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About the Author
Rabbi Ari Kahn
Rabbi Ari Kahn graduated from Yeshiva University with a BA in psychology, an Masters in Talmud, and rabbinic ordination where he studied with Rabbi Yosef Dov Soloveitchik. He is Director of Foreign Student Programs at Bar-Ilan University in Israel, and a senior lecturer in Jewish studies. Rabbi Kahn is Vice President of Migdal Ohr Institutions in Israel, and a senior educator at the Aish HaTorah College of Jewish Studies. He has published numerous books, "Explorations" and "Echoes of Eden" on the Torah, and "Emanations" on the Jewish holidays. Rabbi Kahn combines the mystical explorations of kabbala and chassidism with psychology, literature and Jewish history for a broad-minded approach to Torah study. He has lived in Israel since 1984 with his wife Naomi and their five children.
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Ketz Bavel -Zerubavel
by Rabbi Ari KahnThe tale of Yaakov's family life unfolds as a dramatic story, replete with jealousy, punctuated by hatred, and nearly culminating in fratricide: ...
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Dancing in the Streets_
by Rabbi Ari KahnThe mystical roots of Tu B'Av -- one of the most important days of the Jewish year.
Yaakov / Yisrael
by Rabbi Ari KahnYISRAEL1 And Yaakov was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. (Bereishit 32:25) Late one night a ...
Yaakov's Ladder
by Rabbi Ari KahnYAAKOV'S LADDER1 ESCAPE FROM BE'ERSHEVA 2 The Parsha begins with Yaakov on the run, ordered by his parents, but propelled by fear of his ...
The Voice (and Hands) of Yaakov
by Rabbi Ari KahnTHE VOICE (AND HANDS) OF YAAKOV1 THE VOICE OF ESAV And her days to bear are fulfilled, and lo, twins [are] in her womb; and the first came out ...
A Living Well
by Rabbi Ari KahnThis week's shiur is dedicated to the memory of my mother-in-law, Mrs. Bernice Linder, who passed away this past Thursday in NY May the words of ...
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Goat for Azazel
by Rabbi Ari KahnIn the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, Yom Kippur had two unusual rituals in Jewish life: The entrance of the High Priest into the Holy of Holies, and the selection of twin goats. What's behind all this?
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Sukkot: The Universal Holiday
by Rabbi Ari KahnThe essence of Sukkot is living with God, not questioning, but accepting, trusting.
Elevation
by Rabbi Ari KahnIt is frightening: "Some time later God tested Avraham." It is dramatic and haunting: "Take your son, your only son, Yitzchak whom you love." It ...
The Universal and the Particular
by Rabbi Ari KahnTHE UNIVERSAL AND THE PARTICULAR 1 It begins with a word, a command - or perhaps a test: The LORD had said to Abram, "Leave your country, your ...
The Raven - Nevermore?
by Rabbi Ari Kahn..."Prophet!" said I, "thing of evil! - prophet still, if bird or devil! Whether Tempter sent, or whether tempest tossed thee here ashore, Desolate ...
Clothing of Light
by Rabbi Ari KahnCLOTHING OF LIGHT1 In the aftermath of man's sin in Eden, Adam and Eve find themselves exposed, vulnerable, humiliated - naked. And the eyes of ...
Not Blowing the Shofar: Kabbalat Ol Malchut...
by Rabbi Ari KahnOn Rosh Hashanah which falls on Shabbat we desist from blowing the Shofar. At first glance this is a very strange practice – or non-practice. The ...
The Ten Comandments: Part II
by Rabbi Ari KahnLast week, we studied the Torah portion dealing with the revelation of the Torah at Sinai, we learned that while only ten commandments were ...
Wisdom of the Tzaddik
by Rabbi Ari KahnIn this week's Parsha there is a major breakdown of Ya'akov's family unit. While the more serious crime of fratricide is avoided, the sale of Yosef ...
Goat for Azazel
by Rabbi Ari KahnThe objective of Yom Kippur is to bring about forgiveness for the entire people: "For on that day I will forgive you, to purify you from all your ...
Revelation and Concealment
by Rabbi Ari Kahn"Bereishit bara"; with these words the Torah embarks on an epic theological journey. The word Bereishit seems simple to define and ...
The Three Sins
by Rabbi Ari KahnThe major message of Parshat V'etchanan is the idea of One God. The exalted prayer, the Sh'ma is found here. The Sh'ma may be seen as the pinnacle ...
