudei to shed light on the mistake the world made with Putin's Russia.
To donate money for the Odessa Tikvah orphanage now in hiding in Northwest Ukraine, please donate via this link: https://www.beverlyhillssynagogue.org/tikvahorphanageodessa
Once again Rabbi Dunner focuses on his grandfather's sefer, Mikdash Halevi, addressing the strange wording in the first verse of Parshat Vayakhel. If this is the verse that is the source for the 39 prohibitions associated with Shabbat observance, why does it end with an instruction to "do them"? As you will discover, this verse contains an important message that transcends the prohibitions, cutting to the core of what Shabbat is about.
As a result of the atonement process for the Golden Calf, the Jewish people were given the thirteen attributes of mercy as a formula for repentance. Rabbi Dunner shares a fascinating idea from the Netziv, who has an insight into the dangers posed by a lifestyle that is ignorant of sin.
It is surely one of the most confounding stories in the Torah - the Jewish nation, fresh from the Exodus and the Sinai revelation, create a Golden Calf to replace Moses, who has tarried longer than they expected. Rabbi Dunner shares insights from his grandfather's sefer, Mikdash Halevi, shedding light on this jarring episode from the dawn of Jewish history.
Defiance, brazenness, and iconoclasm are traits that are both derided and admired. Are they good or are they bad? Rabbi Dunner delves into this fascinating topic, and poses a revealing lesson from the tzitz hazahav -- the golden frontlet worn by the Jewish high priest that was engraved with the words Kodesh L'Hashem.
Why did the Temple Menorah require the purest olive oil? And why was such pure olive oil not required for the meal offerings? Rabbi Dunner shares a beautiful interpretation from his grandfather's sefer, Mikdash Halevi.
What is the meaning of "self-worth"? Rabbi Dunner reveals a curious reference in Terumah that has the answer.
The whole of Parshat Terumah is devoted to instructions relating to the construction of the "Mishkan" - the first Temple sanctuary of Jewish history. But although the instructions begin with the Aron HaBrit ("Ark of the Covenant") and end with the instructions for constructing the building, when it came to putting it all together, the Mishkan was built first, and then the Aron. Focusing on a curious Gemara in Berachot that deals with the order reversal, Rabbi Dunner shares his grandfather's beautiful interpretation of the change. Not everything is about form or function.
Rabbi Dunner shares a wonderful insight from Harvard professor of psychology, Tal Ben Shahar - an insight which resonates perfectly with Rashi's interpretation of the first verse in Mishpatim. The sacred and the mundane may be different, but they can also be the same.
Why does Mishpatim follow on from Parshat Yitro? Rashi points out that Mishpatim is a continuation of the previous parsha: "Just as the Ten Commandments were given at Mt. Sinai, so too were these civil laws given at Mt. Sinai!" Using his grandfather's Mikdash Halevi commentary as a foundation, Rabbi Dunner offers a full backdrop to this idea and what it means in terms of the Jewish faith.
As he watched the incredible Nach Yomi siyum last Sunday, more than anything else Rabbi Dunner was struck by the fact that a generation ago it simply would not have been possible. Why is our generation so lucky? Rabbi Dunner has the answer.
Rabbi Dunner responds to Dennis Prager's attempt to dismiss his article about the goodness of human nature. Both from a Jewish perspective, and on the basis of scientific knowledge, Prager's critique is wildly off the mark, argues Rabbi Dunner, and he cites chapter and verse to prove his point.
Following their miraculous delivery from certain death via the miracle of the splitting of the Red Sea, the Jewish People, led by Moses, burst forth into song, expressing their faith and gratitude to God. The opening lyric of "Az Yashir" describes how Egypts riders and horses were engulfed by the waters of the sea. Seemingly this is a minor aspect of the extraordinary supernatural events that had occurred. Why mention it at all? Rabbi Dunner cites his grandfather's commentary, Mikdash HaLevi, which offers a number of important lessons underpinning this historical song of faith.
Rabbi Dunner reflects on his recent trip to Chicago, and particularly on his visits to three local social welfare organizations. Overwhelmed by the incredible range and breadth of chesed that he encounters, Rabbi Dunner cites a little-known Haamek Davar on Parshat Bo that reveals an instinctive chesed that has been at the heart of Jewish identity since time immemorial.
Where does Judaism stand on the debate between Thomas Hobbes and John Locke? Rabbi Dunner charts the history of how humans have regarded the intrinsic nature of humanity, and finds the different views evident in a blundering strategic error by Pharaoh, in his assessment of the tribe of Levi and the character of Moses.
Before going in for a second meeting with Pharaoh, Moses feared that his mission was doomed, and that whatever he said would never work. After all, he told God, if the Jewish people won't listen to me, how is it possible that Pharaoh will take me seriously? This, says, Rashi is one of ten examples of a "kal vachomer" in the Torah. In this fascinating shiur, Rabbi Dunner unpacks Moses' "kal vachomer" argument, and explains what Moses was saying to God, and why.
A confounding idea proposed by two lifestyle gurus, a remarkable letter from Maimonides about his daily schedule, and a startling statement in Midrash Yalkut Shimoni all come together, as Rabbi Dunner explains why Moses' greatness was derived from his abilities as a shepherd.
In Parshat Shemot, when God appeared to Moses at Horeb from the burning bush and asked him to lead the Jewish people out of Egypt as their liberator – Moses categorically and emphatically refused. Rabbi Dunner explores this extraordinary encounter with the help of a fabulous piece from the Nesivos Sholom. Not all is as it seems.
What is so important about inspirational leadership, and why does being inspirational eclipse every other leadership attribute? Rabbi Dunner uncovers an incredible inference from Jacob's blessing of Reuben in Parshat Vayechi, explaining why Judah replaced Reuben as leader of the family, and not Joseph.
When Jacob called his sons together at the beginning of Parshat Vayechi, it would appear that the idea behind this final family gathering was for Jacob to bless his sons. But not all of Jacob’s pronouncements convey a blessing vibe; on the contrary they seem rather harsh and severe. Rabbi Dunner delves into the correlation between rebuke and blessing, citing a fabulous piece by the Chasam Sofer about Reuven’s “blessing”, as well as an amazing insight into the gathering of Jacob’s sons by the Emess LeYaakov.
On the last night of Chanuka, a bunch of guys came together and sang with Yigal Calek, legendary director and conductor of the London School of Jewish Song, a Jewish musical phenomenon of the '60s, 70s and 80s. As he watched the video, Rabbi Dunner found himself weeping uncontrollably. So did many others. In an attempt to explain this extraordinary reaction, Rabbi Dunner turns to the Igra Dekalla, and an insight he proposes for a challenging passage in Parshat Vayigash.
Why did Joseph ask if his father was still alive if he knew that he was? Why did he identify himself as Joseph twice? Why in the first instance did he say "I am Joseph" and in the second "I am Joseph your brother"? Why did the brothers not answer his question? Why does the Midrash consider this "a day of rebuke" if there was no rebuke? Rabbi Dunner shares a definitive commentary by the Beis Halevi, Rabbi Yosef Dov Halevi Soloveitchik (1820-1892).
How can narcissism and its impact on a society obsessed with a narcissist help explain the story of Joseph's success at interpreting Pharaoh's dreams - after the failure of Pharaoh's advisors to do so. Rabbi Dunner offers a compelling backdrop to the story of Pharaoh's dreams based on a model gleaned from modern scientific studies into narcissism and its powerful effects on society.
What are the mystical messages behind the festival of Chanukah? Rabbi Dunner leads us on a journey exploring the hidden messages behind Chanukah, demonstrating that this festival celebrates more than just the victory over the Greeks, and the miraculous long-lasting oil.
It is accepted wisdom among God-believers that religion and morality are one and the same. And yet we see time and again that faith can lead to violence against one's fellow man. How are we to understand this if we want to retain our faith? And how can we know when our devotion to God has undermined our moral compass? Using a powerful verse from Parshat Vayeishev, Rabbi Dunner offers a compelling answer to this most troubling of theological questions.
One of the most confounding episodes in the Torah is the story of Jacob's sons' animosity towards their brother Joseph. After initially planning to kill him, they sold him into slavery, with the consequences reverberating for generations. What made Joseph so special? And how did Joseph's brothers justify their actions against him? Rabbi Dunner shares two delightful pieces, one from the Hasidic commentary, Bat Ayin, and the other from Mikdash Halevi, a commentary written by Rabbi Dunner's esteemed grandfather, Rabbi Yosef Tzvi Dunner (1913-2006).
Rabbi Dunner explores the fascinating history of the word "OK", connecting it to Jacob's prayer at the beginning of Parshat Vayishlach.
How are we to contend with scoffers who mock and undermine something important? Rabbi Dunner delves into a Midrash that recalls those who dismissed the birth of Isaac as "fake news" -- he was merely a foundling who Abraham and Sarah claimed as their own. God responded by making Isaac identical in appearance to his father, and by demonstrating that Sarah was a nursing mother. What is the significance of this Midrash? Rabbi Dunner explains, and addresses countless other topics along the way. A fascinating shiur, recorded at St. John's Wood Synagogue, London, on November 4th, 2021.
Why does the Torah focus so heavily on the rivalry between Jacob and Esav? What is the point of knowing that Jacob and Esav fought? Rabbi Dunner cites a classic piece from Toldot Yaakov Yosef, and shares a Nesivos Sholom that explains the necessity for stories about both Lavan and Esav in the Torah.
Studies have shown that wealthier people and wealthier countries are less likely to believe in God. And yet there are startling exceptions, such as John D. Rockefeller, the wealthiest American of all time, and the United States of America, which outranks all other countries in its material wealth. Citing a stunning piece by Rabbi Shimon Sofer of Cracow explaining Jacob's strange vow after his vision of the ladder ascending to Heaven, Rabbi Dunner offers a solution that is both sensible and inspiring.
In Parshat Vayeitzei, God promises the patriarch Jacob that his descendants will spread far and wide. The sages of the Talmud explained that this promise meant that Jacob's inheritance would be "without borders." Rabbi Dunner explores this idea, with the help of a beautiful piece from the Nesivos Sholom, who explains why this "without borders" legacy is uniquely relevant to Jacob, and not to Abraham or Isaac.
One of the most popular movies of all time is the Robert Redord/Paul Newman crime caper "The Sting". But what can this movie teach us about the episode in Toldot that sees Jacob obtaining the blessings from Isaac instead of his brother Esau? Rabbi Dunner explains.
Rabbi Dunner reflects on his participation in the Rabbi Sacks Legacy Trust "Communities in Conversation" initiative, which saw over 150 communities, schools and organizations in 15 countries study the Torah thoughts and writings of Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l, to commemorate the first anniversary of his passing. Citing a Hasidic interpretation of a very curious Midrashic narrative, Rabbi Dunner explains how Rabbi Sacks' brilliance was not just his intellectual superiority or his exemplary wisdom.
Abraham, the founding patriarch of the Jewish nation, is described in Parshat Chayei Sarah (Gen. 24:1) as having become old. The verse informs us that he was “zaken, ba bayamim” – elderly, and advanced in [his] days. The expression “ba bayamim” is uniquely used for Abraham and is not found with reference to anyone else mentioned in the Torah. The verse continues by telling us that “God blessed Abraham with everything” – and again, no one besides for Abraham is described this way in the Torah. Through the eyes of the Nesivos Sholom, Rabbi Dunner explains why Abraham’s unique attribute of kindness makes him unique, not just in terms of his own lifetime, but also in terms of what it has done for the world beyond his lifetime and until today.
The curious phenomenon of Lot's wife turning into a pillar of salt is matched by the equally curious pair of blessings one is directed to say upon seeing that pillar. Intriguingly, the location of the pillar of salt is disputed -- but were we to know its location, why are there two blessings to say, not one? Rabbi Dunner presents a compelling answer suggested by Rav Avraham Yitzchak HaKohen Kook.
At the beginning of Parshat Vayera, according to one interpretation, Abraham told God to wait a moment so that he could take care of his guests. The Talmud says that this proves it is more important to take care of guests than to welcome the presence of God. The whole idea is very puzzling. What could be more important than spending time with God, and how could Abraham abandon God in favor of some unknown guests? Rabbi Dunner shares an inspirational Nesivos Sholom.
A beautiful "vort" on an obscure pasuk in Lech Lecha from the late Rabbi Dr. Abraham Twerski z"l, based on a story he heard from his father, Rabbi Jacob Israel Twerski z"l, the Hornisteipler Rebbe of Milwaukee. What is the secret of leadership and staying ahead of the game? A life lesson for us all.
The portion of Lech Lecha begins with an instruction – “Lech Lecha” – God directs Abraham to leave his family and birthplace, and go to a land that God will show him. This same formulation – “Lech Lecha” – introduces God’s instruction to Abraham to sacrifice his son Isaac at the end of Parshat Vayera. The Midrash correlates these two ‘tests’, noting that it is unclear which of the two is considered the greater test. Rabbi Dunner challenges the notion that sacrificing a son is even remotely comparable to leaving one’s home country and immigrating elsewhere. Then, using a majestic Nesivos Sholom as the backdrop for this fascinating shiur, Rabbi Dunner reveals how the Midrash makes perfect sense, and why Abraham’s earliest test was far more challenging than it may first have appeared.
Historical comparisons are a favorite exercise assigned by history lecturers for their students, who are asked to compare and contrast great personalities from history. A tougher assignment is to decide which of the two is greater than the other. Rabbi Dunner cites a Midrash which unfavorably compares Noah with Moses, and offers the insightful explanation of Rabbi Meir Simha of Dvinsk, author of Meshekh Hokhma.
Must Jews believe that the universe is almost 6,000 years old, and reject the scientific hypothesis of 13.77 billion years? In this podcast, Rabbi Dunner delves into this vexed topic, and offers a fascinating mix of history and sources to unpack one of the most controversial theological issues of modernity.
What does the recent U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan have in common with the Suez Crisis of 1956? And why is this overlap so worrying for the peace and security of the Western world. Rabbi Dunner explains, offering a pertinent lesson from the festival of Sukkot.
Night is day, in this timely lesson from our patriarch Jacob for Yom Kippur. As Rabbi Dunner explains, in Judaism, the impossible is always possible.
Night is day, in this timely lesson from our patriarch Jacob for Yom Kippur. As Rabbi Dunner explains, in Judaism, the impossible is always possible.
Rabbi Dunner uses the story of a chance encounter between the late Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach and a hunchbacked street sweeper in Tel Aviv to help us get our priorities right before Rosh Hashana.
The portion of Nitzavim is always read in the week before Rosh Hashana. Rabbi Dunner shares a piece from Nesivos Sholom, who says that this annual confluence is no coincidence, and is in fact hinted at in the first few verses of the parsha. This shiur contains some powerful lessons for the teshuva process.
Schools reopened this week across the U.S., but there is still tremendous uncertainty. Like so much else during the pandemic, we are consumed with short-term discomfort. But what about the long-term? Rabbi Dunner finds a reference point in Parshat Ki Tavo, buried in one of the last speeches ever given by Moses to the Jewish nation.
Parshat Ki Tavo begins with the mitzva of Bikkurim, which is introduced with the words “when you enter the land” (Deut. 26:1). Rabbi Dunner presents the Nesivos Sholom’s striking explanation of this mitzva for those who will never observe Bikkurim. Based on an interpretation by one of the Hasidic movement’s earliest expositors, Toldot Yaakov Yosef, the Nesivos Sholom suggests that this opening phrase of Ki Tavo has a totally different meaning than its literal translation.
This shiur was sponsored by Aaron & Lillian Fuchs and Jason Fuchs in memory of Lillian's mother and Jason's grandmother, Sylvia Glatter, Zelda bat Leah a"h, whose yahrtzeit is on 14 Elul.
https://rabbidunner.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Nesivos-Sholom-Ki-Tavo.pdf
What happens to identical twins separated at birth and given up for adoption? Rabbi Dunner explores the extraordinary case of the "Jim Twins", and finds a remarkable connection between the nature vs. nurture debate and the Talmud's interpretation of Ben Sorer Umoreh - the "wayward and defiant son".
