_(english).jpg "Taking the Spiritual Dive")
_(english).jpg "Genetic Screening for Breast Cancer Genes")
_(english).jpg "When Bad Things Happen")
_(english).jpg "Judaism and the 12-Step Program")
+.jpg "Knowledge and Wisdom")
+.jpg "Moshe, Miriam and Prophecy")
+.jpg "Don't Give Up")
+.jpg "Those Who Are Not Here")
Those Who Are Not Here
by Dr. Avigdor BonchekWe have two parshiot this week, Nitzavim and Vayelech. Both are Moses' last words to the Nation-Israel. Moses begins by describing the 'Brit,' the ...
The First Fruits
by Dr. Avigdor BonchekThe parsha begins with the laws of the First Fruits and the blessing one must say when he brings his Fruits to Jerusalem. Deuteronomy ...
The Beautiful Woman
by Dr. Avigdor BonchekThe Parsha begins with a very unusual law: The Law of the Beautiful Woman captured in battle. Deuteronomy 21:11 "And you will see among the ...
Bribery
by Dr. Avigdor BonchekThis parsha deals mainly with the laws that are relevant for the just running of a society. The Torah teaches how this can be ...
To Love Hashem
by Dr. Avigdor BonchekIn this week's parsha we have one of the most central (if not THE central) mitzva in the Torah: "loving and serving God." Rashi gives us ...
Shabbat And Redemption
by Dr. Avigdor BonchekThis sedra repeats the Ten Commandments, which we had in Parshat Yitro in the Book of Exodus. There are some differences between the two. We will ...
These Are The Words
by Dr. Avigdor BonchekRashi's first comment in the Book of Deuteronomy is one that shows concern for the honor of the people of Israel. This is characteristic of Rashi. ...
With The Sword
by Dr. Avigdor BonchekIn Parshat Matot, Moses is given the command to take revenge on the Midianites for what they did (Numbers 25:1-9) to cause the Jews to sin. In their ...
Freedom Of Will
by Dr. Avigdor BonchekNumbers 22:35 (After Bilaam's confrontation with his trouble-making donkey, the angel of God says to him:) "Go with ("im" in ...
Evil To Our Fathers
by Dr. Avigdor BonchekA drash that characteristically notices nuances in the text. Numbers 20:15 "And our fathers went down to Egypt and we dwelt in Egypt many ...
Forgiveness As You Said
by Dr. Avigdor BonchekThis parsha tells of the episode of the Spies that were sent on a mission by Moses. Unfortunately because of their negative report regarding ...
On a Distant Way
by Dr. Avigdor BonchekThe Torah discusses the laws of a person who could not bring the Pascal offering because he was either ritually impure or because he was at a ...
Shavuot 5764
by Dr. Avigdor BonchekMATAN TORAH As we prepare to read about Matan Torah on Chag Hashavuot, we will depart from our regular feature of analyzing Rashi. Our focus has ...
Friendly Fire
by Dr. Avigdor BonchekWe have a double portion Torah-reading this week, Behar-Bechukotai. We will analyze Rashi on the following verses, which speaks of the blessings ...
Day After The Sabbath
by Dr. Avigdor BonchekThis week's Parsha deals with many laws of the Kohanim. Also included are the laws of the Holy Days of the year. Vayikra 23:11 "He shall wave ...
Do Not Abide Wages
by Dr. Avigdor BonchekThis week's double Parsha contains some of the most important Mitzvos in the Torah. The laws of Yom Kippur are discussed in Achrei Mos, and in ...
Head to Toe
by Dr. Avigdor BonchekThis week we have double Torah reading: Tazria-Metzora. Both Parshiyot deal with the laws of purity and impurity. The following verse and Rashi ...
If I Had Eaten
by Dr. Avigdor BonchekBACKGROUND Aaron's sons, Nadav and Avihu, died while they were offering a self-initiated offering on the altar during the opening day ceremonies in ...
Tell Your Son
by Dr. Avigdor BonchekAt the Seder table we read the Haggada Shel Pesach. A central verse in the Haggada is from Exodus 13:8. It is the Biblical source for our custom to ...
The Anointed One
by Dr. Avigdor BonchekThe following is a puzzling comment that is a brainteaser. This is really a complex Rashi-comment. Because of the difficulty of explaining it ...
When a Prince Sins
by Dr. Avigdor BonchekA morally inspiring comment, whose psychological kernel is eternally true. We begin a new sefer this week, the third of the five books, Sefer ...
The First Month
by Dr. Avigdor BonchekThis week we also read Parshat HaChodesh, the portion of the new moon, from Parshat Bo, Exodus Chapter 12. This is the last of the four Parshiot ...
Then Came Amalek
by Dr. Avigdor BonchekOn Shabbos Zachor we read from Deut. 25:17. But Amalek's attack is originally recounted in the Torah in Parasha Beshalach. There (Exodus 17:8) it ...
If You Abuse Him
by Dr. Avigdor BonchekThis Parsha enumerates many "Laws Between Man and Man." The common denominator among them is that the strong is accountable for his ...
Seeing the Sounds
by Dr. Avigdor BonchekAfter the Torah relates God's giving the Ten Commandments at Mt. Sinai, (Exodus 20: 1-14) it goes on to describe some aspects of that monumental ...
Harnessing His Chariot
by Dr. Avigdor BonchekAfter Pharaoh's ignominious capitulation to God's demand to free Israel, God again hardened his heart. Pharaoh reversed his decision to allow his ...
My Name 'Hashem' Was Not Known
by Dr. Avigdor BonchekThe Parsha begins with an important prophecy that Moses receives from Hashem. Rashi's comment on verse 6:3 is a monumental comment, having great ...
Now You Will See
by Dr. Avigdor BonchekAt the end of the Parsha, after Moses had gone to Pharaoh, as God had commanded, and yet Pharaoh refused to free the nation, Moses voices his ...
