The holiday of Rosh Hashanah marks not only the beginning of a new year...it is the time when God recreates a completely new world. Every human being -- all Adam's descendants -- are judged and given…
In this week’s Jerusalem Lights podcast, Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman explore some of the profound themes of the Torah portions of Nitzavim-Vayelech, as the final Shabbat of the year leads us…
The theme of the Torah portion Ki Tavo (Deut. 26:1) is particularly powerful during this month of Elul. In this week's Jerusalem Lights podcast, Jim Long and Rabbi Chaim Richman find that the portion…
There's a thread running through this week's Torah portion of Ki Teitzei: there are holy things in this world that have gone into 'spiritual captivity,' and the work of teshuva (sincere return) is not…
The new month of Elul is upon us, and this week's Torah portion of parashat Shoftim (Deut. 16:18) always falls out at the beginning of this month. The powerful subjects in this Torah portion--…
As the concept of the Holy Temple slowly emerges in the pages of Deuteronomy, Torah is coy...rather than revealing its Divinely-chosen location, the verses describe it mysteriously as 'the place that…
This week's edition of the Jerusalem Lights podcast focuses on the ancient, Biblical holiday of 'Tu B'Av' - the Fifteenth of the month of Menachem Av, occurring this year on Wednesday, July 29th. Jim…
The observance of the fast day of Tisha B’Av this week (July 23) will mark 1956 years since the destruction of the Holy Temple. The rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem is a Torah commandment, and…
Parashat Matot, the first of this week's double Torah portions of Matot-Masei, (beginning in Numbers 30), opens with the subject of oaths and vows. Man’s ability to speak is a true reflection of the…
The Book of Deuteronomy is called 'Devarim' in Hebrew, literally 'words.' This week's parashat Devarim begins the farewell address of Moses to his beloved people of Israel, 5 weeks before he passes…