The IPCC report, warning of global devastation if we don't change our habits and reduce our carbon footprint, is stark in its predictions, but still hopeful for a better future if corrective action is taken. Rabbi Dunner focuses on a curious verse in Shoftim and the interpretations of Maimonides and Abarbanel, offering a fascinating insight into the traditional Jewish view on global warming and climate change.
In Parshat Shoftim, Moshe instructs the nation how to deal with those who deviate from the path of God and become idol-worshippers. The Nesivos Sholom is puzzled by the seemingly superfluous inclusion of a clause that indicates that the sinners have done something bad in the eyes of God. Surely including this fact is obvious and unnecessary. Rabbi Dunner shares the Nesivos Sholom's revealing explanation, and concludes with a powerful personal story.
Historians agree that one of the greatest presidents in U.S. history was Franklin Delano Roosevelt. But what was the secret of his incredible leadership? Rabbi Dunner reveals the secret behind FDR's greatness, and ties it in with the Izhbitzer's explanation of a confounding verse at the beginning of Parshat Re'eh.
One of Mitzvot in Parshat Re'eh is the Mitzva of Tzedakah. The Jewish people are expected to take care of their "destitute brother" and to ensure that all those in need are provided for. There are a number of curious anomalies in the verses describing this Mitzva, while the Rambam, Ramban, Sefer HaChinuch, and Ma'or Va'shamesh all underscore how important this Mitzva is - as important as all the other Mitzvot in the Torah combined. Rabbi Dunner shares a Nesivos Sholom that offers a comprehensive explanation for the centrality of Tzedakah in Judaism.
Is success the result of brains and hard work? Or is it simply luck? The academic world has come down on the side of luck. But what does Judaism have to say about this debate? Rabbi Dunner explores it all using a range of sources to shed light on this vexed topic.
According to Moshe Rabbeinu, there is only one thing that God wants from us - and then he launches into a whole list. It starts with "fear", continues with "love", and then one must do everything God asks with all your heart and soul. What is he on about? Is it one thing, or many? Rabbi Dunner shares a wonderful story from Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, a thought from the Ohr Hachaim, and a beautiful piece from Nesivos Sholom.
https://rabbidunner.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/Nesivos-Sholom-Eikev.pdf
Rabbi Dunner delves into the phenomenon of love, an emotion that intuitively makes sense in most of its guises, but which becomes confounding in the form known as "romantic love". Nevertheless, Rabbi Dunner finds compelling evidence to explain the deep bonds of romantic love in a familiar verse from Parshat Va'etchanan.
The story of Rabbi Yohanan ben Zakkai's incredible meeting with Vespasian, and how it happened, form the backdrop to this insightful podcast. Rabbi Dunner considers the historical context of the Jewish leader's escape from Jerusalem and his subsequent deal with Vespasian to ensure the survival of traditional Judaism, while others in his community acted in a way that led to Jerusalem's destruction, as a pointed lesson from history for today's Jewish faithful.
Some of the most profound aspects of the Jewish faith are contained in the Book of Devarim, the fifth book of the Torah. It is a record of a series of speeches and addresses given by Moses in anticipation of his looming death, and before the Jewish people initiated the conquest of the Promised Land. The pinnacle of this book is undoubtedly the second parsha, Va'etchanan, which contains the Ten Commandments, the Shema, and the instruction to love God. In which case, why did Moses introduce the book with the portion of Devarim, a record of all the misdeeds of the nation over their 40-year sojourn in the wilderness? Rabbi Dunner explains, with the help of a magnificent Nesivos Sholom.
Rabbi Dunner describes his visit to Israel, including his two-day trip to survey Israel's northern border, and his reflections after seeing his son Meir inducted into the IDF paratroopers. Parshat Massei talks about Israel's borders, but later commentaries point out that the biblical borders were not the final borders, and that borders changed throughout Jewish history. Rabbi Dunner ties it all together with a profound lesson in Jewish identity and the symbolism of the Land of Israel.
In Parshat Mattot, Moshe is instructed to send the Jews into battle with the Midianites. The details are intense, and the importance of winning this war seems greater than for other wars fought against enemies both earlier and later. Rabbi Dunner shares a personal experience from his recent visit to Israel to see his son inaugurated into the Tzanchanim, and dovetails it with an awe-inspiring Nesivos Sholom. The ultimate battle is not what you think it is. It is so much more.
Rabbi Dunner reflects on the remarkable life and achievements of his late father, Rabbi Aba Dunner z"l, on the tenth anniversary of his passing. Out of his father's many unique characteristics, it is one that sticks out in particular - his incredible capacity for hard work and long hours when helping others. Rabbi Dunner finds the source for this strength in an alternative interpretation of a verse from Parshat Balak.
In Parshat Balak, Balaam tries to curse the Jewish people, but, as the Talmud teaches us (Sanhedrin 105b), God transformed Balaam's curses into blessings. The most famous of those blessings is "how goodly are your tents Jacob, your sanctuaries Israel" - a statement uttered each morning as we enter our synagogues for prayers. Rabbi Dunner shares a Nesivos Sholom to explain why this particular blessing was the one that endured for all time.
The concept of lifelong learning has gathered pace over the past three decades, as Artificial Intelligence has encroached on exclusively human work, including white-collar skills. Rabbi Dunner examines the topic of lifelong learning from sources in the Talmud, and finds a remarkable reference in the arcane laws of ritual purity in Parshat Chukkat, offering a useful tip to those who never want to be 'too old to learn'.
Rabbi Dunner recalls a particularly preposterous Monty Python sketch from the 1970s that focused on the concept of arguments, to illustrate a profound point about the difference between Korach's disagreement with Moses and the countless debates between the schools of Hillel and Shammai.
What lessons are there to be learnt from the Korach rebellion? Why did Moshe push off the showdown with Korach and his supporters until the following morning? What was the fatal flaw in Korach's protest ideology? Rabbi Dunner shares a profound Nesivos Sholom that offers a simple yet crucial lesson, as relevant today as it was when Korach first launched his revolt against Moshe 3,300 years ago.
What lessons can we learn from the rancor-free election of Isaac Herzog to Israel's presidency in the same week as Israel's politics feels as if it falling apart at the seams? Never has it been more important to consider this question, and, as Rabbi Dunner explains, the answers are not all that complicated. The lessons from our earliest history are clear for all to see.
Tucked away at the end of Parshat Shlach is the passage about tzitzit - the strings we attach to any 4-cornered garment that is worn. After giving some practical background to this mitzva, Rabbi Dunner offers a beautiful explanation as to why the mitzva of Tzitzit is specifically identified as an act that reflects every mitzva in the Torah, sanctifying those who carry it out and appreciate its significance.
Rabbi Dunner shares an intriguing story about a Torah scroll with an unusual mistake in the text of Parshat Behaalotecha. How could a qualified sofer ever have written a Torah in this way? The answer will astound you.
As the Gaza-Israel conflict comes to a difficult conclusion, Rabbi Dunner reflects on a challenging period in which Jews have been targeted, and Israel accused of war crimes. In particular, Rabbi Dunner examines the concept of "peace", as seen through the eyes of two illustrious British chief rabbis, Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks and Rabbi Lord Immanuel Jacobovits.
The idea of becoming a Nazirite is praised by some, and criticized by others. Both sides in the debate seize upon the language used in Parshat Nasso to describe the Nazirite vow, and the Nazirites themselves, to justify their positions - a jarring contradiction that simply begs for an explanation. Rabbi Dunner shares a profound piece of Nesivos Sholom which uses earlier Hasidic texts to reconcile these opposing views.
The horrific news dispatches from Israel, with Hamas rockets raining down on the civilian population as they cower in bomb shelters prompts Rabbi Dunner to examine the curious phenomenon of flags among the tribes of ancient Israel. Each tribe had its own flag, and yet they were all part of one nation. A fascinating Midrash sheds light on this anomaly, and Rabbi Dunner relates it to the current reality in Israel.
Parshat Bamidbar focuses on counting the Jewish nation - hence the alternative name for Sefer Bamidbar: "Numbers". The final count is just over 600,000, and the Zohar tells us that this corresponds with the number of letters in the Torah. The problem is -- there are only 304,805 letters in the Torah, so what does the Zohar mean? Rabbi Dunner explores various explanations for this strange anomaly, and also shares a piece from the Nesivos Sholom that sheds light on the significance of the number 600,000, and the backdrop to why knowing how many Jews there were in the wilderness is as important now as it was when they were counted.
The shocking tragedy in Meron did not happen in a vacuum. Rabbi Dunner charts the history of the Rashbi shrine, the custom of pilgrimage on Lag Ba'omer, and the vexed issue of Meron's ownership. Citing a powerful Chatam Sofer commentary at the end of Behar, Rabbi Dunner explains why airbrushing the sin of those whose actions - or inaction - led to the tragedy makes us culpable too.
There is a strange debate between Beit Shammai and Beit Hillel about which came first: Heaven or Earth. Rather than trying to resolve it, Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai and his son Rabbi Eliezer dismiss the entire premise of the disagreement. Rabbi Dunner delves into this fascinating if rather obscure topic, sharing a Nesivos Sholom that reveals how the debate is fresh and relevant, offering us practical guidance in the service of God.
Rabbi Dunner addresses the story of Michael "Elkohen" Elk - the Charedi Sephardi in Jerusalem who this week was discovered to be a never-been-Jewish Christian missionary. Shockingly, as Rabbi Dunner reveals, he's far from the first person to fake Orthodox Judaism! Rabbi Dunner also connects Elk's shocking deception to a random piece of information included in the story of the blasphemer that is found at the end of Parshat Emor.
Parshat Emor contains detailed instructions for significant Jewish calendar dates, particularly the various festivals. Included in this run-through are details of “sefirat ha’omer” — the seven-week countdown that takes place eah year between the beginning of Pesach and Shavuot.
Referred to by the Torah as “sheva shabatot temimot” (seven complete shabbats), this element of the Jewish festival cycle has become a central theme in the leadup to the celebration of Kabbalat Hatorah on Shavuot.
Rabbi Dunner explores the curious expression “sheva shabatot temimot” — which seems to be a specific reference to seven Shabbats as opposed to seven weeks — through the wise eyes of the Nesivos Sholom. Once again, a seminal piece that looks at the fundamentals of the Jewish faith.
The fake news phenomenon originated in an obscure city in North Macedonia in 2016, but in truth -- it is a phenomenon as old as information itself. Rabbi Dunner delves into the vexed topic of fake news, offering insights into this mushrooming aspect of modern life, and suggesting a lesson about fake news we can learn from tsara'at - the discoloration of skin, clothes or walls described in Tazria and Metzora.
The number seven plays a crucial role in both Judaism and Jewish folklore -- from the seven days of creation to the seven blessings pronounced at Jewish weddings. Rabbi Dunner shares a Nesivos Sholom that examines the centrality of the number "seven" in Jewish tradition, via the requirement for a seven-day quarantine for women who have just given birth, and a similar confinement for those who are diagnosed with tzara'at. A selection of fascinating revelations by the Nesivos Sholom sheds light on one of the key elements of the Jewish faith.
Rabbi Dunner recalls his visit to the Biblical Museum of Natural History in Beit Shemesh last July, a facility that showcases animals and birds from the perspective of Torah and Talmud, as well as Jewish history. As Rabbi Dunner explains, his visit to the museum helped him to finally understand the need for the eclectic details of various kosher and non-kosher animals and birds recorded in Parshat Shmini.
Parshat Shmini contains an entire section devoted to forbidden foods and dietary laws. Many of the commentaries point to the fact that these laws are identified with "kedusha" -- a Hebrew word usually translated to mean "holiness". Using two pieces of Nesivos Sholom as the backdrop to this shiur, Rabbi Dunner weaves together a deeper definition of "kadosh" and "kedusha" and explains why it is forever associated with some of the basest aspects of the human condition.
Modern studies have shown that there is much to be gained by being optimistic, and much to be lost by wallowing in pessimism. Rabbi Dunner cites a Rashi towards the end of the Exodus narrative that finds this idea embedded at the heart of our most important nation-founding narrative.
One of the highlights of Seder night is when we reach the upbeat Dayeinu song. In this shiur, Rabbi Dunner examines and unpacks Dayeinu, trying to make sense of its actual meaning. What is the significance of the song? Why do we sing it at the seder? More to the point, how would it have been enough to watch the Red Sea split, but not to walk through it and be saved? And how does it make sense to be thankful to have been at Mount Sinai and not to have received the Torah? Using a mixture of insightful observations and wonderful ideas, Rabbi Dunner presents a backdrop to Dayeinu that will have you both thinking and inspired at the same time.
What do the late comedian Don Rickles and Moshe Rabbeinu have in common? A Midrash at the beginning of Vayikra, a Seforno commentary, and a fascinating piece by Rabbi Shmuel Shmelke Horowitz of Nikolsburg may offer an unexpected answer. Rabbi Dunner explores the "meaning of life".
Rabbi Dunner reflects on becoming an American citizen this week, and particularly the group ceremony he participated in to take the oath of allegiance. Drawing inspiration from the opening verses of Vayakhel, he explains why this collective experience is so fundamentally important to the underlying message.
Akavya ben Mehallalel was a very early Talmudic sage, but it is not until the beginning of Chapter Three that we get to hear from him. "Remember where you come from, where you'll end up, and to whom you will one day have to give a reckoning -- and then you won't sin!" Rabbi Dunner dissects this curious statement with the help of a classic piece from the Maharal of Prague.
Parshat Vayakhel begins with Moses gathering together the entire nation in order to instruct them about the construction of the Mishkan, the desert sanctuary that traveled with them and was the center of Jewish life for forty years in the wilderness, and during their first few years after the conquest of Canaan. The Midrash points out that the word "vayakhel" -- "and he gathered" -- is unique, appearing nowhere else in the Torah. Rabbi Dunner shares a Nesivos Sholom that reveals why gathering together as Jews in a group is more than just a national project, and has profoundly spiritual implications.
After exactly a year, Rabbi Dunner's community has finally returned to their synagogue building, having closed the facility immediately after Purim last year in response to the dangers of COVID. Rabbi Dunner reflects on a difficult year for his community, although it was immeasurably enhanced by an open-air minyan at a synagogue member's tennis court. A couple of weeks ago the tennis court tent almost blew away during Shabbat services, which Rabbi Dunner interprets as a message of God that s tied to this week's parsha.
One of the most troubling narratives in the entire Bible is the story of the Golden Calf in Parshat Ki Tissa. How was it possible that just forty days after receiving the Torah and experiencing the revelation at Sinai the Jewish nation committed such a grave sin? Rabbi Dunner explores the shocking Golden Calf episode using classical sources as well as a revealing Nesivos Sholom.
"My late brother Benzi died in a car accident in 2008, and although he is principally remembered for his superlative philanthropy – and to be fair, his philanthropy was exceptional – my own recollections of him revolve around his incredible sensitivity and compassion." Rabbi Dunner recalls his brother Benzi z"l, and his legacy that chimes with the story of Purim.
Parshat Tetzaveh begins with a directive relating to the Temple Menorah (Ex. 27:20): “You shall instruct the Israelites to bring you clear oil of beaten olives for lighting, for kindling the perpetual flame.” The word used by the Torah for the directive — “tetzaveh” — is the harshest verb one can use in biblical Hebrew to convey an order or instruction. Ordinarily the Torah uses softer language, but here the language is uncompromising and tough. Rabbi Dunner shares a seminal Nesivos Sholom, revealing why the language of instruction is deliberate, revealing an underlying message regarding the fundamental values of Judaism, and how the gravest danger to one’s relationship with God emanates from thoughts as opposed to actions. Once again, the Nesivos Sholom sheds light on the principles which underpin the Jewish faith.
One of the great challenges of the human condition is the ever-present tension between self-interest and selflessness. Curiously, countless studies have shown that focusing on self-interest to the exclusion of the needs of others does not guarantee happiness. Rabbi Dunner reveals how the words used by the Torah to describe the gems of the High Priest's breastplate have a powerful lesson to impart regarding this ubiquitous internal conflict.
