by Rabbi Mordechai Rhine One of the famous verses in the Torah is the one in which Moshe says, “All that Hashem asks of you is to fear Him and do His mitzvos.” The Talmud asks: Is fear of Hashem really so small an expectation? Rav Shimon Schwab observes that the Hebrew word for ask, more »
by Rabbi Mordechai Rhine The Shabbos which follows Tishah B’Av is known as Shabbos Nachamu, the Shabbos of Comfort. After we experienced the mourning of Tishah B’Av our focus turns to comfort and recovery. For example, the verse from the prophet Yeshaya which is chosen to express the theme of this Shabbos is the verse: more »
by Rabbi Mordechai Rhine The nine days of mourning, which culminate with Tishah B’Av, are a time of mourning for the loss of the Beis Hamikdash. During these days we mourn not only the physical loss of the Beis Hamikdash, but also the loss of the special love relationship that we once had with Hashem. more »
by Rabbi Mordechai Rhine The daughters of Tzelafchad were getting on in their years. All five women were remarkably righteous, but not yet married. Somehow they were not able to find suitable husbands. But when they approached Moshe for help they had something else in mind. Their father passed away in the desert, leaving no more »
by Rabbi Mordechai Rhine One of the commandments of the Torah is “You shall be proper in front of G-d, and in front of people.” That is to say, if you are doing something which is perfectly allowed but appears to people as “very non-kosher,” you should either not do it, or you should explain more »
by Rabbi Mordechai Rhine The stakes were high. The tribes of Reuvein and Gad believed that the land already conquered was best for them to pasture their enormous herds. Yet, Moshe was concerned that if they took the land already conquered the rest of the people would be demoralized. They would think that Reuvein and more »
The Key Whole by Rabbi Mordechai Rhine Moshe’s request was simple but profound. He wanted G-d to choose a person who was right for the job. When Moshe was informed that his passing was imminent, he yearned that the person to replace him would be capable of leading the people properly. So he asked that more »
Critical Moments by Rabbi Mordechai Rhine In every person’s life there are critical moments which decide the future, often for generations. One such moment occurred to Bilam who was hired to curse the Jews. As Bilam passed through a narrow passageway, an angel of mercy is sent to try to stop him from destroying himself. more »
by Rabbi Mordechai Rhine The age of the “red cow” is in dispute. According to Rabbi Eliezer is was brought at the age of 2; according to the sages it was brought at the age of 3. The medrash tells us that when Moshe was taught the topic and was told of the dispute, he more »
by Rabbi Mordechai Rhine The story of Korach is most instructive. Korach staged a rebellion against Moshe because he would have liked to have been the Kohein Gadol, the High Priest. Instead Ahron, Moshe’s brother, was appointed, and Korach could not sit still. The Medrash tells us that Yosef hid treasures in Egypt, and “one more »