The Book of Dvarim lists four names for Mount Hermon. The first three, Hermon, Sirion and Snir are found in Dvarim 3:8-9: At that time we took from the two kings of the Amorites the land beyond the Jordan, from Arnon Stream to Mount Hermon- the Sidonians call Hermon...
Elegy (Kina) 41, “O Torah, by fire consumed” which is recited on Tisha B’Av morning was written by the legendary Halachic authority, the Maharam of Rothenberg, Rabbi Meir ben Baruch who lived from1215-1293. He was born in Germany and then went to study in France where...
Celebrating 20 years of Aliya!In the Book of Dvarim, B’nai Yisrael get ready to finally enter the Land of Israel with Yehoshua. Before they arrive, they need God’s guidance as to how they will live their national lives on their own land. Dvarim therefore...
Parshat Devarim is always read on the Shabbat before Tisha B’Av (the ninth day of the Hebrew month of Av) the saddest day on the Jewish calendar. Originally, Tisha B’Av was supposed to be the happiest day of the year. How did it happen that the happiest...
In Parshat Dvarim (Dvarim 1:22-25), we read about the process that Moshe went through in sending the scouts:All of you approached me and said: “Let us send men ahead of us and let them spy out the Land and bring word back to us: the road on which we should...
Within the span of less than a week, we will read the word “eicha”, “how”, from three different books of TaNaCh. This Shabbat it will be read in both Parshat Dvarim and in the Haftara from Yishayahu and on Tisha B’Av night it will be read...
In Parshat Dvarim (Dvarim 1:22), Moshe recounts: “You approached me, all of you, and said, ‘Let us send men ahead of us to spy out the Land for us, and let them bring back word to us, the route that we are to go up on and the cities that we will be coming...
In Honor of My 12th Aliya AnniversaryThe Haftara for the Shabbat before Tisha B’Av, Yishayahu 1:1-27, the third of the Haftarot of affliction, puts us in the somber mood of Tisha B’Av. In fact some of the words of the Haftara sound like they are right out...
On Shabbat Chazon, the Shabbat before Tisha B’Av, we read the third Haftara of affliction (Yishayahu 1:1-27). According to Rabbi Mendel Hirsch, the prophet is not lamenting the destruction of the Beit HaMikdash (Temple). Rather he is lamenting the causes for the...
As I read through this week's Haftara (Yishayahu 1:1-27) I feel like I am reading a prophecy that was directed towards the religious leadership in Israel today.God is telling the Jewish people that He is not interested in their sacrifices, prayers or holiday...
Parshat Devarim opens with the story of the Meraglim (spies). Why do we need to review the story of the spies? After all, we just read about it a few weeks ago in Parshat Shlach. The review of the story of the spies reminds the new generation that is about to...
Sponosred by Sharona Halickman Celebrating Seven Years of Aliya! When we announced our plans to make aliya seven years ago, many people came over and congratulated us. As well, there were those who confronted us with the following responses: 1. It...
When thinking of Biblical cities, what usually comes to mind? Jerusalem, Chevron, Shechem…Eilat? Although you may not think of Eilat as a holy city, it is in fact a Biblical city mentioned in Parshat Dvarim 2:8: “We passed over from our brothers the...
In Devarim 1:22 we are reminded of the sin of the spies. Moshe recounts: “Vatikrevun elai kulchem…”, “All of you approached me and said: ‘Let us send men ahead of us and let them spy out the Land and bring word back to us: the road on...
In Devarim 2:26 we see that Moshe sent out messengers to Sichon, King of Cheshbon with words of peace. Why did Moshe try to make peace after God already told him in sentence 24 “Behold I have given into your hand Sichon the Emorite, King of Cheshbon and his...
In the first chapter of Devarim, the story of the Meraglim (spies) and the fact that they were hesitant to inherit the Land of Israel is summarized. The Gemara in Taanit 29a recounts: Rabbah said in the name of Rabbi Yochanan: The meraglim returned from their forty...
The book of Devarim opens with the words “elu hadevarim asher diber Moshe b’ever hayarden…”, “These are the words that Moshe addressed to all of Yisrael on the other side of the Jordan…”According to the Sfat Emet, when...
In Parshat Devarim we see a reaffirmation of God’s gift of the Land of Israel to the Jewish People. “Turn and travel for yourselves and arrive at the Emorite hill region and at all its neighbors- on the plain on the mountain in the lowland in the Negev and...