Rabbi Tarfon was one of the great Talmudic sages, who lived during the era of Rabban Gamliel and Rabbi Akiva. Rabbi Dunner explains the origins of his Greek name, and shares the two mishnas of Pirkei Avot that were recorded in his name. Sage advice from one of the greatest Talmudic sages, encouraging us to reach for the highest spiritual goals, even if we know (or believe) we might not ever make it.
One of the Jewish calendar’s most unusual days is Purim, a day of celebration and feasting marked by the type of revelry that is studiously avoided on any other day of the year. This rather curious phenomenon has its roots in the original story of liberation and redemption featured in the Megilla, as Rabbi Dunner explains. And yet, it is so out of character for a religious celebration to be highlighted in this way. Rabbi Dunner shares insights into the very essence of this extraordinary festival, drawn from the Nesivos Sholom and Reb Tzadok Hacohen of Lublin, offering a unique look at Judaism’s oddest festival.
Miscarriages of justice, such as the notorious Hudspeth case of 1892, the Johnson lynching of 1906, and the celebrated Sam Sheppard case in the 1950s, are very much part-and-parcel of our flawed justice system, demonstrating just how unjust it can be. Rabbi Dunner reveals a literary connection between the Torah directive for judicial integrity and one of the Ten Commandments, illustrating how wrongful conviction is not just about contempt for law and order, but is actually an affront to our belief in God.
Rabbi Eleazar ben Arach was the most prominent disciple and student of Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai. In this mishna (Avot 2:14) he offers a three-pronged approach to Torah study that encapsulates the attitude of a true Torah scholar like him. Once again, essential advice from the source of Jewish ethics.
What is the significance of the word "lifneihem" (in front of them)in the opening verse of Parshat Mishpatim? Rabbi Dunner relates the incredible story of Onkelos the proselyte, as conveyed to us in the Midrash, and shares insights from the K'sav Sofer of Pressburg, and the holy Rabbi Israel of Ruzhyn.
How do we reconcile the existence of pointless suffering with a loving, omnipotent God? How can an omnipotent God exist, if He cannot create something that challenges His own power? This is known as the 'omnipotence paradox'. Rabbi Dunner tackles these and other questions using the Ten Commandments as the backdrop to a solution that explains and reinforces faith in a seemingly imperfect world.
Parshat Yitro contains the foundational text of Jewish faith, known as the Decalogue or Ten Commandments. In describing the awesome event at Mount Sinai, the Torah introduces the text of the Decalogue by telling us that God spoke all of these words to be said over, implying that those who heard them would need to repeat them to others. This presents us with quite a puzzle, as there were no others! Everyone who could have been there was there, and all of them heard all of the words of God very clearly. Why, therefore, did the Torah use this phrasing when introducing the Ten Commandments? Rabbi Dunner shares a beautiful piece from the Nesivos Sholom, delivering a powerful and foundational message of Jewish faith regarding the eternal nature of God’s word, as received by the Jewish people at Mount Sinai. He also looks at a beautiful essay from the late Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz z"l, who differentiates between the "giving" of the Torah by God and the "receiving" of the Torah by the Jewish people.
Rabbi Dunner is inspired by a quote from the syndicated columnist Erma Louise Bombeck along with a story about 'college-dropout' Steve Jobs to share a fascinating Midrash that describes the very first time manna dropped from Heaven to feed the nascent Jewish nation. The Midrash differentiates between the "great ones" and the ordinary folk who picked up their manna and the contrast is not what it first seems.
Rabbi Shimon ben Netanel was one of Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai's most cherished disciples. He was a great believer in sweating the details, particularly when it came to devotional prayers and a person's self-image. Rabbi Dunner gives the background and offers insights into the advice of this great Talmudic rabbi.
One of the great mysteries of the Exodos from Egypt is the “part two” that happened on the shores of the Red Sea. After all, once the Israelites were freed from Egyptian servitude, why was there a need to be saved again via the splitting of the Red Sea? More puzzlingly, what did God mean when He told Moses that the Israelites shouldn’t cry out to Him when they were facing certain death? What else were they meant to do? Rabbi Dunner shares an inspiring Nesivos Sholom which explains why the "second redemption" is so central to our faith relationship with God.
A YouTube prank by 'social experiment videographer' Riceman revealed an incredible capacity for kindness in someone who had nothing of his own. Rabbi Dunner uses this story as a platform to share an incredible interpretation by the Vilna Gaon of a verse in Parshat Bo about the importance of smalls acts of kindness for each other that resulted in the redemption from slavery in Egypt.
The ninth plague of the ten to afflict Egypt was "choshech" — the plague of darkness. For six days the Egyptians were plunged into total darkness, unable to see each other, or even to physically move from where they were. The commentaries all struggle to define this darkness, particularly because the Torah tells us that the Jews had light even as the Egyptians experienced darkness. Rabbi Dunner focuses on a fascinating Kedushas Levi, which presents us with a left-field explanation of the darkness in Egypt, which he says had much more to do with light than it had to do with darkness.
Some of our greatest leaders have exhibited their greatness by being paradigms of gratitude. But saying "thank you" is not just a demonstration of good manners -- it is a display of self-esteem like no other. Using a curious anomaly regarding the execution of the first plague in Egypt, Rabbi Dunner explores the backdrop to gratitude, and explains why saying "thank you" is the "root of happiness."
Rabbi Yose the Priest was known for his righteousness and virtue, a true example to all those who knew him. In this mishna (Avot 2:12), Rabbi Yose offers his advice to help you achieve Rabbi Yose's great heights of rectitude -- three directives that encapsulate the aspirations of a true person of faith and spirituality. Rabbi Dunner delves into the backdrop to Rabbi Yose's character, and explains how his advice epitomizes who he was, and who we should be.
In Parshat Va’era, God promises Moses that once He is done with His miracles and wonders, Egypt will “know that I am God.” Rabbi Dunner shares a Degel Machaneh Ephraim quoting the Baal Shem Tov, questioning the need for miracles and wonders just to prove to Egypt that He is God. Degel Machaneh Ephraim proposes an answer, but the Nesivos Sholom is dissatisfied and proposes his own solution, in which he suggests that the whole idea of Egypt “knowing” is actually the fundamental purpose of creation. A deep and fascinating topic, beautifully unpacked and explained by Rabbi Dunner in the simplest of terms.
Shocking scenes from Washington DC and the mob invasion of the U.S. Capitol prompt Rabbi Dunner to examine the prevalence of conspiracy theories, and the danger they pose to normative society. Drawing on the story of Pharaoh's propagation of a conspiracy theory about the Jews in Egypt, Rabbi Dunner suggests a lesson from Parshat Shemot that is as relevant today as when the Jews were slaves in Egypt over 3,000 years ago.
Rabbi Dunner continues with the ethical guidance offered by the students of Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai. In this mishna, Rabbi Yehoshua warns of three character traits that will "remove a person from the world -- an evil eye, an evil inclination, and hating other people." Rabbi Dunner explains exactly what he means, and reveals why this advice is specifically aimed at people whose mitzva observance is superlative in every respect.
In Parshat Shemot, Moses has his first encounter with God after chancing upon a bush engulfed by fire, although the bush is neither consumed nor destroyed. Puzzled by this intriguing phenomenon, Moses goes toward it, only to hear God speak from inside the bush. This jarring image forms the foundation of Moses' relationship with God -- but as it turns out, it is also the foundation of his relationship with and understanding of the Jewish nation. Rabbi Dunner shares a sensational Nesivos Sholom, which reveals the essence of the Jewish people using this curious vignette as the key to Jewish endurance and the survival of God's Chosen People for over 3,300 years.
There is no doubt that 2020 will live on in our memories as one of the most challenging years any of us has ever faced; it will be recalled as one of the most testing years of modern history. Rabbi Dunner reflects on an intrinsic message of Seder night, when we use differences as a platform for growth and change. What can we learn from a very different New Year changeover that can help us grow as people of faith?
According to the students of Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai, how one should behave is easily divided into three easy-to-remember pieces of advice. The tenth mishna of the second chapter of Avot records the advice of Rabbi Eliezer ben Hyrkanus.
Parshat Vayechi begins by telling us that Jacob spent 17 years in Egypt. This rather puzzling nugget of information seems quite superfluous, bearing in mind that we are also informed that he died at the age of 147-years-old, having arrived in Egypt at the age of 130. After all, rudimentary arithmetic enables us to calculate that his time in Egypt amounted to 17 years. Addressing this curious anomaly, Rabbi Dunner shares a beautiful Nesivos Sholom, which delves into the necessity of Jacob having to be in Egypt at all, and indeed why it is that the Jewish nation needed to be forged out of the impure spiritual environment of Egypt.
What is the difference between lying and pathological lying? Surely all lies are equally bad? Using a reference from Parshat Vayigash as his starting point, Rabbi Dunner delves into the background to different kinds of lying, and explains why patholoical lies pose a far greater danger to truth than ordinary lies.
Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai challenged his five main students to come up with "the most important" to think about in terms of how to conduct one's life. The answers are stunning, and Rabbi Dunner explains them all.
Towards the end of Parshat Vayigash, Joseph introduces his beloved father Jacob to his boss, Pharaoh, the king of Egypt. This historic encounter between the most powerful man on earth and the spiritual giant of the era is recorded in just four verses, and mainly consists of a strange exchange between the two men regarding Jacob’s age. Rabbi Dunner unpacks the details of this odd episode, and delves into the meaning of Jacob’s cryptic answer to Pharaoh, as well as a Midrash that suggests that Jacob was punished for what he said.
One of the greatest misnomers of the human condition is the idea that "ignorance is bliss." So much of what affects our lives is hidden from us, and the biggest mistake we can make is to believe that we are cognizant of all the factors that can affect us, and make plans on the basis of what we believe we know. Rabbi Dunner deftly connects the extraordinary story of Joseph and his brothers to the different perspectives of those who know and those who don't, and suggests that there may be a timely lesson for us in the narrative of Mikketz, relevant to the vaccine for COVID-19.
There is a well-known question regarding the miracle of Chanuka, most often associated with the “Beit Yosef,” Rabbi Joseph Caro (1488-1575), author of the definitive code of Jewish law (“Shulchan Aruch”).
The miracle of Chanuka is described in the Talmud as follows: uncontaminated oil which should only have lasted for one day lasted for eight days, giving the kohanim enough time to get new oil from Tekoa — a 4-day journey from Jerusalem — without the Menorah, which needed to be relit each day, missing a day of lighting.
The Beit Yosef’s question is simple: why, if the oil would definitely have lasted for one day, do we celebrate Chanuka for eight days? Chanuka should have been a seven-day festival, seeing as the miracle only really happened on the extra seven days!
Rabbi Dunner traverses through a range of answers, and also reveals an interesting historical debate regarding the origins of Chanukah, and how the miracle story became the festival’s central feature.
Why do we celebrate the miracle of the oil on Chanukah, when the military victories seem to be a much greater victory? Why is Joseph called "Hatzaddik," and his brothers are not? Rabbi Dunner ties it all together with some fascinating examples from history.
One of the most remarkable leaders in Jewish history was Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai, who took on the responsibility of managing the transition in post-Temple Judea, after the Romans ransacked Jerusalem. Rabbi Dunner shares Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai’s incredible story, and also his thoughts as conveyed in the second chapter of Pirkei Avot. We also hear what Rabbi Yochanan ben Zakkai thought of his five top students. What were their outstanding qualities? Who was his favorite? What happened to them in later years? Rabbi Dunner reveals all.
Parshat Vayeishev contains one of the most tragic storylines of the entire Torah -- the breakdown of family harmony among Jacob's sons, followed by the sale of Joseph into slavery by his brothers. And, out of nowhere, we have the story of Judah and Tamar -- out of place, and with seemingly no relevance to the unfolding tragedy of Joseph's transformation from slave to Egyptian powerbroker.
Rabbi Dunner turns to the Nesivos Sholom, who quotes an enigmatic Midrash to unpack some meaningful lessons and explain why tragedy can lead to triumph, if the circumstances are right. Rather than being a dreadful tale of woe, Vayeshiv is the Torah portion that records nothing less than the birth of the Messianic dream.
According to one of California's leading self-development gurus, functional self-sufficiency may be okay, but relational self-sufficiency is a disaster for the human condition. Rabbi Dunner reveals the source for this idea in the Torah, from Parshat Vayishlach, which strangely enough is inferred from Esau's third wife, Basemath daughter of Ishmael.
Some final lessons from Hillel the Elder, beginning with him seeing a skull floating on the water. Rabbi Dunner explains this strange incident and suggests its interpretation, and goes on to explain the next mishna, in which Hillel juxtaposes the folly of material obsession with the lofty possibilities of spiritual aspiration.
In Parshat Vayishlach, Jacob’s name is changed by God from Jacob to Israel. But unlike Abraham, whose name changed from Abram -- with that name never being used again -- Jacob remains Jacob, even as he is also referred to as Israel.
The continued use of both names is a topic that vexed the sages of the Talmud, and it has also generated many explanations by Torah commentators. Rabbi Dunner shares an eye-opening passage from the Nesivos Sholom, who reveals why both names — Jacob and Israel — are profoundly important if we want to understand the spiritual development of the Jewish nation’s third patriarch, and indeed for understanding our own spiritual development.
One of the classic human ways of dealing with problems is to run away from them. Running away often seems so much easier than facing the problems head-on. But running away from a problem never resolves it. So why did Jacob run away from Esau? Why didn't he just deal with the problem right away? Using a novel interpretation on the first verse of Parshat Veyeitzei by Rabbi Tzvi Hirsh Ferber of London (1883-1966), Rabbi Dunner explains how Isaac's intervention before Jacob left made all the difference.
Rabbi Dunner continues his journey through Pirkei Avot with some wisdom from Hillel the Elder, who offers pithy observations regarding barriers that prevent one from achieving real goals: the ignorant can’t evade sin; the uninformed will never excel; the shy cannot learn; the impatient cannot teach. Rabbi Dunner goes through each of the categories and explains how they are relevant to us in our growth as people of faith who aspire to spiritual growth.
There is a well-known Midrash at the beginning of Vayeitzei that describes an argument that took place between the stones that Jacob had taken to rest his head on the fateful night when God revealed himself during the angels’ ladder dream. According to the Midrash, all the stones wanted the holy man’s head to rest on them. To resolve the dispute, God fused the stones together so that they became one rock, and Jacob rested his head on all of them. Rabbi Dunner examines this curious midrashic passage, and offers a number of wonderful insights into its inner meaning, using a selection of classical and modern sources.
We all make mistakes, and we all learn from our mistakes. So why do we put so much effort into avoiding making mistakes? Rabbi Dunner introduces us to a pithy aphorism from Napoleon and shares some fascinating vignettes from history. He also reveals why one story in Parshat Toldot yields the reason for making every effort in our quest to avoid making even seemingly innocuous mistakes.
Puzzled by the fact that her unborn baby seemed to be attracted to both paganism and monotheism, Rebecca consulted God — only to discover that she would be giving birth to twins. “There are two nations in your womb,” God explained to Rebecca, “and these two nations will go their separate ways once they emerge.”
Rabbi Dunner presents a fascinating Nesivos Sholom which tries to make sense of this puzzling vignette. What was Rebecca thinking when she asked the question? What is the eternal message of the “two nations” concept? How can we apply this story to our own lives? The Nesivos Sholom unlocks the puzzle at the heart of this story, and offers us a meaningful interpretation that can help us understand the human condition, and how we can overcome any material handicap to get closer to God.
A fascinating New York Times article that charts research into the aging process of dogs, and how this might help us better understand our own human aging process, prompts Rabbi Dunner to reveal a fascinating Talmudic passage that addresses aging, basing itself on a verse in Chayei Sarah.
Rabbi Dunner shares his thoughts and some fantastic stories about Harav Lord Jonathan Sacks z"l, following his untimely and tragic passing.
