As the United States finds itself in the throes of election season, we address the issue of Nedarim, and the very fact that our speech has the power to bind us religiously. Does this make sense? Do we really affect change around us, or does the Torah just want us to keep our promises?

Parshat Matot - The Power of Speech

Join us each week as we analyze a section of the weekly parshah. From a careful study of the text and the guidance of the Midrash and classic commentaries, we find that the parshah has a great deal to teach us about modern life. This class, which is given each week to the women of Yad Binyamin, Israel, takes a decidedly Zionist perspective to the parshah as well.

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Especially in Israel, religious coercion is automatically considered something negative, destructive and harmful. Yet, almost no one grows on their own. Their upbringing clearly included some level of coercion. By examining the story of the giving of the Torah, we'll look at the way God coerced the Jewish people, and how that might instruct the way we raise our own children.

Parshat Yitro - Religious Coercsion: Not as Bad as We Might Think

We often think of our own frumkeit in terms of the relationship we have with God, giving little thought to how our spirituality affects those around us, and those that we're closest with. The story of Kayin and Hevel has a great deal to teach us not only about brotherly love, but about our yearning for spirituality, competitiveness in religiosity, and the need for repentance and improvement.

Parshat Bereishit - Frumkeit on the Back of My Brother

Moshe seems to imply that making the right choices is easy as pie. But experience tells us that it's not so simple - far from it. Using the power of the Midrash, we discuss challenges in life, a convicted felon, and the how these bring us closer to Teshuvah.

Parshat Nitzavim - Is Teshuvah Really That Easy?

From the Mitzvah of Mikra Bikkurim we move to a powerful piece from Rav Kook about the purpose and meaning behind the recitation of Brachot

Ein Ayah on Ki Tavo - Finding the Spiritual in the Physical

The strange section of the Yefat To'ar raises numerous questions about both the text, and the subject matter. Why does the Torah allow a soldier to "succumb" to his urges? Three approaches to the section teach us about war, about the soul (and converts), and finally, about ourselves.

Parshat Matot - The Power of Speech

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