In addition to the Mishkan/Sanctuary which the Jews were told to build in the desert, the Medrash tells us that there was a second Sanctuary, a Sanctuary of Testimony. What exactly was the function of this second Sanctuary? When Moshe announced the mitzvah to build the Mishkan, the people were excited and donated generously. Despite more »
By Rabbi Mordechai Rhine The Torah begins by stating that G-d created the world. Rashi asks a powerful question. We know that the Torah is not a history book. It is a book of lessons. Why doesn’t the Torah skip the discussion of creation and instead start with mitzvos and lessons of the Torah? Rashi more »
By Rabbi Mordechai Rhine The Great Flood was on its way. G-d had promised that if the people did not repent he would destroy the inhabitants of the world and start again. Only the righteous Noach and his family would be saved. Noach built a Teivah- or Ark- for his family. Soon afterwards it began more »
By Rabbi Mordechai Rhine Last week we encountered Noach. Noach was a righteous man who lived in troubled times. His generation is described as a wicked one. Noach was assigned the difficult mission of trying to influence people to improve. Try as he might he couldn’t influence even one person outside his immediate family. Contrast more »
When Opportunity Knocks by Rabbi Mordechai Rhine Rabbi Akiva’s students were having a rough day. Perhaps they had been up late the night before diligent in their studies. Or, perhaps they had been up late helping out at home. No matter. It looked like it was going to be one sleepy day in the yeshiva. more »
Rabbi Mordechai Rhine Rivka was finally pregnant. After years of prayer- and people wondering if indeed the legacy of Avraham would have a future- she was finally bearing a child. Yet Rivka was confused. When she passed a place of Torah- type/ moral study, the child became very excited as if he wanted to come more »
By Rabbi Mordechai Rhine Yakov fled his parent’s home and arrived in Charan, where he saw the shepherds waiting with their flocks. “What are you waiting for?” he asked them. They told him that they wait until all the shepherds gather, and then, together, they remove the rock that is on top of the well. more »
Yakov was on the verge of success. He had fulfilled his parents directive to go to the house of Lavan and get married. There he remained righteous despite the challenges, starting the Jewish family, and planning to build the Jewish nation on this strong foundation. But, “Yakov remained alone.” The commentaries explain that as they more »
By Rabbi Mordechai Rhine As Yakov entered Mitzrayim he was concerned. Would it be possible to raise the Jewish family in such an exile. He sent Yehuda ahead to start a Yeshiva which he hoped would teach and inspire his descendents. But it wasn’t until he saw Yosef’s sons, Efraim and Menashe, that he gained confidence more »
Yakov was preparing for the greatest challenge of his life. He was entering the land of Mitzrayim, a land known for its perversions and immorality. He was doing so with his entire family, some 70 people. And somehow, he strategized, he would manage to keep his family loyal to Hashem and to His code of more »