More wisdom from Hillel the Elder, who charts the baseline of what one needs to do to become of student of Torah -- don't be a "boor", he says, because a "boor" will never fear sin. Rabbi Dunner defines "boor" and explains why getting to first base requires devoted and focused effort.
Why does Rashi at the beginning of Chayei Sarah comment that Sarah's life was all good? What was special about her life that made it different than everyone else's? And why was Abraham special? Rabbi Dunner goes through a Nesivos Sholom that discusses and dissects the importance of kindness as a foundational aspect of faith in God.
As the 2020 election counting process drags on with no clear winner in sight, and no one conceding defeat, Rabbi Dunner recalls another knife-edge presidential election - the contentious presidential contest of 1800. Thomas Jefferson called it the "Second American Revolution", and it resulted in profound changes to the nascent United States democracy project. And just like the 2020 election, in the period before and after the election feelings ran high, and at times threatened the country's future. Connecting these events with the parsha, Rabbi Dunner cites a pertinent Talmudic passage in Berachot about Abraham, based on a verse in Vayeira, in which the Talmud hints at a path to take us forward when everything around us seems to be collapsing.
Three weeks before he died, the late Novominsker Rebbe released a 2-minute video offering sturdy guidance for the Haredi community reeling from the early ravages of the coronavirus pandemic. But rather than follow in his footsteps, following his death from COVID-19, the leadership that replaced him has been notably absent and remarkably out-of-touch with their leadership responsibilities. The result has been tragic: the wholesale rejection of basic lifesaving measures, far too many unnecessary deaths, and even street protests against local government coronavirus regulations led by rabble-rousers and charlatans. Rabbi Dunner recalls the superb faith leadership of the late Novominsker Rebbe, and correlates it with the qualities of our forefather Abraham, as evidenced at the beginning of Lech Lecha.
A very curious aspect of Abraham’s introduction into the Torah’s narrative is the fact that almost immediately after reaching Canaan – or, as God had called it, “the Land that I will show you” – he leaves for Egypt. Having discovered that Canaan is in the midst of a famine (Gen. 12:10), he abandons the Promised Land and heads for the fleshpots of Egypt, to ride out the storm elsewhere. Before arriving in Egypt, he instructs his wife, Sarah, to lie about her identity, to save him from certain death – a very strange thing for a man of faith to do.
Chazal cite this curious episode as Abraham’s first test, which they seem to indicate he passed with flying colors. Meanwhile, Ramban sees the whole saga in rather a different light. Rabbi Dunner goes through the details of what happened, explains Chazal's and Ramban’s differing interpretations, and then reveals a remarkable Alshich that tries to find a middle path between these two opposing opinions.
Rabbi Dunner shares a piece of wisdom from his late grandfather, Rabbi Yosef Tzvi Dunner (1913-2007), regarding King Solomon's statement in Proverbs that lazy people should take note of the industrious ant, using this energetic creature as a role model. But why would one use a creature that operates by instinct as a guide for humans that have freedom of choice? A passage in the Talmud about the dove that returned to Noah's Ark with an olive branch becomes the cipher to unlock this puzzle, and Rabbi Dunner's grandfather uses it to suggest a fascinating explanation for the use of creature metaphors in scripture and Talmud.
In the fourth mishna of the second chapter, Avot returns to Hillel Hazaken, founding patriarch of the rabbinic family whose inspirational leadership was the foundation of the Talmud. His sage advice is simple and pertinent for every age, as Rabbi Dunner explains using stories and personal experiences to illustrate. Human nature plays a role in who you are, and being a good person is not just a matter of staying out of trouble.
Rabbi Dunner discusses the strange episode in Noach known as 'The Tower of Babel’. Recorded in just 9 verses, the traditional version of the story seems at odds with the plain understanding of the text, and whatever way you look at the story, it makes very little sense. What was the sin of those who built the Tower? In fact, the word sin is never mentioned, so who says they sinned at all? Why would God have taken any notice of a bunch of clowns trying to reach ‘heaven’ via a tower? And what is the relevance of the single language they spoke at the beginning of the story, and the multiple languages they spoke at the end of the story? These questions, and many others, have vexed the commentators, resulting in multiple explanations. Rabbi Dunner surveys various Midrashim, and looks at some of the medieval rabbinic sources, as well as Abarbanel and Haamek Davar, to discover how this story reveals exactly how God wanted humanity to unfold at the very dawn of human history.
In the mid-1990s, an elderly grandfather randomly attended a pre-Bar Mitzvah celebration dinner food tasting at a five-star London hotel, and shared a profound life lesson with Rabbi Dunner. It is a lesson that resonates with Rabbi Dunner to this day, particularly when reading the portion in Bereishit describing the episode of the 'tree of knowledge of good and evil' in the Garden of Eden -- as he explains in this poignant podcast.
What is Shmini Atzeret really about? Why do we need an extra day of yomtov? The Midrash offers a wonderful suggestion -- Rabbi Dunner recalls the Midrash, and goes on to offer his own unique interpretation for the requirement of an extra festival day after Sukkot is already over, a day that offers us all the opportunity to find our very own buried treasure.
Imagine. It is John Lennon’s most iconic song. But what has it got to teach us about being The Chosen People? Is the world featured in Imagine really a utopia? Rabbi Dunner focuses on a familiar festival prayer that focuses on the chosen-ness of the Jewish nation, showing that chosen-ness and uniqueness are not bad or elitist, rather they are the ultimate realization of God's plan for creation.
Why do we fast on Yom Kippur? Why don’t we fast on Rosh Hashana? Should we fast on Shabbat Shuva? Shouldn’t we fast every day of Aseret Yemei Teshuva? Why is any Yomtov happy? What does happiness mean in practical terms? Can we be happy and fast at the same time? Rabbi Dunner addresses these and many other questions, as he explores the importance of joy on Jewish festival days and contrasts with the very serious nature of Yamim Noraim.
Rabbi Dunner reflects on a fascinating mini-conference he attended a year ago at the invitation of Israel's president, Reuven Rivlin. The conference agenda: to find something that unites every Jew, rather than focus on everything that divides us. Weaving this idea into the purpose of Yom Kippur, Rabbi Dunner reveals details of the upcoming first-ever International Succah Hop -- a project with the primary aim of uniting Jews all around the world during the festival of Sukkot. (For details of the time and login for the International Succah Hop wherever you are, please email Carly Einfeld: carly@yinbh.org)
On Rosh Hashana, we read the story of the Akeida - the 'almost' sacrifice of Isaac by his father Abraham. Traditionally, the reason given is the connection between the ram sacrificed at the end of the story, and the ram's horn that we blow as the shofar on Rosh Hashana. Rabbi Dunner challenges this tenuous connection, and delves into the very disturbing child-sacrifice elements of the Akeida story. What are we really to learn from this disturbing narrative and why do we read it on Rosh Hashana? The answer may not be what you think.
Rabbi Dunner continues with the advice offered by Rabbi Gamliel III, son of Rabbi Yehuda HaNassi, who focuses his attention on offering pointers for those in public service and doing work for the benefit of the community. Be careful of your friendships with people in power, as such relationships are always on the basis of benefiting those in authority, and not the reverse. Make your needs and desires identical with those of God, but not -- as the mishna seems to imply -- because it will work out better for you personally. As Rabbi Dunner explains, there is a deeper message here.
Rabbi Dunner cites Maimonides from "hilchot teshuva", who describes 24 different types of people for whom the Teshuva process will not be effective. One of them is someone who is not part of a community. Rabbi Dunner offers a classic explanation, but adds an explanation of his own, based on the theories and research of the pioneering social psychologist, Leon Festinger.
Rabbi Dunner finishes up the first mishna of Chapter 2 in Pirkei Avot, with the wise warning of Rabbi Yehuda HaNassi to constantly be aware of "three things". In the second mishna, Rabbi Gamliel the son of Rabbi Yehuda HaNassi focuses on the crucial importance of combining Torah study with real-life work, earning a living even as you prioritize Torah. The alternative, he says, is too dire to contemplate. The mishna concludes with advice for those who want to volunteer for public service and community work.
It would appear that God had the measure of the Jewish people. Despite choosing them to be His nation, He nevertheless recognized that without the inspired leadership and guidance of Moses they would quickly drift “off the reservation”. He said as much to Moses, and warned that He would hide His face from the Jewish people when it happened. But the commentaries all struggle to understand this idea, and particularly with why God repeated that He would hide Himself — twice in two verses, one following the other. Rabbi Dunner wades into this topic, sharing the classic commentaries’ take on this topic, such as Rashi and Ibn Ezra, as well as the slightly different ideas of Ramban and Sforno. To top it all off, Rabbi Dunner takes a look at Haketav Vehakabalah, Shem MiShmuel, and an inspiring piece from the Shela”h Hakadosh.
What does it mean to be 'a light unto the nations'? Rabbi Dunner comes up with a novel interpretation after witnessing the stunning phenomenon that is the Ashalim Solar Energy Plant in Israel's Negev desert. A 2500-year-old prophecy found in the Haftara for Parshat Ki Tavo comes to pass in a most unexpected way.
Rabbi Dunner continues with the first mishna of the second chapter in Pirkei Avot, as Rabbi Yehuda HaNassi offers sage advice to those who think that have it all worked out. Never treat a simple mitzva like a complex mitzva, he says -- but he doesn't define either. Rabbi Dunner steps in to offer a backdrop to Rebbi's ambiguous statement -- a backdrop that will turn your worldview upside down.
Towards the end of his life, as Moses began to address the upcoming conquest of the Promised Land, he instructed the Jewish nation to inscribe a set of stones with the text of the Torah. Rabbi Dunner offers a number of fascinating explanations as to what exactly was written on these stones, as well as a range of intriguing ideas to explain the purpose of the inscribed stones, both practical and spiritual. Once again, a seemingly obscure mitzva that seems largely irrelevant to the modern age is infused with depth and importance in Rabbi Dunner’s hands, not just in terms of its Jewish historical context, but also in terms of how we can relate to the study of Torah in contemporary times.
Rabbi Dunner surveys the fascinating phenomenon that is the Lost Property office of London's extensive transport network, and connects the comments of one journalistic observer to a particular phrase in the Torah's instruction to return lost items to their owners. It's not just about doing the right thing, it's also about why you're doing it, and having the right attitude towards those who are in distress.
Rabbi Dunner introduces the second chapter of Pirkei Avot with a detailed biography of "Rebbi" - Rabbi Yehuda Hanassi, the redactor of the Mishna, whose influence on Jewish life cannot be overstated, and reverberates to this day. In the legacy recorded in his name for Pirkei Avot, Rebbi instructs us to do that which is good for us and good for others. Rabbi Dunner explains the deeper meaning of this idea, explaining the profound wisdom of Rebbi's statement.
One of the strangest mitzvot in the Torah is the commandment to execute a “wayward son”. Found at the beginning of Parshat Ki Teitzei (Deut. 21), this mitzva instructs that if someone's son is a glutton and a drunkard, he must be reported to the authorities, and after a public trial, the authorities will take care of the problem by sentencing the young lad to death by stoning. Frankly, it all seems quite out of proportion and out in tune with everything we know about justice in Judaism. The Talmudic sages suggest that this draconian law was established on the basis of preventing such a child developing from a delinquent into a hardened criminal. But this is also troubling — surely the Torah believes in free-will and the opportunity for a person, even a Ben Sorer Umoreh, to do teshuva? As if this is not confounding enough, the Talmud asserts that no case of Ben Sorer Umoreh ever happened, nor will it ever happen. In which case, why does the Torah bother mentioning it at all? Using classical commentaries and modern interpretations, Rabbi Dunner unravels this mystery and offers a broad understanding of what is surely the most mystifying mitzva in the whole Torah.
Rabbi Dunner describes the extraordinary career of Rabbi Pinchas Menachem Mendel Hacohen Singer of Warsaw, a forgotten rabbi whose diligent leadership and patience with litigants and those seeking his counsel were faithfully recorded by his son many years after his death. Using this amazing narrative record, and iting a Sefat Emet commentary on the verse in Shoftim: "You must surely pursue justice," Rabbi Dunner explains why the pursuit of justice and peace -- even if at first glance 'pursuit' appears like an unseemly word to use -- is a crucial aspect of one's duty to these two fundamental aspects of the kind of society desired by God.
Rabbi Shimon, the son of Rabban Gamliel, warns against exaggerated piety, because it always leads to sin. Rabbi Dunner explains what this means, using the Bartenura commentary to present a path in Judaism that understands extra boundaries in context, based on the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. In the final mishna of the first chapter of Pirkei Avot, Rabban Shimon ben Gamliel enumerates the three foundations of the world's existence, in which justice and truth don't always necessarily align.
In one of his final addresses to the Jewish nation, Moses exhorts them to remain true to God: “You must be perfect with God your God.” The medieval commentaries debate whether this is an actual commandment issued in the context of the preceding verses, or whether it is simply a warning that the Jewish nation should remain true to themselves, and not contaminate their perfection with foreign ideas and concepts. Rabbi Dunner shares these early interpretations, but also offers a range of more recent understandings of this verse, who see it in isolation, a unique appeal for Jews to shine and excel in a world that militates against faith and belief.
What are we to make of the fact that Urban Dictionary, a crowd-sourced website set up to define slang words and phrases, has become a hotbed of hate-speech, racism, and sexism? With offensive definitions of Auschwitz and anti-Zionism just two recent examples, Rabbi Dunner dwells on the fact that what is found on the fringes soon winds its way into the mainstream, a point presciently made by Moses in his stark warning regarding false prophets and the dangers of idolatry for those about to embark on the conquest of the Promised Land.
Rabbi Dunner continues with Mishna 16 in the first chapter of Pirkei Avot, discussing the great Rabban Gamliel, who advocates decisiveness and clarity, even if it occasionally leads to mistakes. In Mishna 17, his son Rabbi Shimon notes the importance of silence and circumspection, adding that ultimately "actions speak louder than words".
Before instructing the Jewish people to desist from self-injury as part of the mourning process for dead departed relatives, Moses informs the nation that they are all the “children of God”. He goes on to say: “you are a people consecrated to God: He chose you from among all other peoples on earth to be His treasured nation.” Addressing this fascinating topic, Rabbi Dunner first talks about ancient pagan mourning rituals, sharing recent academic research that explains the strange practice of cutting flesh to mourn close relatives. He then goes on to share a foundational Nesivos Sholom that explores the importance of a close relationship with God, like a son to a father. Quoting among others, the Zohar, Ibn Ezra, the Baal Shem Tov, and the Noam Elimelech, the Nesivos Sholom paints a vivid picture of how we should relate to God, and explains why it is specifically in relation to forbidden mourning practices that this concept emerges in the Torah.
In later life, Sir Roger Bannister was the perfect gentleman, a retired neurologist living in the suburbs. But in 1954 he shocked the world when he broke through the four-minute-mile barrier, running a mile in 3 minutes 59.4 seconds. Beloved and respected, he played down his achievement, often saying that as far as he was concerned the barrier had been psychological, not physical, as many had said. Rabbi Dunner connects this humble idea to a question posed by Moses in Eikev, and the remarkable answer he proposed to the Jewish nation just weeks before he died.
Rabban Gamliel the Elder was a towering personality, grandson of Hillel who led the Sanhedrin in the very difficult late-Second Temple period. The first to be quoted in Pirkei Avot neither as part of a pair, nor as a "recipient" of previous generations, he advises every person "asei lecha rav" -- to find a rabbinic mentor for themselves. Rabbi Dunner gives the background to the change in format that begins with this mishna, explaining the unique nature of Rabban Gamliel and the role of his family in the Mesorah, and goes on to explain the deeper meaning behind Rabban Gamliel's profound teaching.
