Torah From The 6ix: Recent Episodes
JLIC Toronto
Why did BY only receive their own flags and banners and encampments when they left har sinai?!? An idea by Rav Yaakov zl
Our parsha concludes with the commandment to keep Shabbos and to fear Gd’s Temple/mikdash? What is the context and meaning of these seemingly redundant messages?
Why not Parshat Yitzchak vs Parshat Noah. Why the lack of consistency… insight from Rabbi Wein
Lighting the Menorah and offering the incense -two different experiences also in contemporary society
Why does Hashem need so much gold helps us understand which mezuza to purchase….. a tremendous insight from R E Goldberg
What is the difference between a sword tefilah and a bow tefilah? An insight from the Meshech Chochmah
How did the wagons provide comfort to Yaakov upon seeing them? The answer is often misunderstood and misquoted by many…..
The battle of Yaakov occurs in our times as well-Based on an Insight from Rav Asher Weiss
Why does a groom lower his bride’s veil before going to the chupah? It is not what you think…
Why are the people of Sedom so bad? Why are they characterized in Pirkei Avot as people who claim what is mine is mine and what is yours is yours?
Why would the Torah follow up the curses that will befall Am Yisrael if we fail to follow the ways of the Torah, with what seems to be a mundane and archaic section?
What might be the connection between the laws of kosher animals and fish and tragedy of what took place on the inauguration day with the untimely death of Aharon’s sons?
Why are the precious stones listed last in the order of materials that were needed for the building of the Mishkan? A great insight by R Chaim Shmuelevitz as heard from R Goldberg
Why does the Torah record the Yitro narrative? How does his story add anything to matan Torah, the giving of the Torah?!
Why must we redeem or break a chamor/donkey? Why a donkey? It is not even a kosher animal!
What makes a good Jewish leader ? Why does Yehuda prevail over Yosef in the long run? Why does Shaul fail and David succeed?
Is the house of Lavan that much more moral than the local Caninites? Why must the shepherds wait for arrive to arrive before opening the well? A tremendous insight by Michael Eisenberg
Why does the Torah cite Eisav as demanding Yaakov to give him “this red red stuff”? What might be the hidden gem of a message in Torah text?!
Why couldn’t Lot and his wife look back at the destruction of sedom? Why did Lot’s wife turn specifically into salt?
There are only two brachot mandated by the torah? What is the relationship between and what might be the message?
Lo bashamayim hi is understood to mean that the Torah is not in the heavens. What might this mean and how would it apply to Torah living?
What is the relationship between sending away a mother bird and building a fence on a roof? Perhaps they are opposite types of mitzvot.
Why does the Torah highlight those animals who possess only one of the two kosher signs?
Why were the broken luchut placed in an aron that accompanied Bnei Yisrael while they waged battle?
Insight from the kotzker rebbe Why does the Torah command us to place its teachings upon the heart and not in the heart? Shouldn’t we want to have the Torah’s value penetrate into our hearts?!
If Bilam is responsible for ensnaring Am Yisrael, who doesn’t the Torah straight out tell and indicate as such?
Why do we make a women who secluded herself with another man go through a difficult process? Answer- It is all about trust
Why does the Torah begin with redundant language of emor (speak) v’amarta (say to them)? What might be the educational message that lies therein?
What message did Hashem need to teach Rashbi in the cave and why do we focus so much on bonfires on this day?
Rabbi Akiva’s students loved each other but failed to honour one another. What is the difference?!
Why does an individual who begins the purification process after contaminating tzaraat bring cedar wood and send away a second bird ?!
What did Bnei Yisrael do that was so bad? How does Moshe try and amend a broken relationship?
Last week we held a mental health panel with Ita Tobis and Tani Reiss on the topic of "Being Social During a Pandemic". Listen to the frank discussion of mental health during COVID-19 and learn strategies to take care of yourself during social isolation.
Thank you to our presenters and the organizing team!
Who does Rav hold like? Rabbi Yehuda (muktzah maximalist) or Rabbi Shimon (muktzah minimalist)?
If I purchase a couch with the intent to place money there is it off limits even if I have yet to use it as such? What about if the money was left there all bein hashmashot and then fell off after 2 hours?
You borrow money from a friend to help start a business. Six months after you repay the loan your friend asks to rent your cottage. You tell them you are happy to do so. Can you offer the place for free as a sign of gratitude ? Must you charge so it is not "interest"? Can you tell them thank you for the loan so please enjoy the cottage and do not pay me? What about if it is an issue and you realize it only after a few days? Do you have to pay for the fair market value of the week? Or maybe, the loan from 6 months ago has nothing to do with each other so you can say or do whatever you want?!? Please explain
Sometimes we should pursue a mitzvah of greater effort whose benefit, success is in doubt since its reward is far greater.
Based on the last few pages from his book "Letter in the Scroll" and a whiteboard video "Why I am a Jew", we seek each week to read a paragraph or two and dissect its meaning, profundity and relevance.
What did Bnei Yisrael do that was so wrong did they commit the more hedious crime that they were deserving of destrcution?
“Most people do not listen with the intent to understand they listen with the intent to reply” Stephen Covey. Yitro listened properly and so should we.
