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Avraham Bronstein

Jul 23, 2017, 10:10 AM

Each Stop Along the Way

In 2013, the New York Times Magazine ran a cover story on breast cancer, which included the incredible statistic that, since 1972, only a half percent of all grants awarded by the National Cancer Institute focused on metastatic cancer....

Jul 21, 2017, 11:44 PM

Sometimes True Power Isn’t Using It

This week's Torah portion (Matot/Mas'ey) can teach us a lesson about the incendiary events on the Temple Mount/Haram Al Sharif. Firstly, we are exposed to how the Torah permits women to be seen as property subjugated to men. If...

William Hamilton

Jul 21, 2017, 6:44 PM

Essential Israel

The Bible’s overall story is driven by a journey to the land. Abraham and Sarah’s arrival in the land launches our Jewish story. Their descendants’ return to the land under Cyrus the Persian ruler brings the Bible to a...

Jul 21, 2017, 10:44 AM

Leonard Cohen, the Sisters of Mercy and Disability Advocacy

Being a self-advocate is not easy. When we have one specific problem, it is reasonably manageable to report on the problem and be involved in finding a solution. But as we discovered last week, in Parshat Pinchas, successful self-advocacy...

Jul 21, 2017, 8:45 AM

Masei — Secret of the Cities of Refuge and Tree of Life

The secret of the six Cities of Refuge on both sides of the Jordan River is the secret of the Tree of Life. The Ten Sefirot Hermon is the highest mountain in Israel which is covered with snow all winter. When...

Jul 20, 2017, 1:50 PM

“A Short Treatise on Zionism” Parashat Mattot – Masaei 5777

I probably should have written this shiur when I was a young, foaming-at-the-mouth idealist. It probably would have come out very differently. But, alas, we cannot turn back time and so before you is a two-page treatise on Zionism...

Jul 20, 2017, 1:49 PM

The prophetic voice

The sharp truths of the biblical prophets' message of exile and return are equally essential today (Matot-Masei)

Sharona Margolin Halickman

Jul 19, 2017, 9:46 PM

The Importance of Open Spaces

In Parshat Masei we read about the land that will be given to the Leviim, Levites (Bamidbar 35:2-5): Instruct B’nei Yisrael and have them give to the Leviim for their hereditary possession, cities in which to settle; and open space...

Ben-Tzion Spitz

Jul 18, 2017, 5:55 PM

Matot-Masai: On Capital Punishment

Murder is unique in that it abolishes the party it injures, so that society has to take the place of the victim and on his behalf demand atonement or grant forgiveness; it is the one crime in which society...

Ariel Ben Avraham

Jul 16, 2017, 11:15 PM

Parshat Matot-Massei: Unifying consciousness in goodness

“When a man vows a vow to the Lord, or has sworn an oath to bind a bond on his soul, he does not pollute his word. According to all that is going out from his mouth he does.”...

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