In Parshat Eikev, Moses instructs the nation to “faithfully observe all the instruction that I command you today, that you may thrive and increase and be able to possess the land that God promised on oath to your fathers.” Puzzlingly, Moses seems to refer to only one mitzva, not many? But to which mitzva is he referring, or is he in fact referring to more than one? The commentaries are divided over the interpretation of this phrase, and Rabbi Dunner takes a look at a variety of explanations from the classical commentaries, including Chizkuni, Daat Zekeinim, Ohr Hachaim, Malbim and Nesivos Sholom.
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Medical experts and financial experts both agree that wearing a mask during a pandemic significantly reduces the risk of deaths and economic collapse, and yet there are still many people who refuse to bow to government regulations regarding mask-wearing, citing their fundamental rights to individual liberty. Rabbi Dunner weaves the mitzva of mezuzah that is found in Va'etchanan into this discussion, using a gemara and a midrash to show why the mitzva with no name teaches us one of the most fundamental lessons of our existence.
The great Shammai offers his view as to how one should conduct one's life as a superlative Jew: "make your Torah permanent; speak less, do more; and treat everyone in the nicest possible way."
But how does one make Torah "permanent"? What does "permanent" mean in the context of Torah? Rabbi Dunner explains the fifteenth mishna of the first chapter in Pirkei Avot, and offers numerous insights into Shammai's sage wisdom.
At the beginning of Parshat Va’etchanan Moses recalls how he prayed to God to allow him entry into the Promised Land, although — sadly — to no avail. Rashi points out that the word Moses uses to describe his prayers — va’etchanan — has its root in the Hebrew word chinam — ‘free’, indicating that rather than relying on his merits and their due as the reason for God to heed his request, Moses asked for an ex gratia gift from God, in Hebrew referred to as ‘matnat chinam’.
Rabbi Dunner explores the whole idea of matnat chinam, both with reference to Moses, and in general terms, and shares an insightful piece from the Shem Mishmuel, as well as a delightful story about one of Sir Moses Montefiore’s many visits to the Holy Land, to illustrate how prayer and God’s munificence are intricately bound up with each other, but not necessarily in the way one might expect.
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After emerging from two weeks of quarantine, Rabbi Dunner and his son Meir traveled the length and breadth of Israel, visiting modern cities and ancient sites, meeting countless people and drinking in the atmosphere of the Promised Land. What an incredible country, full of our heritage and our history. Inspired by his time in Israel, Rabbi Dunner reveals the unique nature of this extraordinary country via the Ramban's fascinating introduction to Sefer Devarim.
It is one of the most famous mishnayot in all of Pirkei Avot (1:14)-- Hillel said: if I am not for me, who will be for me? And if I am for me, what am I? And if not now, then when?
Rabbi Dunner unravels this perplexing trio of pithy sayings, using the classical commentaries as well as some wonderful parables, and he also throws in a story heard from his grandfather, about an intriguing play in the Jewish community of Cologne during the 1920s.
Once again, lessons for life from the fount of wisdom that is Pirkei Avot, beautifully presented and illustrated by Rabbi Dunner in his unique, inimitable style.
One of the great mysteries of Jewish history has been the incredible endurance of the Jewish nation. No matter the threat, no matter the suffering, no matter the challenges, the Jewish nation has somehow always emerged with its identity intact, ready to fight another day.
But what is the secret of Jewish survival? To unlock this intriguing puzzle, Rabbi Dunner delves into a fascinating text taken from the greatest work of Jewish mysticism, the Holy Zohar, as expounded by the Nesivos Sholom, based on a verse in the second chapter of Devarim.
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One of the great mysteries of Jewish history has been the incredible endurance of the Jewish nation. No matter the threat, no matter the suffering, no matter the challenges, the Jewish nation has somehow always emerged with its identity intact, ready to fight another day.
But what is the secret of Jewish survival? To unlock this intriguing puzzle, Rabbi Dunner delves into a fascinating text taken from the greatest work of Jewish mysticism, the Holy Zohar, as expounded by the Nesivos Sholom, based on a verse in the second chapter of Devarim.
The startling resignation of journalist Bari Weiss from the New York Times leads Rabbi Dunner to look at the prevalent Orwellian "woke culture" that has now evolved into the rather more insidious "cancel culture", where online mobs target those they feel must lose their jobs or reputations for holding views that are not in tune with the most up-to-date liberal progressivism. This vigilante atmosphere for the sake of an ultimate "good" flies in the face of Judaism's sacred code, as Rabbi Dunner proves from a verse in Mattot, as interpreted by the Talmud.
The most dynamic partnership of the early Talmudic era was the one shared by Hillel and Shammai, the two most significant rabbinic luminaries of the final century BCE. Rabbi Dunner offers some fascinating insights into Hillel's biography, including his initiation into the study hall of Shmaya and Avtalyon and his elevation to senior leadership. His "partner" Shammai was actually much younger than he was, although it would seem that the dominance of Hillel's viewpoint was not a foregone conclusion, despite his seniority. Rabbi Dunner shares a record of Hillel's great wisdom, as expressed in Mishnayot 12 and 13, from the first chapter of Pirkei Avot.
Rabbi Dunner reflects on the US Supreme Court decision regarding Eastern Oklahoma belonging to Native Americans, and can't help noticing the irony. Is he the only one who detects it? What about Judea and Samaria that belongs to the jewish people? And if you are concerned about provoking war as a result of annexation, surely you know the story of Pinchas the zealot, to whom God gifted the "covenant of peace"?
Rabbi Dunner presents the 10th and 11th mishnayot from the first chapter of Pirkei Avot. Two great leaders headed the Sanhedrin -- Shmaya and Avtalyon. Known in Josephus as Sameias and Pollion, these outstanding rabbis were respected across the board, not just by those seeking halachic guidance. Even the brutish Herod, king of Judea, respected and revered them, despite Shmaya chastising him publicly on one occasion in front of the Sanhedrin. As the teachers of the great Hillel and Shammai, these two were foundational Talmudic trailblazers, whose wise advice in these two mishnayot are a testament to their phenomenal legacy.
RECORDED IN JERUSALEM - JULY 8, 2020 After the dreadful plague that killed 24,000 Israelites was eventually halted by the zealous act of Pinchas, God instructed Moses to tell the nation that they must “attack the Midianites, and defeat them!” Curiously, despite this clear instruction, we don’t find that Moses told the nation to do anything of the sort. Indeed, it is not until Parshat Mattot that the Israelites are finally told to “avenge the blood of Israel against the Midianites”. At this stage, however, the narrative shifts direction and has God instructing Moses to count the nation — the final count of the Book of Numbers.
Rabbi Dunner shares a piece from the Nesivos Sholom, who has quite a different understanding of this instruction to “attack the Midianites” — an understanding that has profound implications for our spiritual wellbeing as God’s Chosen Nation, for our entry into the Promised Land, and for our understanding of the episode of Balak and Balaam in the previous Torah portion. Once again, the Nesivos Sholom offers a refreshing and original interpretation that gives us much to think about and reflect on in terms of our own personal faith journey.
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RECORDED IN JERUSALEM Rabbi Dunner reflects on a hectic, disturbing week, in the midst of a hectic, disturbing time. What are we to make of the unsettling uncertainty that is prevalent across the world? Rabbi Dunner reinterprets the concept of the Red Heifer in Chukkat, finding some sense in the prevailing chaos, and offering an encouraging message of hope and faith.
The story of Balaam and Balak attempting to curse the Jewish nation before they entered the Land of Israel is undoubtedly one of the strangest narratives in the Torah. How could a prophet of God think he can outsmart God? Why is Balak so intent on cursing the nation, rather than ambushing and neutralizing them in a military strike? Why was Balak so eager for the Jewish nation not to reach the land? What is the meaning of Balaam’s rather obscure “blessings” — which, in any event, would be better defined as “proclamations”?
Rabbi Dunner shares a profound piece from the Nesivos Sholom which explores this entire episode from a completely different angle. By focusing on an illuminating Midrash and a beautiful insight from the Maggid of Mezeritch, the Nesivos Sholom shows how preventing the Jewish nation from reaching the Land of Israel was profoundly important for the forces of evil, as represented by the two dastardly villains of the story: King Balak and his eager assistant, the prophet Balaam.
In the eighth and ninth mishnayot of the first chapter of Pirkei Avot, the two towering rabbinic figures are Simeon ben Shetach and Yehuda ben Tabai. Rabbi Dunner paints the historical backdrop to this momentous period in Jewish history, explaining who the key figures were and why the battle between Pharisees and Sadduccees played such a crucial role, before delving into the teachings of these two great Talmudic rabbis.
Rabbi Dunner reflects on the anti-Zionism of the legendary tzadik, Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum of Satmar, which escalated and became increasingly vehement even as the State of Israel was established and became ever more successful. A remarkable Mei Hashiloach on Parshat Korach offers an intriguing perspective on Korach's motivations in his rebellion against Moshe, a perspective that might help us understand the Satmar Rebbe's antipathy toward Israel.
In the seventh mishna of the first chapter of Pirkei Avot, Nitai Ha-Arbeili advocates distancing oneself from bad neighbors and not associating with bad people. It seems obvious, but life is messy. Rabbi Dunner explains how to understand this directive, and demonstrates how important it is to remain focused on this crucial aspect of how we conduct our lives as social human beings.
One of the most curious Midrashim on Parshat Korach has Korach asking Moses whether a tallit that is totally blue needs to have tzitzit. Rabbi Dunner goes through a fascinating piece by Rabbi Nachman of Breslov to explain the psychology behind Korach's intriguing question, in which it becomes clear that there was much more to it than meets the eye. Rabbi Dunner also cites a profound piece in the Mei Hashiloach commentary that sheds a very different light on the dispute between Korach and Moshe.
A classic British film comedy inspires Rabbi Dunner to examine 'people power', as a group of activists in Seattle declare the Capitol Hill neighborhood as an autonomous zone. What lessons can we learn from the story of the spies, and from Korach, as we consider the implications of a neighborhood declaring its independence from the laws that govern the United States?
Rabbi Dunner begins his examination of the sixth mishna in the first chapter of Pirkei Avot by introducing us to Rabbi Yehoshua ben Perachia. Rabbi Dunner explains how this great rabbi's oft-cited association with Jesus as the teacher who rejected him, based on a famous narrative in Masechet Sotah(47b), is actually a case of mistaken identity. Rabbi Dunner then goes on to offer a full backdrop to Rabbi Yehoshua ben Perachia's three-part advice and guidance, which is probably the most famous of all the directives in Pirkei Avot.
One of the greatest puzzles of the post-Exodus narrative is the story of the spies dispatched by Moses to scout out the Land of Canaan before the planned Israelite conquest anticipated for generations. But just as they were about to embark on this final chapter of their destiny, everything went horribly wrong. The spies returned with a dreadful report and the entire nation protested against the long awaited move to the Promised Land.
The result was devastating. The Exodus generation was unconditionally barred from entering Israel, and it would be a full forty years before Joshua — one of only two spies who broke ranks with the rest to give a good report — led the nation into the land.
Jewish commentators throughout the ages have puzzled over this story. Why did the nation panic so badly at this final juncture? Why, in contrast to so many other biblical-era missteps, was the entire nation swayed, and why did God not forgive them, when on so many other occasions they were forgiven? How did the spies get it so wrong? What was different about Caleb and Joshua?
Rabbi Dunner reveals all with a beautiful Nesivos Sholom that addresses all of these questions and many others, revealing the true essence of the Torah’s most tragic story.
The sweeping protests that have followed in the wake of George Floyd's killing in Minneapolis have resulted in an overwhelming cross-section of support for a serious attempt to address systemic racism once-and-for-all. But as Rabbi Dunner points, bedfellows present a unique danger in popular movements, a lesson that can be drawn from history, and from one of the Torah's best-known stories - the Korach rebellion.
In Parshat Behaalotecha, God tells Moses to appoint the tribe of Levi to a leadership role within the nation. But even within the Levites there was a hierarchy, and the priestly family, led by Aaron, took on the role as 'first among equals" in terms of the Levite leadership role. Rabbi Dunner looks at the original elevation of the Levite tribe to leadership, the tensions this created within the family and beyond, and the abuses of power that later erupted among the priests during the time of Samuel. And finally, Rabbi Dunner deftly folds in a remarkable article by US Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, who addressed this very topic in a missive to "the People of the State of New York."
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Rabbi Dunner delves into the fifth mishna of the first chapter in Pirkei Avot that records the statement of Yosei ben Yochanan of Jerusalem, who encourages us to open up our homes equally to all, and to limit frivolous speech that may lead to inappropriate behavior.
Rabbi Dunner puzzles over the fact that it was George Floyd's death that sparked protests and riots across the United States. After all, it was hardly the first brutal unnecessary killing of an African American by police or racist vigilantes, nor was it even a particularly jarring example of the kind of raw racism that simmers beneath the surface among some elements of society. Rabbi Dunner finds a lesson in what has happened, and offers a timely suggestion for us to consider.
Tucked away in Parshat Nasso is the mitzva of Birkat Kohanim (Priestly Blessings). Using a wonderful piece of Nesivos Sholom, Rabbi Dunner unwraps the whole concept of kohanim being the medium of God's blessing, and why the b'racha they say before giving their blessing uses a modified formula, different from the berachot we are used to.
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The fourth mishna of the first chapter in Pirkei Avot records the statement of Yosei ben Yo'ezer, who advises us to turn our homes into a 'Beit Vaad LaChachomim' - a house of meeting for scholars. Rabbi Dunner explains what this statement actually means, and how we can make it meaningful in our lives.
What is the common denominator between the father of Greek philosophy and the revelation at Mount Sinai? Rabbi Dunner finds a parallel between Socrates' most confounding statement and the strange declaration by the Jews at Sinai: "we shall do, we shall listen."
One of the customs most associated with Shavuot is eating dairy foods, and particularly cheesecake. But how and when did this custom begin, and how is it that eating dairy foods is specifically tied up with our commemoration of the revelation at Mt Sinai? Rabbi Dunner goes into all the details, revealing a variety of reasons to explain this unusual culinary custom. So -- line up a nice piece of cheesecake and some English tea with milk, as Rabbi Dunner regales you with an array of sources to unlock the mysterious origins of the connection between dairy foods and the festival of Shavuot.
Rabbi Dunner delves into the third mishna of the first chapter of Pirkei Avot. Antigonus the "man" of Socho warns that one should not be like a slave expecting reward, but rather one should be like a slave who expects no reward. Rabbi Dunner explains the references to slave and reward, and he also offers an insight into the latter part of the mishna, which talks about the fear of God. Alongside this, Rabbi Dunner introduces us to two errant students of Antigonus - Zadok and Boethus - whose misinterpretation of their teacher's lesson led to a devastating split in the Jewish world.
The new requirement to wear masks in public amidst the coronavirus pandemic has Rabbi Dunner wondering about the array of different face protections that have appeared out of nowhere over the past few weeks. As it turns out, it is no surprise that those who are a part of society want to stand out, and actually -- it's a good thing.
The Midrash on Bamidbar focuses on the desert as a central theme of Torah and Judaism. Using classical rabbinic sources, Rabbi Dunner explains this thematic analogy, offering a range of stirring lessons, all of them rooted in the word "Bamidbar".
Rabbi Dunner introduces the second mishnah of the first chapter in Pirkei Avot. Beginning with a background to Shimon Hatzadik, also known as "Simeon the Righteous" or "Simeon the Just", Rabbi Dunner weaves the history of the early Second Temple period with the incredible teaching repeated in Shimon Hatzadik's name in this foundational mishnah. The world as we know it depends on three central themes, each of them as important as the other.
Rabbi Dunner chances upon a story about some teenage boys stranded on an island in the South Pacific. Their conduct is at odds with the fictional depiction of a similar group by Nobel Prize winner William Golding in Lord of the Flies. The powerful lesson Rabbi Dunner draws from this story can impact all of us -- challenging circumstances bring out the best in humanity.
Rashi famously quotes a Midrash at the beginning of Parshat Behar — which launches its discussion of the Sabbatical year by associating it with Mount Sinai — “What is the connection between Shemittah and Mount Sinai?” The Midrash goes on to propose that just as the general concepts and precise details of Shemitta were handed down at Mount Sinai, so too every mitzva was given in general terms and with all the details at Mount Sinai.