Why did Bnei Yisrael only sing by the yaf suf and not after experiencing the miracles in Egypt?
Why did Hashem feel the need to inflict ten plagues onto Parosh and Egypt? Couldn’t He just make them go to sleep and have the Jewish people walk out of Egypt and avoid devastation and destruction ?!
Why was it promised told Avraham that Bnei Yisrael would leave with great wealth ?
Why was Moshe told even by the snei that Bnei Yisrael will leave Egypt with great weath ?
What does it mean to be alive ? How is Yaakov's blessing to his grandchildren the paradigm of blessing?
A more in depth look at the significance of the day. In tanach, Jewish history, Jewish thought and halacha.
Leadership; why was Yehdua the leader of his family and why will future leaders come from him ?
Why does Divrei Hayamim tell us that Reuven, although was the first born, is not the leader nor does he receive his double portion?
Must there be tension between Athens and Jerusalem? Let's together learn from Yoma 69 and examine when Athens appreciated Jerusalem.
Jewish law is a manifestation of a reality. The mitzvah of Chanukah is one of the most celebrated holy-days on the Jewish calendar. It is the most celebrated holiday on college campuses. Why is that? Many reasons are given. I want to share with you a few reasons and demonstrate from Jewish law (halacha) that our sages felt that it truly is the most beloved holy-day(s)!
Why can't we, as part ofthe chidlren of Yaakov, eat the sciatic nerve? Becasue of a battle between Yaakov and an angel. Seems like a very odd reason. What might be the meaming behind such a law?
Why did Shimon and Levi destory the trick the people of Shechem? Where they justified in their actions? How do we understand Yaakov's odd reaction to their massacre?
You purchase a comic book for $5. You do some research and discover that it is worth $100. You go back to purchase 4 more. The seller wonders why you are purchasing so many of the same book and does research and realizes the true value. Does the seller have a right to demand you give back all of books for $5 each? Perhaps just the last 4 (and not the first) since he did not know the true value of what he was selling but you knew what you were purchasing and taking advantage of his ignorance? Explain. This is a tough but fun one… a good way to end the semester !
You arrive in your hotel room and realize your forgot your can of ginger ale in the car. You decide to take a can from the hotel fridge to settle your stomach. Can you replace it with a can you buy from the local Walmart/Target to save yourself $2? After all, you are replacing the can you took with the exact same can; the hotel is not losing! Or must you pay the hotel the $3 that they charge for a can of pop?
What does the Torah tell us that Eisav was called red (= Edom)? Why does the Torah tell us that Eisav asked for that "red red" stuff to gobble up?!
Your friend asks you to do him a favour that when you go to the shuk to pick up wine to please also buy rugalach for him. He gives you 35 shekels. The owner gives you the rugalach and says, “here are two extra for Shabbat kodesh!” Can you eat both of them? One of them? None of them?
You borrow a bike and offer to pay, whom you think is the owner, $15. When you return the bike you realize that you asked permission from the wrong person. Must you give the $15 to the real owner or can you just keep it?
Why did Rabbi Sacks dedicate so much of his time and energy to the siddur ? How did he understand tefilah ?
What is the relationship between Torah and tefilah? How did Chazal construct the siddur to incorporate these ideas?
There is no question there lies a theological question as to how a just God could demand human sacrifice, I actually think the Torah itself is really teaching us a different lesson when it comes to the akeidah.
Must you give a lift to someone you know who is waiting by a bus stop heading in the same direction as you?
We have said it many times. Now let's stop and think about it in the context of halacha and hashkafa. What and why are we saying these words? Please join me each week as we grow together.
In the aftermath of the war of the 5 vs 4 kings, why does the Torah begin to tell us of Avraham's encounter with the King of Sedom only to cut the scene and describe the interaction with the King of Shalem m Malki Tzedek? What might these two opposite encounters teach us?
What is Kosher at the local coffee shop? What questions do I ask? Does it matter hot or cold drinks?
Based on an insight that I read 20+ years ago from, at the time and unknown Jewish scholar who is now a well known brilliant creative educator, Rabbi David Fohrman. You will not want to miss this understanding of a formative story in the Torah!
Rav Kook in a number of places in his writings discusses the ideal of the etrog, how its bark tastes the same as if its fruit thereby returning to the pre sin natural world, a world where the ideal of the process and means provides the same excitment and sweetness as the end itself.
What is the meaing of tashlich ? It cant be that I throw bread at a duckand fish and I am forgiven....
We want a refund! No shofar tomorrow! Do you know why? Do you know why it is the very same reason as to why we must adhere to govt regulations during covid-out of a concern for others!
What is the meaing of the shofar ? Is it to connect us to the past ? Future? Present?
Really it is all about taking your car in after you have hit the curb.. Listen to find out!
Enjoy this understanding of Rosh Hashana. What really is truah and how should we be feeling on these days especially with no shofar
Join me in trying to understand complex verses in the Torah portion and learn insight from them.
Why do we use the imagery of a poor person knocking on the door during slichot? What is the significance of such a visual and where else do we read about it in Tanach that might shed light on its liturgical usage.