About the Author

Rabbi Zev Leff

Rabbi Zev Leff is Rav of Moshav Matisyahu, and a renowned lecturer and educator. He is the author of Shiurei Bina - Outlooks & Insights on the Weekly Torah Portion, and most recently, Shemoneh Esrei: The Depth and Beauty of Our Daily Tefillah, published by Targum Press. Visit his website online at www.rabbileff.net.

In the Eyes of Man and God

In the Eyes of Man and God

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The impact of our actions on others.

Fences of Holiness

Fences of Holiness

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Understanding the role of rabbinic fences.

Two Aspects of the Mishkan

Two Aspects of the Mishkan

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Rabbi Shmuel bar Nachmani said in the name of Rabbi Yonasan: The name Betzalel indicates his...

The Blessing of Self Knowledge

The Blessing of Self Knowledge

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"...Each according to his own blessing." (Genesis 49 28) The Sages tell us that Jacob wished to...

Four Free Days

Four Free Days

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The Midrash (Yalkut Emor 651) comments on the verse, "You should take for you on the first day,"...

Yom Kippur: Confession and Redemption

Yom Kippur: Confession and Redemption

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Understanding the function of verbal confession in the teshuva process.

Do not separate From the community

Do not separate From the community

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Today you are all standing before the Lord your God.(Deut. 29:9) After the 98 curses that the...

First and Foremost

First and Foremost

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The importance of building a strong foundation.

Fundamentals of Education

Fundamentals of Education

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"When a man has a wayward, rebellious son, who does not obey his father and mother, they shall...

A Perspective on Fear

A Perspective on Fear

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"When you go out to war against your enemy and you see horses and chariots, an army greater than...

The Love of Kindness

The Love of Kindness

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"Grant truth to Jacob, kindness to Abraham, as you swore to our forefathers from ancient...

Loving the Convert

Loving the Convert

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Why does the Torah give us this special commandment?

Double Sin, Double Comfort

Double Sin, Double Comfort

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They sinned doubly, as it says, "Jerusalem has sinned a sin." And they were stricken doubly, as it...

Torah as the Totality of God's Will

Torah as the Totality of God's Will

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"Who is the wise man that may understand this, and who is he to whom the mouth of the Lord has...

In the Eyes of Man and God

In the Eyes of Man and God

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The children of God and the children of Reuben came and spoke to Elazar the Kohen, and to the...

The Function of a Leader

The Function of a Leader

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When Moses entreated God to appoint a leader to succeed him, God answered, "Before you command Me...

The Essence of the Jewish People

The Essence of the Jewish People

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God said to Balaam, "You shall not go with them! You shall not curse the people, for it is blessed...

Reasons and Tastes

Reasons and Tastes

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The Midrash (Kohelles Rabba 7:23) relates that King Solomon made a special effort to understand...

Peace and Strife

Peace and Strife

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The Jewish definition of peace.

Sin of the Spies - Who's in Charge?

Sin of the Spies - Who's in Charge?

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Living in a material world.

Consistency and Faithfulness

Consistency and Faithfulness

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"When the Ark would travel, Moses would say, 'Arise God, and let Your foes be scattered, let...

The Nazir: a Holy Sinner

The Nazir: a Holy Sinner

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"All the days of his abstinence, he is holy to God." (Numbers 6:8) "The Kohen shall make one as a...

Like a Desert

Like a Desert

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Why was the Torah given to the Jewish nation in a desert?

Toiling in Torah

Toiling in Torah

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"If you walk in My statutes..." (Leviticus 26:3) Walking in God's statutes, say the Sages, refers...

Adapting to Imperfection

Adapting to Imperfection

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God relates to us the way we relate to Him.

Striving For Perfection

Striving For Perfection

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Sforno explains that even though there are blemishes that actually increase the strength and value...

The Individual and the Group

The Individual and the Group

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The Talmud (Sotah 14a) instructs us in the Mitzvah of imitating God in all His ways. Just as God...

Correcting Selfishness

Correcting Selfishness

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When you arrive in the land of Canaan that I give you as a possession, I will place a tzora'as...

Life and Death in the Hands of the Tongue

Life and Death in the Hands of the Tongue

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Why do we make a point to remember Miriam speaking badly about Moses?

Divine Service: Law and Ecstasy

Divine Service: Law and Ecstasy

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"The sons of Aaron, Nadav and Avihu, each took his fire pan. They put fire in them and placed...

Four Aspects of Thanksgiving

Four Aspects of Thanksgiving

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Insights into the nature of gratitude.

The Gates of Prayer

The Gates of Prayer

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The power of a small aleph.

Two Aspects of the Mishkan

Two Aspects of the Mishkan

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Rabbi Shmuel bar Nachmani said in the name of Rabbi Yonasan: The name Betzalel indicates his...

Invoking the Thirteen Attributes

Invoking the Thirteen Attributes

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Following God's promise not to destroy the Jewish people, after the sin of the Golden Calf, Moses...

The Missing Moses

The Missing Moses

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Now, if you would, please forgive their sin. If not, You can blot me out from the book that you...

Supporting the Supporter

Supporting the Supporter

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The incredible opportunity to perform mitzvot.

Ascent or Descent

Ascent or Descent

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Torah is the very lifeblood of the Jewish people.

The Art of Listening

The Art of Listening

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Attuning our ears to hear the reverberations of Sinai.

Three Days in the Desert

Three Days in the Desert

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"I declare that I will bring you out of the wretchedness of Egypt to the land of the Canaanites,...

Light Unto the Nations

Light Unto the Nations

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Why was it important that Jewish people find favor in the eyes of the Egyptians?

Torah, Nature and Love of God

Torah, Nature and Love of God

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"The Nile will swarm with frogs, and when they emerge, they will be in your palace, in your...

Living to Work

Living to Work

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Egyptian slavery and man’s drive for meaning.

Joseph's

Joseph's "sweet revenge"

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"...And they said, 'Perhaps Joseph will nurse hatred against us...' " (Genesis...

The Wagons of Assimilation

The Wagons of Assimilation

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Transferring the holiness of Israel to Egyptian soil.

Thanking God for Misfortune and Deliverance

Thanking God for Misfortune and Deliverance

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Rabbeinu Yona writes in Sha'arei Teshuva: When one receives God's chastisement and as a...

Yosef and His Brothers: The Anatomy of a Sale

Yosef and His Brothers: The Anatomy of a Sale

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Understanding this enigmatic story.

Its ways are ways of pleasantness

Its ways are ways of pleasantness

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"And Yaakov was very frightened and distressed." (Genesis 32:7) Rashi comments that Yaakov was...

The Jewish Home

The Jewish Home

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The Jewish home creates the environment of Jewish values and morals, an inner sanctum of spirituality that serves as the foundation of Judaism.

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