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The commentaries all have a field day with this Midrash, trying to understand why the Torah particularly chose Shemitta as opposed to any other mitzva to make this point. Rabbi Dunner offers some intriguing and powerful ideas that have been suggested by a selection of recent rabbinic commentaries, including Rav Yehuda Amital z”l and the Lubavitcher Rebbe z”l.
Completing the first Mishna of the first chapter, Rabbi Dunner explores the wise trilogy of advice that originates with the very first masters of Jewish tradition: "Be patient in justice, raise many disciples, and make a fence around the Torah." What moral, ethical and religious secrets lie in this strange combination of instructions?
Every action has an equal and opposite reaction, but what about the law of unintended consequences? Rabbi Dunner addresses the surge in charitable giving that has resulted from the COVID-19 crisis, and relates it to a wonderful interpretation of the mourning customs associated with Sefirat Ha'omer, the period between Pesach and Shavuot.
The passage that instructs us to bring the Omer offering and count the Omer is in Parshat Emor, in the chapter that describes and defines all the festivals (Vayikra 23). But although Sefirat Ha'omer falls between the first day of Pesach and Shavuot, it is not a festival, so what is doing in that chapter? Rabbi Dunner goes through the Netivot Shalom, who answers this question, and also addresses the weird requirement to wave the Omer offering and the Shavuot "Two Loaves" offering that concludes the Omer counting period. As it turns out, Sefirat Ha'omer is emblematic of the process we all need to go through to get out of Egypt and receive the Torah at Mount Sinai.
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Rabbi Dunner's series exploring Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers). In this shiur, Rabbi Dunner examines the first mishna of the first chapter in Pirkei Avot, focusing on the concept of "mesorah" -- the transmission of Judaism and Torah from one generation to the next. Why is "mesorah" considered the underpinning of Jewish tradition and the Jewish faith? Rabbi Dunner unlocks the concept of "mesorah", and also explains why it dominates the introductory section of Pirkei Avot.
The over-attended funeral of a Williamsburg rabbi during the COVID-19 lockdown prompts Rabbi Dunner to address the issue of rabbinic responsibility in the face of lethal dangers to those who look to rabbinic leadership for guidance. There is a powerful message in Kedoshim that addresses this exact point -- lofty spirituality can only be achieved by those who are concerned for life and safety of their community.
Rabbi Dunner takes a closer look at the curious phenomenon of Ruth the Moabite, matriarch of the Davidic royal dynasty, whose story we read on Shavuot. What makes her so special? Why is she singled out for her own book in the Hebrew scriptures? Why is the Davidic monarchy descended from her? Rabbi Dunner examines Ruth in her historical context, and uses scriptural and Midrashic sources to paint a picture of Ruth taking into account the era in which she lived, how she might have been perceived, and what made her so special.
Rabbi Dunner's series exploring Pirkei Avot (Ethics of the Fathers). In this first class, Rabbi Dunner looks at the idea that every Jew has a place in Olam Haba - the world to come! What does it mean? Why is it relevant to us? And why is Jewish ethics and morality so different from the humanism of atheists?
We live in dystopian times. As Benjamin Franklin once said, “I wake up every morning at nine and grab for the morning paper. Then I look at the obituary page. If my name is not on it, I get up.” Perhaps the only difference is that today he would have told us he Google-searched himself on his smartphone. Rabbi Dunner uses this as the platform to explore human mortality through an anomaly at the beginning of Tazria, and upon reflection during the coranavirus pandemic.
What date is Shavuot? Don't reach for your calendar; instead look at the original source, the Torah. Pesach is on 15 Nissan, Rosh Hashana is on 1 Tishrei, Yom Kippur is on 10 Tishrei, Sukkot is on 15 Tishrei - but you won't find a date for Shavuot. Instead, there is the strange 49-day countdown to Shavuot that begins on Pesach. The problem is -- when do we start counting? The answer is far from simple, so -- hold the cheesecake -- as Rabbi Dunner takes you on a guided tour of one of the oldest controversies of Judaism. And at least one thing is guaranteed -- Shavuot will never be the same again!
Are you running a Pesach Seder for the first time? Or maybe you've run one before but need a bit of a refresher? Rabbi Dunner continues to run through the basics of managing a Seder as the "Seder Leader", offering practical insights and background information that will turn your Pesach Seder experience into a unique night of meaningful learning, joy, song and a primary Jewish experience. He also answers some basic questions about davening on your own during yomtov and chol hamoed, and wearing tefillin, among other questions sent to him in advance of the shiur.
Are you running a Pesach Seder for the first time? Or maybe you've run one before but need a bit of a refresher? Rabbi Dunner goes through the basics of managing a Seder as the "Seder Leader", offering practical insights and background information that will turn your Pesach Seder experience into a unique night of meaningful learning, joy, song and a primary Jewish experience. With a short Q&A at the end.
Can we use ZOOM for Seder so that we can include those who are normally with us via an electronic device? A group of rabbis in Israel issued a ruling to say yes, but that ruling set off a storm. Rabbi Dunner explores this unique halachic dilemma, a dilemma that came about as a result of the unique circumstances created by the coronavirus crisis.
Rabbi Dunner reveals a remarkable story about the late Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, as told to him by Rabbi YY Jacobson. What does one do if one has to have the Pesach Seder alone? The Lubavitcher Rebbe offers us an inspiring example that resonates decades after the passing of his wife, when he no longer had her at his side.
Rabbi Dunner addresses more questions about making #Pesach at home, both for those doing it for the first time or have done it before. Based on questions sent in before the shiur, and live questions during the shiur. Rabbi Dunner focuses particularly on requirements for the Seder, and on themes for Seder night.
Rabbi Dunner addresses more questions with regards to making Pesach at home, for those who are doing it for the first time, and for those who do it every year or have done it before. He addresses a range of relevant issues and topics, based on questions sent in before the shiur, and live questions during the shiur. Rabbi Dunner also talks about making seder at home, addressing practical issues regarding matzah and other requirements.
Last Saturday night, Rabbi Dunner turned on his phone after Shabbat and was absolutely horrified to discover that Willie Stern, his sister-in-law’s father, had passed away from coronavirus just a few hours earlier. Here are Rabbi Dunner's memories and thoughts regarding this quite extraordinary man, taken away from his family in such difficult circumstances.
Rabbi Dunner addresses some basic issues regarding cleaning your home and keeping kosher for Pesach (Passover), and also addresses some unique issues that have come up this year specifically as a result of the coronavirus crisis.
Rabbi Dunner is inspired by a message he received from his friend, a rabbi in Charlotte NC, about a shocking idea suggested by Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch 180 years to his community in Frankfurt. And, of course, Rabbi Dunner throws in some obscure Jewish history relating to North Carolina for good measure! An inspiring thought to ponder while we are all housebound during the coronavirus crisis.
The festival of Pesach is intimately associated with Matzah, the dry cracker-bread which resulted from the bread dough not being able to rise in time before the Israelites left Egypt.
The passage in Exodus that records this connection refers to God as the "King of all Kings". Why specifically with reference to the dough not rising is God referred to as ‘Melech Malchei Ha-Melachim’? Moreover, it would seem that Matza is an irrelevant aspect of the Exodus narrative, when compared with the miraculous redemption itself. So why does the Torah incorporate Matzah into the name of the festival, calling it ‘Chag Hamatzot’? More puzzling is why the redemption was so rushed and disorganized in the first place. What was the reason for such haste? Could God not have given the Israelites a few more hours or days so that they could leave in an organized, dignified manner?
Rabbi Dunner addresses these and other critical questions regarding the Exodus event, offering a foundational explanation that cuts to the core of Jewish identity, and to our relationship with God through the medium of a timebound physical world.
A fascinating exhibition in New York showcasing "unfinished" and "non-finito" works of art presents us with a remarkable insight into a glaring contradiction in the final reckoning of everything raised in the campaign to collect raw materials to build the Mishkan. Rabbi Dunner looks into the background of unfinished art, citing some fascinating examples, and presents a delightful Ohr Hachaim that balances the human striving for perfection with the realities of our temporariness and incompleteness within God's creation.
Imagine reliving the same day, day after day, for 34 years! That is the premise of the movie Groundhog Day, the 1993 movie starring Bill Murray and Andie McDowell. Rabbi Dunner analyzes this fascinating movie plot, and folds it into the annual Jewish celebration of our Exodus from Egypt, known as Seder Night, as well as the curious custom of memorializing departed relatives on festival days, in a ritual known as Yizkor. As it turns out, the lessons learned from this movie have very far-reaching ramifications.
We are all reeling as each day the coronavirus crisis escalates. How do we square the current situation with our faith? It's not a simple question, but as Rabbi Dunner explains, the answer may actually be simpler than you thought. An anomaly regarding the description of the Tablets of Moses offers us a clue as to how we might best react as people of faith in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak crisis.
Inspired by the recent campaign among American Haredim to join the World Zionist organization, Rabbi Dunner offers a summary of the history of Haredi ant-Zionism, and the evolution of attitudes that has resulted in this latest phenomenon, a stunning development that echoes in an important but often overlooked aspect of the Purim story.
Rabbi Dunner addresses the strange custom of remembering and never forgetting Amalek, a long-extinct warrior-nation who attacked the Israelites after they left Egypt. God demands their obliteration, but ironically they would have long been gone and forgotten if we were not expected to mention them each year at Parshat Zachor.
Using the fact that this directive is given in the first-person singular, very similar to the instructions for the building of the Mishkan, Rabbi Dunner recalls his extraordinary grandfather, 'Adje' Cohen of Holland, whose extraordinary exploits during the Holocaust years led to his being offered a knighthood by the Dutch Queen. He refused the honor, and Rabbi Dunner explains why, tying it in with the personal obligation of Zachor.
The Talmud (Megilla 7b) records the opinion of Rava, who directs us to become so inebriated on Purim that we are unable to tell the difference between ‘cursed is Haman’ and ‘blessed is Mordechai’, in other words clueless regarding the villain and hero of the Purim story.
Immediately afterward, the Talmud shares the story of Rabba and Rabbi Zeira, two senior and distinguished sages, who shared a Purim feast together. Rabba became so drunk, the Talmud says, that he murdered Rabbi Zeira. Miraculously he was able to revive him, but the following year, when he invited Rabbi Zeira to come back to him for a Purim feast, Rabbi Zeira politely declined, with the comment “miracles don’t happen twice!”
What is the opinion of the Torah and the Talmud on getting blind drunk? Is it frowned upon, or is it encouraged? And what are we to make of this very strange story about Rabba and Rabbi Zeira? Is it true? If it is, how is it possible that these two great rabbis got themselves into such a dreadful situation? And if it is not true, or at least not literal, why is it included in the Talmud? What does it actually mean?
Rabbi Dunner explores a wide range of options from across centuries of rabbinic opinion, and offers a broad perspective on this startling narrative.
Rabbi Dunner cites a fascinating story from the Talmud about a hapless young man in love, and how his father, the great Rabbi Yehudah Hanassi, told him that his behavior in love was no different to God, as evidenced by the change of plan regarding the construction of a Temple, which should only have been built in Jerusalem, but was preempted by the construction of a Mishkan in the Sinai Wilderness. But while the analogy is charming, how exactly is it not blasphemy to compare God to a young man in love? Rabbi dunner explains.
Why does God want a ‘sanctuary’ in which to ‘reside’? The enigma of the Mishkan and the Jerusalem Temple continues to baffle Jewish commentators and theologians. Rabbi Dunner cites a Midrash to help understand the ‘sanctuary’ phenomenon from God’s perspective, and also offers an explanation for two contradictory Midrashim that seem to suggest that Edom is both excluded and included in the Temple of God.
Rabbi Dunner charts the meteoric rise and stunning collapse of Volozhin Yeshiva, modern Jewish history's premier institution of learning. Discover the backstory to Volozhin's founding, its legendary founder R. Chaim of Volozhin, his son R. Itzele, and Volozhin's decades under the leadership of the great Netziv, until the final bitter battle that resulted in the yeshiva's devastating closure. A rollercoaster story delivered with Rabbi Dunner's signature dedication to detail, including marginal episodes that bring the narrative to life.
Rabbi Dunner takes a look at one of the most remarkable wildlife experiments in recent history, the reintroduction of wolves into Yellowstone National Park. The array of effects this had on local flora and fauna has been nothing short of astonishing. Rabbi Dunner relates this extraordinary environmental impact to a Midrash regarding the need to pierce the ear of an indentured Jewish servant who wants to remain with his master once the six-year period of service is over.
The constant obsession with perfection that motivates modern culture to airbrush out any imperfections from images of cultural icons ultimately traces itself back to the ancient pagans, who could not conceive of their gods as being anything but perfect. Rabbi Dunner reveals how Judaism rejected this notion from its very inception, as conveyed by an interesting contrast in the two versions of the Exodus narrative associated with Jethro in Parshat Yitro. A powerful insight by the first Radomsker Rebbe explains why Moses felt the need to tell Jethro a story he had clearly already heard before.
Parshat Yitro records the remarkable moment in Jewish History known as “Ma’amad Har Sinai” — the Revelation at Mt. Sinai — at which God revealed himself to the fledgling nation and shared the Ten Commandments with them. The text of the Ten Commandments was later engraved onto the Tablets, so that they would forever remain front-and-center for the Jewish faith.
In Parshat Va’etchanan some forty years later, Moses recalled the period following the Exodus, and then repeated the Ten Commandments verbatim in order to stress their centrality in Judaism. Only — he did not actually repeat them verbatim, as there are quite a number of differences between the two records, some minor, others major — but so-much-so that the Talmud was prompted to suggest that both versions are correct and that both of them were articulated by God simultaneously.
Rabbi Abraham Ibn Ezra, in his longest single piece of commentary on the Torah, takes issue with the Talmud’s apologetics, and vigorously champions a rationalist interpretation of the differences between these two records. Rabbi Dunner compares the original texts of the Ten Commandments as they appear in the Torah, and goes through the Ibn Ezra’s impassioned piece — which, as it turns out, is not without its own issues.
Recently, a mourner at Rabbi Dunner's synagogue told him that she had found herself weeping after the loss of her mother and was very puzzled by it: “Why am I crying,” she asked the rabbi, “after all, I knew my mother was dying – and frankly, after years of illness and disability, she’s in a much better place now, with no more pain or suffering. So why the crying?” In this podcast Rabbi Dunner demonstrates how a similar question regarding Moses' reaction on the shores of the Red Sea reveals the answer to this intriguing question.
The medieval commentator, Rashi, explains that when Moses saw the Red Sea split, and the Jewish nation saved while the Egyptian army drowned, he made the decision that he would sing a song of gratitude, the first-ever song recorded in Jewish history. Rabbi Avraham Bornstein of Sochatchov, in his Shem Mishmuel commentary, is puzzled by the need for the Torah to say that Moshe made the decision that he ‘would’ do something — it is obvious no one does anything without first deciding to do it. It could therefore quite easily have said: “Az Shar Moshe” – “then Moshe sang”, as opposed to “Yashir”. Rabbi Dunner uses the Shem Mishmuel to explore the concept of prophecy, touching upon the miraculous nature of Moses’ prophetic powers, and how on this occasion those powers extended to the entire nation. Rabbi Dunner also shares some wonderful lessons we can draw from this seemingly meaningless word differential, lessons we can take on in our day-to-day lives.
“As long as the Hasidim do not fully atone for their deviant behavior, they must be scattered and driven away so that not even two of these heretics remains together. The end of their groups and gatherings will be a blessing for the world.”
So wrote the Vilna Gaon in 1772, in a much-publicized letter that was cosigned by 17 other senior rabbis from Vilna.
The letter, which revealed the Vilna Gaon’s unrestrained animosity towards the Hasidim, launched one of the most prolonged campaigns of modern Jewish history to uproot and destroy a particular group within the Jewish world.
