Parashat Re'eh: The gift of mercy
This is our ancestral heritage, passed down through the generations, and rooted so deeply that it is part of our very nature.
This is our ancestral heritage, passed down through the generations, and rooted so deeply that it is part of our very nature.
This dynamic of student inquiry and the teacher’s patient, honest response is essential for effective and meaningful learning – for both the teacher and the student.
Prayer can be an oasis along the way. Prayer can also parallel the journeys we take in life.
Moses, the father of the nation, paved a path for generations to come: Nothing justifies an act of ingratitude. Ingratitude is never warranted in any situation.
Moses does not stand alone on Nevo – we stand with him. Together, we gaze toward a future we build but may never fully enter. Together with him, many Jews look toward a land they may never cross.
The story of Pinchas reminds us that even someone who once acted boldly in zeal can also become a leader of peace and understanding.
Compassionate eyes and a kind heart – yes. Probing eyes and a gossiping tongue – no.
Faith – even when things don’t make sense. Faith – even when life is hard. Even when we have questions, we will always remain steadfast in our beliefs.
The war with Iran was something else entirely. It was swift. It was decisive. It was beyond imagination. It felt branded by God Himself.
What is repentance? It is a small, good thought filled with love – the kind of thought that saved the sons of Korah from a tragic fate; a moment of introspection that can save any Jew from harm.
The 10 spies teach us what happens when fear rules the heart. The ma’apilim teach us of the danger of forcing reality to revive an old fantasy.