Vows
by Rabbi Ari KahnParshat Matot begins with vows and oaths. Although in English a "vow" and an "oath" are virtually synonymous, in Hebrew – ...
"Manna or Thistles"
by Rabbi Ari KahnIn last week's Torah portion, Parshat Korach, the Israelites were in their second year of wandering in the desert. Suddenly, now, in Parshat Chukat ...
To Climb the Mountain
by Rabbi Ari KahnOf all the sins which the children of Israel perpetrated in the desert, the one with the most far reaching consequences was the sin of the spies. ...
Trespass
by Rabbi Ari KahnParshat Naso begins with a continuation of the themes enumerated in the previous parsha, Bamidbar: the role of the tribe of Levi is elaborated, ...
The Desert
by Rabbi Ari KahnThis week we begin a new book, the book of "Numbers," known in Hebrew as Bamidbar meaning "In the Desert." The English name for ...
The Omer
by Rabbi Ari KahnThe days between Passover and Shavuot are known as the days of the Omer. These 49 days are counted as we anxiously await the 50th day – ...
What's Love Got To Do With It?
by Rabbi Ari KahnThis week's Torah reading contains one of the central teachings of Judaism, the command to "Love one's neighbor." This command impacts ...
When Pigs Fly
by Rabbi Ari KahnOne of the most paradigmatic aspects of Jewish practice has been the prohibition against non-kosher food in general and pork in particular. The pig ...
Shabbat HaGadol
by Rabbi Ari KahnThe Shabbat prior to Passover is called Shabbat HaGadol. The source of the term is unclear as it is not found in the Tanach or Talmudic literature,1 ...
Vayikra - And He Called
by Rabbi Ari KahnThe Book of Leviticus ostensible marks a clear new beginning. A glance at Leviticus reveals a book quite different from the other books of the ...
Bringing Down the Shechina
by Rabbi Ari KahnThe Book of Exodus comes to an end with the establishment of the Tabernacle in the desert. In a sense, the consecration of the Tabernacle, and ...
My Great-Grandfather's Monument
by Rabbi Ari KahnThis week (Shushan Purim) marks the Yahrziet of my great-grandfather, Harav Yair Halevi Chamedes, Zatz"al, Rav of Riminiv, and later Rav of the ...
A Question of Race?
by Rabbi Ari KahnThis week, following the reading of Parshat Truma, we read a special section of the Torah called Zachor, "Remember": Remember what ...
These Are the Laws
by Rabbi Ari KahnThis week's Torah portion begins with the words of God directed to Moses: "These are the mishpatim (i. e. laws, judgments, ordinances) that ...
The Word of God
by Rabbi Ari KahnAs the Jews await the revelation at Sinai, they gather at the foot of the mountain, anxiously anticipating the momentous events which would shortly ...
Laws
by Rabbi Ari KahnAfter the momentous Exodus and the spectacular splitting of the Red Sea the Jews find themselves at Marah: So Moses brought Israel from the Red ...
The First Born
by Rabbi Ari KahnPlague after plague befall the Egyptians, nonetheless Pharaoh remains steadfast in his refusal to release the Israelites. Finally the last plague, ...
Pharaoh's Heart
by Rabbi Ari KahnOne of the most intriguing elements of the Exodus story is the interplay between God and Pharaoh. Though they never actually speak directly, it is ...
Moses' Stop
by Rabbi Ari KahnThe Book of Exodus begins with the children of Israel in Egypt, suffering the pains of enslavement. God "remembers" His people, and sends ...
Who Are These?
by Rabbi Ari KahnParshat Vayechi is the last portion in the Book of Genesis. One of the major messages of Genesis has been the theme of the younger brother ...
The Power of an Idea
by Rabbi Ari KahnThe tension which has been building up in the text finally reaches its crescendo. Joseph can no longer contain himself: Then Joseph could not ...
Joseph as "Yehosef"
by Rabbi Ari KahnParshat Miketz begins with Joseph languishing in prison in Egypt. He has been forgotten by his would-be savior, the reinstated servant of Pharaoh. ...
Clothes Make the Man
by Rabbi Ari KahnThe story of Joseph is one of the saddest in the Book of Genesis. The sons of Jacob are remembered for the near- fratricide, rather than for ...
Reuben
by Rabbi Ari KahnWhile Parshat Vayetzei told us about Jacob's marriage and fatherhood, Parshat Vayishlach unveils some of the problems which Jacob experiences with ...