But despite the Vilna Gaon’s A-list status in the rabbinic world, his relentless campaign was ultimately ineffective and unsuccessful.
In this Jewish History lecture, Rabbi Dunner reveals the origins of the Hasidic movement, giving a fresh perspective on its founder, Rabbi Yisrael Baal Shem Tov, as well as his two main successors, Rabbi Dov Ber the Maggid of Mezritch, and Rabbi Yaakov Yosef Katz of Polonnoye.
Rabbi Dunner also explores the origins of the anti-Hasidism campaign by the Vilna Gaon and his supporters – known as Mitnaggedim – offering insights and clues as to why the Vilna Gaon had such negative feelings towards the Hasidic movement, and why he felt that they needed to be eliminated from Jewish life.
Even before the ink has dried, Jewish critics of President Trump's peace proposal for Israel and the Palestinians to resolve the century-old conflict have pounced upon it with a vengeance. Rabbi Dunner suggests that Jews who refuse to proudly represent their own side in matters regarding their heritage and tradition are akin to a group identified by the Midrash as having disappeared during the plague of darkness in Egypt.
Of all the plagues to afflict Egypt in the period leading up to the Exodus, the most intriguing, and the most controversial, was the plague of darkness. During this plague the Egyptians were plunged into a “thick” darkness, unable to see or even do anything, such was the utter lack of light. All the commentaries struggle to define this plague. What was it that caused the darkness, and how was it that the Israelites were completely unaffected? Rabbi Dunner presents an astonishing array of opinions, running from the classical commentaries to far more recent interpretations, and even including some from gentile bible scholars, in an attempt to understand this challenging plague and how it could have occurred.
What impact can we have on others to bring them closer to God? Rashi suggests that Moses used a logical argument to protest God's instruction that he negotiate with Pharaoh. But the logic suggested by Rashi simply doesn't work! Or does it? Rabbi Dunner explains how the "Jewish butterfly effect" can explain what Rashi meant, and how it can have a profound influence on the world well beyond Jews who have faith in God.
One of the great mysteries of the Exodus story is the phenomenon of Pharaoh’s hardened heart. Even as his country was collapsing under the strain of devastating plague after devastating plague, Pharaoh continued to resist any attempt by Moses to change his mind, and let the nation be freed from slavery. How was he able to withstand this enormous pressure? The narrative in Va’era seems to indicate that his incredible willpower was divinely assisted, which only exacurbates the problem. Why would God have enabled Pharaoh to resist the reasonable solution of allowing the Israelites to be freed from their slave status? Rabbi Dunner presents Abarbanel’s commentary, which includes a well-argued refutation of Maimonides’ classic response, as well as three solutions of his own.
Rabbi Dunner addresses the Greater Zion Church Family, Compton CA, at the “Los Angeles Celebrates Israel” 2020 event organized by the Israel Christian Nexus under the auspices of Bishop Robert Stearns.
Many scholars present Stoicism as an admirable philosophy closely aligned with Jewish morals and ethics. Rabbi Dunner offers us a glimpse into the world of Rabbi Yosef Yehuda Leib Bloch, early twentieth-century head of Telz yeshiva, who proposes the idea that Stoicism is indeed the most elevated form of faith in God. But Rabbi Dunner challenges this notion, turning Rabbi Bloch's radical thesis entirely on its head.
The Book of Shemot begins by telling us “these are the names of Israel’s sons who came to Egypt with Jacob, each coming with his household”. The question this verse prompts is simple — is his name Jacob or Israel? Abraham’s name changed from Abram to Abraham, after which he was Abram no more. Sarah’s name changed from Sarai to Sarah, after which she was Sarai no more. But Jacob’s name changed to Israel, and yet it appears he nonetheless remained Jacob. Why? If he was renamed, why did he retain his original name? Rabbi Dunner delves into various Hasidic interpretations of this curious topic, citing Rabbi Elimelech of Lizhensk, Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, Rabbi Shmuel Bornsztain of Sochatchov, and Rabbi Shalom Noach Berezovsky of Slonim, to offer a range of ideas to explain the relevance and efficacy of both Jacob and Israel.
Some people are desperate for fame, others achieve it -- and then struggle with it. But very few people give up fame for a higher calling. One person who did was Israeli showbiz star Mordechai "Pupik" Arnon. Rabbi Dunner recalls this remarkable man, and connects his passing with the passing of Jacob in Parshat Vayechi.
The source for blessing one’s children is in Parshat Vayechi, in the verses that describe Jacob blessing Joseph’s children, Ephraim and Manasseh. The pasuk explicitly says that one should use the names of Ephraim and Manasseh when blessing sons, but offers no accompanying explanation. Rabbi Dunner examines the sources, and presents a comprehensive overview of this ancient ritual, looking at the meaning of the blessing itself, as well as the customs that surround the actual moment when one blesses one’s child.
Science has now proven beyond doubt that if you are an optimist you will live longer, while if you are a pessimist your life will almost certainly be shorter. Rabbi Dunner explores this remarkable phenomenon, and uses the results of a recent study to explain a very puzzling Midrash about Jacob's age when he died.
The alleged vandalist of Nessah Synagogue is being described as "crazy". Is insanity a valid plea when it comes to antisemitism? The debate has been raging since the 1930s. Rabbi Dunner intriguingly ties it in with the antihero of the Chanukah story, Antiochus IV Epiphanes.
Rabbi Dunner reluctantly addresses the impeachment process, which he sees as deeply flawed, a view that is in line with a remarkable Haamek Davar commentary at the beginning of Vayeishev on the reaction of Joseph's brothers to the fact that he had a dream.
The portion of Vayeishev begins by informing us that Jacob now resided in the same land in which his father lived, the Land of Canaan, and then talks about Jacob's son Joseph, and the problems that erupted between Joseph and his older brothers. The commentaries all puzzle over the words used by the verses to describe Jacob’s circumstances, especially the word “Toldot”, which some commentaries want to interpret beyond its literal meaning. Rabbi Dunner offers a compelling range of rabbinic interpretations, including a startling Rashbam, in which Rashi (his own grandfather!) is taken to task for his non-literal interpretations, and also a heartwarming piece by R. Nachman of Breslov, who finds a connection between the early verses of Vayeishev and the festival of Chanukah.
The meeting between Jacob and Esau in Vayishlach after 34 years of separation, and so many festering years of enmity, is surprisingly positive — despite Jacob’s fears. Esau rushes up to his brother to kiss him, and they reconcile like brothers excited to see each other after such a long period of being apart. But the commentaries appear divided. Was the reunion actually so wonderful? Were Esau’s kisses and his embrace really heartfelt? Rabbi Dunner offers an overview of the Midrashim and later commentaries to get a sense of what really happened on that fateful day, and what it should mean for us so many thousands of years later.
One of the most remarkable leaders of orthodox Jewry in the twentieth century was Rabbi Eleazar Menachem Man Shach (1899-2001), a Lithuanian-born Talmud scholar whose leadership of that community in his latter years could not easily have been predicted. Rabbi Dunner unlocks the secret to Rabbi Shach's greatness, evident in a keynote pre-election address he delivered in 1988, and epitomized in his interpretation of an obscure Midrash on Parshat Vayishlach.
What are we to make of Jeremy Corbyn and the possibility of an antisemite in 10 Downing Street? Antisemites who deny their antisemitism are the most dangerous antisemites of all, explains Rabbi Dunner, a lesson he draws from the insidious behavior of Laban, uncle and father-in-law of the patriarch Jacob.
The portion of Vayeitzei begins with an extraordinary vision experienced by the patriarch Jacob. As part of that vision, God reassures Jacob that He will always be at his side, ensuring that he is protected from any harm. And yet, as soon as Jacob awakens from the vision, he is gripped by fear and anxiety. Similarly, when he returns to his homeland twenty years later, Jacob is very fearful, certain of his impending doom despite God’s reassurances.
Rather than seeing this fearfulness as a lack of faith, the Midrash refers to Jacob as the choice patriarch of the three patriarchs, the archetype foundation mentor for the Jewish nation. Rabbi Dunner explores the source material, and offers a number of insights into Jacob's unique characteristics and circumstances that catapulted him into a status that surpassed the status of both his father and grandfather.
The father of psychoanalysis, Sigmund Freud, wrote to Wilhelm Fliess in 1897, telling him “being entirely honest with oneself is a good exercise.” In this podcast, Rabbi Dunner reveals why partial self-honesty is never enough, and how it is that this was Esav's greatest flaw.
One of the most intriguing puzzles of the Jewish faith is understanding the “Judaism” or otherwise of the founding patriarchs of the Jewish nation -- Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The foundation of the Jewish faith is based on the observance of 613 mitzvot and all of the associated laws and customs. The axiom of Judaism is that without mitzvot our faith is meaningless, bereft of any practical application. But the Torah and all its commandments were given long after the founding fathers of Judaism had lived and died. So how did these giants of our nation’s genesis express their faith, and how are we to relate to their religious expression?
Rabbi Dunner explores this vexed topic, traversing all the sources -- from the very confounding Talmudic literalism that bases itself on a verse from Parshat Toldot, to the rather less literal interpretations of patriarchal Torah observance as proposed by Ramban and others, who struggle to reconcile the Talmudic and Midrashic versions with rational historical interpretations. A fascinating topic explored with great sensitivity and scholarship.
Rabbi Dunner cites the iconic 2006 movie "The Devil Wears Prada" to help unlock a remarkable Kedushat Levi explaining why the Torah introduces us to Rebecca as having been "born to Bethuel" rather than as the daughter of Bethuel.
In Chayei Sarah, before recording Abraham’s passing, the Torah informs us that he remarried — apparently to his third wife after Sarah and Hagar, a woman called Keturah. But Rashi quotes a Midrash which declares Keturah and Hagar as one-and-the-same person, which means that Abraham had many more children with Hagar besides for Yishmael. Nevertheless, other commentaries dispute this proposal, noting that the text clearly indicates Keturah could not possibly have been Hagar. Rabbi Dunner gathers together all the sources to present a range of opinions, and then presents a startling Netivot Shalom, which offers a kabbalistic understanding of this unusual biblical narrative.
Rabbi Dunner reflects on the insidious incursion of extremist views into the mainstream, and looks at the lessons of the influence of Sodom on Abraham' nephew Lot.
The very first verses of Vayeira describe the elderly patriarch Abraham sitting at the entrance to his tent as the sun is blazing down, just days after having circumcised himself to demonstrate his covenant with God. The portion begins by informing us that God appeared to Abraham, but before long Abraham is distracted by some passing visitors, and he runs to invite them to be his guests, so that he can feed them and take care of them. As he explores these introductory verses of Vayeira, Rabbi Dunner focuses on the commentary of Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Ferber (1879-1966), the twentieth-century Lithuanian-born London-based rabbi whose yahrtzeit is on 20 Marcheshvan, and whose commentary on the Torah contains both collated and self-generated gems of wisdom and explanation, all based on a breadth and depth of knowledge of Talmud, Midrash, and a vast range of classical commentaries.
In an age of angry social media and raging online controversies, Rabbi Dunner considers the danger of getting too emotional in an argument, and applies his ideas to one of the famous quarrels recorded in the Book of Genesis.
A walk down Memory Lane, as Rabbi Dunner recalls a memorable scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark, and finds a connection with Parshat Noach.
The portion of Noah begins by declaring that the hero of the Great Flood, Noah, was "righteous" and "perfect", or possibly even "perfectly righteous". But Rashi immediately throws a spanner in the works by reproducing the words of the Talmudic sages who appear to have a rather more jaundiced view of Noah's so-called righteousness. So which is it? Was Noah actually righteous, or is there some other way of understanding why the Torah would refer to him as a "tzadik" who walked with God? Rabbi Dunner delves into the sources offering a variety of explanations and interpretations, solving some of the mysteries and puzzles surrounding the inclusion of the Great Flood and its protagonist Noah in the Holy Scriptures.
Rabbi Dunner looks at the narrative in Parshat Bereishit that records the first homicide in history - Cain murdering his brother Abel in an act of vicious fratricide, prompted by jealousy and envy. You may think you understand this story. It seems so simple: Cain is the villain, Abel is the victim. Cain’s callous act is punished by God - and so we move on to the next story. But things are never as simple as they seem, especially in these very early chapters of the Torah. For example, why is Cain’s name explained by Eve, but Abel’s name is not? Why would Abel become a shepherd if the consumption of meat is proscribed? Why is Abel constantly referred to as Cain’s brother? What did Cain actually ‘say’ to Abel before he killed him? Why was Cain not punished with death if he killed his brother - surely premeditated murder deserves capital punishment? These are just a few of the many puzzles that lie beneath the text.
Rabbi Dunner examines the recorded verses, to see what they say, and - more importantly - what they do not say. Although he looks at the traditional understanding of the story as presented by Rashi, Rabbi Dunner shows how it is through the eyes of the Ha’amek Davar that this story finally begins to make sense. With incredible insight and ingenuity, this commentary presents us with a narrative that is so startlingly different from what we think we ‘know’ about Cain and Abel, and which makes so much more sense - it will literally take your breath away!
Rabbi Dunner uses an obscure and regularly misattributed nineteenth-century poem to help illustrate a fascinating insight into one of the most confounding verses at the beginning of the creation narrative.
Rabbi Dunner muses over the curious assertion of an influential eighteenth-century rabbi: "Unless you are an aficionado of Jewish law, the name “Pri Megadim” will mean very little. Nonetheless, it happens to be the title of a very important work authored by Rabbi Joseph Teomim, an eighteenth-century rabbi. Rabbi Teomim came from an extremely distinguished rabbinic family and was a great rabbinic scholar in his own right, although he struggled to make a living as a rabbi. That all changed when he began to publish what would soon become one of the most influential works of Jewish law ever written."
Rabbi Dunner describes his recent visit to Israel at the invitation of Israel's president, Reuven Rivlin, to pursue the goals of a new organization called Our Common Destiny, a project of the Genesis Foundation. Citing the apocryphal story of the creation of Israel's "Tomb of the Unknown Soldier", Rabbi Dunner proposes a solution to the problem of a fragmented Jewish world.
n this poignant podcast, Rabbi Dunner shares the moving story of Nobel-laureate Elie Wiesel's Yom Kippur in Auschwitz, in 1944. Wiesel recalls the debate among inmates whether or not to fast on the holiest day of the Jewish calendar, even as they suffered in the hellish circumstances of the Nazi-machine's most notorious concentration camp.
In 1999, Rabbi Dunner invited thousands of single and married young professionals to join him for Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur at the legendary Saatchi Synagogue, which he had launched the year before to cater for disaffiliated Jewish Gen-X'ers based in London. As part of the campaign to attract this notoriously difficult demographic, Rabbi Dunner sent out a recording of some of the tunes that he would be singing as part of the services over Yamim Noraim. Included among them was this haunting melody, taken from the Unetaneh Tokef prayer that Ashkenazim recite during the Mussaf repetition. That year, and for many years after in London, Rabbi Dunner led prayers at Saatchi and in other communities, using this same melody and many others, to inspire the community on these very special days.
The opening of Nitzavim ends with a promise that "the hidden" remains in God’s purview, but "the revealed" belongs to us and our children for eternity (Devarim 29:28). But while this may have a kind of logic to it, the commentaries struggle to find a practical application relevant to day-to-day life. Rabbi Dunner explores a range of commentaries to offer a deeper understanding of this enigmatic idea, which, as it turns out, is relevant to the most basic tenets of Judaism.
Why should a grudge interfere with the repentance process? What is the point of saying sorry if you have only hurt someone’s feelings? In the bigger picture, why is saying sorry so important? Using a remarkable array of sources, Rabbi Dunner will show how asking for forgiveness from those you have wronged, and saying sorry, is an essential part of doing teshuva, and has been since the dawn of Jewish history. (This Shiur was given in memory of Anne Samson a"h, to commemorate her 6th yahrzeit.)
Rabbi Dunner explores the power of prayer in his pre-selichot address, on Motzei Shabbat, September 21, 2019, at YINBH Beverly Hills Synagogue. A kaleidoscope of Talmudic references and inspirational stories kick off the 5780 High Holidays season.
In the portion of Ki Tavo, Moses winds down his most significant final address to the nation in the weeks leading up to his passing at the end of Sefer Devarim. Curiously, Moses appears to suggest that "on this day" he is presenting the commandments to the Jewish nation -- almost as if it were taking place for the very first time. But surely the commandments had been presented on Mt. Sinai 40 years earlier? Rabbi Dunner explores a range of fascinating commentaries offering insights into this anomaly, so that we can understand why this particular day was so special in the annals of Jewish history.
In Parshat Re’eh (Deut. 12:28) , Moshe Rabbeinu exhorts the Jewish nation to observe and hear the mitzvot, and to do what is good and right in God’s eyes. Although at first glance this all seems wonderful, upon closer examination the order appears to be completely wrong. Moreover, despite the fact that the concept of “good and right” is rather enigmatic, it is not explained in any way. Rabbi Dunner shares a classic piece of Ohr Hachayim that reveals some fundamental lessons of the Jewish faith emanating from this specific verse in the Torah, lessons that are encoded in these very anomalies.
The portion of Eikev begins by offering a range of positive consequences for the Jewish nation “because you will heed these ordinances, and keep them and perform them.” But the word used for the conjunction “because” is the rather unusual Hebrew word “eikev”.
The Midrash, quoted by Rashi, explains that “eikev” has a double meaning, as it can also be translated to mean “heel”. According to the Midrash: “if you will listen to even the lighter commands, which a person might tread on with his heels (namely — the kind that most people are inclined to treat lightly) … then God your God will keep for you... His commitment.”
Rabbi Dunner reveals a number of fascinating explanations for this unusual interpretation, putting the inclusion of this quite bizarre allusion into context.
The final book of the Torah, Sefer Devarim, differs extensively from the previous four books. The sages of the Talmud referred to Devarim by an alternative name — Mishneh Torah — generally understood to mean “review” or “repeat” of the previous four books, implying that Devarim contains a summary of the rest of the Torah, presented by Moshe before he died. But this idea is very problematic. Much of the narrative and law contained elsewhere in the Torah is absent in Devarim, and there is plenty of material in Devarim that appears nowhere else. So what exactly is Sefer Devarim, and why is it called Mishneh Torah?
Rabbi Dunner addresses this puzzling anomaly head-on, using the actual text of Sefer Devarim to reveal a hidden aspect of post-Exodus history to solve one of the great mysteries of the Torah, thereby explaining both the structure of Devarim and its true purpose.
Although the plan was to conquer the Land of Canaan so that the nation could settle there, as promised covenantally to the patriarchs and then reiterated to Moses, two-and-a-half tribes decided to settle across the Jordan River, on the plains of Moab. As part of the process of setting the groundwork for Jewish life on the east side of the Jordan, Moses set up three ‘cities of refuge’, a mirror image of the three ‘cities of refuge’ that would be set up on the west side of the Jordan. These cities would act as ‘sanctuary’ for those guilty of negligent manslaughter in the future, once civil structures were fully in place.
But why the hurry to set them up now? What was the urgency? In fact, they would not be effective until the other three were in place. More puzzling is the positioning of the cities of refuge directive in the Torah, with no seeming relevance to the adjacent material. Rabbi Dunner examines the fascinating phenomenon of “Arei Miklat”, and Moses’ eagerness to create these refuge cities even though they would not become relevant until many years after his passing, revealing some fundamental lessons in Judaism and Jewish leadership.
At the end of Balak and beginning of Pinchas we are given details of an episode involving the Israelites and the daughters of Moab that angered God, and resulted in a deadly plague. Only after the intervention of Pinchas — until then an obscure grandchild of Aaron, Moses’ brother — was the crisis finally averted. There are many elements of the story that are puzzling and require unpacking, not least of which is the decision taken by Moses to ignore a direct order from God that would have ended the devastating plague. The intervention by Pinchas is also one of the least understood righteous acts recorded in the Torah, too often dismissed or glossed over as a one-off event. And yet it is enshrined in Jewish law, and he remains the only person in Jewish history who was ever awarded the “Covenant of Peace” by God. Rabbi Dunner carefully dissects this fascinating narrative, offering a range of insights to reveal various subtexts, all of which have enduring relevance and contain powerful lessons about the dynamics of sin and penitence.
There are many interpretations as to what Moshe did to be refused entry into the Promised Land, but nonetheless, a number of questions still remain. What exactly was Aaron's sin? According to the vast majority of commentators, Moshe was the one who sinned and Aaron’s sin is never mentioned, so why was he punished? In Devarim, Moshe blames the nation for the punishment he has received, mentioning it three times. How is it possible that Moshe blamed the nation for his failure? Surely the very essence of leadership is that a good leader succeeds and makes the right choices even when events conspire against him? And what exactly is the connection between the sin and the punishment - why were Moshe and Aaron prevented from entering the land? Rabbi Dunner explores the array of commentaries on this seminal story to try and answer these questions, and also the most difficult question of all — why, if they repented, would God not forgive Moshe and Aaron and allow them into Eretz Yisrael?
The discord caused by Korach’s rebellion resulted in horrific repercussions for him and his supporters. And yet, there are those who suggest that many of his supporters were not evil, and may have even respected Moses as the leader. So why did they suffer such dreadful consequences for their actions, and why does the Talmud infer that those who cause or even support controversy are guilty of the worst possible sin? Rabbi Dunner examines the source verses in Parshat Korach, as well as the Talmud’s interpretations, to offer a remarkable range of insights into this foundational principle of Judaism.
As part of the process of organizing the leadership of the Jewish nation, Moses is instructed to form a council of seventy sages. The Talmud struggles to understand the number 70 - the nation was divided into 12 tribes, and 70 is not divisible by 12. Rabbi Dunner reveals the significance of both 12 and 70, offering a remarkable view of how these numbers relate to the destiny of the Jewish nation, embedded into narratives that long predate the Exodus from Egypt.
Once the elders were chosen, two renegade “elders” prophesied in the Israelite camp and were reported to Moses. Rabbi Dunner delves into this strange episode; with the aid of the Or Hachaim commentary he explains the dynamics behind it, and the repercussions.
The seventh chapter of Bamidbar, at the end of Parshat Nasso, is the longest chapter in the Torah. It records the gifts given by the princes of each tribe at the inauguration of the altar. Curiously, each prince gave exactly the same gift, and even more curiously each gift is recorded in exacting detail, so that we are furnished with a record of twelve identical gifts. The Torah is known for being very sparing in its use of words, and even individual letters are used by the Talmudic sages to derive laws. So why does the Torah abandon this principle when informing us of the princes’ donations? Rabbi Dunner will examine the sources, and present a range of remarkable insights into this startling departure from the Torah’s literary norms.
The fourth book of the Torah is traditionally called “Bamidbar”, which translates as “wilderness” or “desert”. Bamidbar records the travails of the Jewish nation over almost forty years, as they meandered through the Sinai desert until they were fully ready to conquer and populate the Land of Israel. But the word Bamidbar occurs in the very first verse, and has no real connection with the many narratives contained in the rest of the book. The Midrash picks up on this point, and suggests that the reason Bamidbar launches itself with this evocative word is to convey the rather cryptic message that “whoever does not make themselves like a desert... is not able to acquire wisdom and Torah”. Rabbi Dunner focuses on this remarkable idea, offering a range of interpretations to help explain how and why resembling a wilderness is so important in the pursuit of Torah knowledge.
Parshat Bechukotai contains the first intensive discussion in the Torah of what appears to be God’s scheme of reward and punishment for those who observe or reject the His commandments. But the first verse of the portion contains a superfluous phrase which Rashi struggles to explain, while the Talmud struggles with the whole notion of reward and punishment during one’s mortal lifetime, suggesting that the benefits of mitzvot only become relevant in the “world to come”. Rabbi Dunner highlights the most significant sources, and shares an enlightening piece from the Shem MiShmuel commentary, which is itself based on a confounding Midrash.
There are a couple of verses in Parshat Behar relating to honesty in business, instructing us not to overcharge others for goods and services, and not to underpay those who provide us with goods and services. But the Talmudic sages read much more into these verses than simply honesty and fairness in business, extending the directive to how we conduct ourselves overall with our fellow human beings. Rabbi Dunner focuses on a fascinating statement regarding this ideal in the Talmud, and its confounding interpretation by Rashi. What does honesty actually mean? How does dishonesty interfere with our relationship with God? What are the guiding principles of honesty and truthfulness, and how can we ensure that we match up to what is expected of us?
Parshat Emor famously includes the full list of festivals for the Jewish calendar. Curiously, the list begins with Shabbat, which is not actually a festival. The commentaries struggle to find the common theme between Shabbat and offer a number of observations that themselves demand explanation. Rabbi Dunner examines a range of approaches to this jarring biblical anomaly, offering a range of eye-opening ideas which cast light on the ancient secrets of time and timing in the Jewish faith.
The Torah instructs us not to hate our kinsfolk and in the next breath tells us to rebuke our fellow when they do something wrong (Lev. 19:17). Immediately afterwords the Torah adds the ambiguous statement: “and do not bear sin on his account.” What exactly is the connection between hatred and rebuke? Why are they combined in one verse? What sin could we be guilty of by offering rebuke to our fellow? What are the dynamics of rebuke? What are our obligations if we see someone do something wrong once, or frequently?
Rabbi Dunner examines the sources, starting with Talmud and medieval commentaries, and then more recent musar and hasidic expositions, to offer a comprehensive overview of this important but often misunderstood topic.
At the beginning of the Seder, we recall the story of five Talmudic sages who passed an entire night discussing the Exodus from Egypt, after which they needed to be reminded that dawn had broken so that they would recite the Shema.
One of the five, Rabbi Eleazar ben Azarya, remarked that he had never known about the obligation to mention the Exodus each night until he heard an interpretation from a man called Ben Zoma, who derived it from an extra word in the verse.
But the rabbis offer a dissenting view, appearing to disagree with Ben Zoma’s interpretation, and they offer an interpretation of their own that predicts a requirement to discuss the Exodus from Egypt even after the final redemption, in the era of Messiah.
There are numerous reasons why the inclusion of this passage -- which originates in a mishnah in tractate Berachot -- is puzzling. The subject under discussion in that mishnah is whether or not one needs to say the third paragraph of Shema, and has nothing whatsoever to do with the retelling of the Exodus story on Passover night. Why bring up this irrelevant halachic debate in the Haggadah? And even if the nighttime reference is relevant to the story of the rabbis who stayed up all night, why mention the dissenting view of those who disagree with Ben Zoma? And what exactly is the meaning of the rabbis view that the Exodus story will retain its importance, even after Messianic redemption?
Rabbi Dunner addresses these and other questions, and also includes a detailed look at the mysterious Ben Zoma, whose unusual personality and great scholarship are crucial to gaining an understanding of this curious passage of the Seder night Haggadah.
The Torah portion of Tazria introduces the concept of “tum’ah”, usually translated either as impurity, or ritual impurity. But these translations do not do this concept justice. In fact, they are quite misleading, even off-putting, as they make “tum’ah” sound as if it means dirty or unclean.
In this shiur Rabbi Dunner dispels the idea that tum’ah means unclean or impure, and offer various perspectives on this central tenet of Judaism, which, even though it is no longer actively practiced, has many important lessons to teach us about the Jewish faith and about God’s vision for His Chosen People.
In recording the final moments of the Mishkan’s dedication, the Torah informs us that Aaron blessed the nation (Lev. 9:22). The verse omits the words of the blessing, merely telling us that Aaron gave a blessing. Rashi, basing himself on Midrashic and Talmudic sources, suggests that the blessing he gave was identical to the Birkat Kohanim formula found in Parshat Nasso. But Ramban is uncomfortable with this idea, and comes up with a suggestion of his own -- although he acknowledges that his suggestion is not without its own problems.
Either way, Rashi’s interpretation that Aaron used the Birkat Kohanim formula is puzzling. If he did use that formula, why does the priestly blessing instruction appear in Nasso and not in Shemini? And if the wording for Birkat Kohanim was only articulated at a later stage, how did Aaron know what to say? Rabbi Dunner presents the sources, and offers insights into the unique circumstances of the Mishkan project - circumstances that prompted Aaron to bless the nation when he did, and to use the words he used.
The Midrash in Mishlei declares that when the Messiah comes, while the festival of Purim will continue to be celebrated, all the other festivals will be canceled. The Midrash adds that although all the other festivals will become obsolete, Yom Kippur will endure. But why is Purim so unique so that it will live on once the Messiah comes? And what is the correlation between Purim and Yom Kippur? Rabbi Dunner delves into the sources and offers some compelling insights into Purim, and into the future, as predicted by the sages of the Talmud and their successors.
Megillat Esther is a record of the Purim story written contemporaneously and later included in TaNaCH (Hebrew Scriptures). Unlike any other biblical text, Megillat Esther contains no reference to God or Divine Providence, an omission that is beyond puzzling. How is it possible that the miraculous events that resulted in the Jews being saved from genocide don't warrant any mention of God’s name in the religious scripture we have that describes these very events? What is the message of God’s absence in Megillat Esther? Rabbi Dunner addresses this vexing topic, presenting a range of ideas based on ancient Jewish tradition, ideas that cut to the core of the Jewish faith.
The "Urim" and “Tumim" were a means of divination for the Jewish nation created together with the Mishkan. While they are never actually described in the Torah, they must have been a material object, as they were physically located in the breastplate of the High Priest, as recorded in Tetzaveh (Ex. 28:30).
Used at critical moments in Jewish history whenever divine guidance was required, the Urim Ve’Tumim played a central role during our formative years as a nation. What were they, and why were they necessary? How exactly did they work? Why was this supernatural medium given to the High Priest and not the prophet? And what happened to them after the destruction of the First Temple?
Rabbi Dunner looks at these questions, and the more confounding puzzle of the Urim Vetumim's absence from Pekudei, examining a range of sources, and revealing the background and history of this remarkable biblical phenomenon.
Parshat Vayakhel begins with Moshe's instructions to the nation about the construction of the Mishkan sanctuary. There are numerous aspects of this passage that make little sense. Why did Moshe need to ‘gather’ ("vayakhel") everybody? Why did he need to refer to the weekdays when informing the nation that no construction work could be done on Shabbat? Why mention Shabbat at all? Rabbi Dunner explores these and other puzzling aspects of this momentous project launch, revealing details of the Mishkan that help us understand not only its purpose, but also its long term impact on the Jewish nation and Judaism.
Why does the warning at the beginning of Vayakhel about Shabbat observance mention work that is done on weekdays? And why is the prohibition against kindling fire on Shabbat specificlly singled out in that warning?
Rabbi Dunner introduces a lively and quite hilarious debate between Ibn Ezra and an unnamed Karaite, concerning the Karaite view regarding the use of fire on Shabbat. And he also discusses why it was inappropriate to construct the Mishkan on Shabbat.
The portion of Ki Tissa begins with a strange set of verses that appear to describe a process by which Moses could count the Jewish nation. The wording used is extremely ambiguous, and if you turn to Rashi for help you will come away more confused, not less.
What is going on in these verses? Did God command Moses to take a population census, or was this something Moses wanted to do himself? Why does Rashi cite King David’s experience as a cautionary tale of what can happen when things go wrong? Why was there a need to use half-shekel coins? Is there anything wrong with doing a population census, and if so, why?
Rabbi Dunner addresses all of these questions, and more, using his unique blend of classical sources and a close analysis of the text itself, presenting a vivid and revealing understanding of this unusual topic.
At the end of Tetzaveh, after every other aspect of the new sanctuary has been described and discussed, including the priestly vestments, God instructs Moses to construct a small altar for incense, to be placed inside the sanctuary. But why wait until the end? Why not include this instruction in its correct place, with the Ark of the Covenant and the Menorah? Rabbi Dunner explores this curious anomaly, offering insights into this unique Temple vessel, and the secret of its purpose and function.