Ha’azinu and Special Sukkot Message...

Deuteronomy 32:1-52 || 2 Samuel 22:1-51 Commentary by Rabbi Chaim Richman for The Temple Institute, Jerusalem, Israel: «Our lives are a song whose words and melody are co-authored by ourselves and our Creator. We must take care to hear G-d’s voice and harmonize with His will. This is but one of the lessons we can glean from Ha’azinu, read this year on the Shabbat between Yom Kippur and Sukkot. If we have...

VAYELECH and the Message of Yom Kippur Video...

Deuteronomy 31 || Hosea 14:2-10; Micah 7:18-20; Joel 2:15-27 Commentary by Rabbi Chaim Richman for The Temple Institute, Jerusalem, Israel: «As Moses explains to the children of Israel, one of the most devastating ramifications of our backsliding is the self-induced illusion that G-d has abandoned us. But G-d never abandons His children. On the contrary, He yearns for our return. Yom Kippur is our G-d given opportunity...

NITZAVIM and Rosh HaShana Blessing Video...

Deuteronomy 29:9 – 30:20 || Isaiah 61:10 – 63:9 Commentary by Rabbi Chaim Richman for The Temple Institute, Jerusalem, Israel: «We are all standing before HaShem today, as we reaffirm our covenant with Him and our commitment to life: “ …love HaShem, your G-d, walk in His ways, and observe His commandments, His statutes, and His ordinances, so that you will live and increase, and HaShem, your G-d,...

KI TAVO – Shabbat Video Commentary...

Deuteronomy 26:1 – 29:8 || Isaiah 60 Commentary by Rabbi Chaim Richman for The Temple Institute, Jerusalem, Israel: «The people of Israel enters the land of Israel by virtue of the Torah of Israel and thereby becomes the nation of Israel, beloved by the G-d of Israel. This is the message, the entire message, of parashat Ki Tavo, from beginning to end, a message for Israel today, and a message for the world»…more: Shabbat...

KI TEITZEI – Shabbat Video Commentary...

Deuteronomy 21:10 – 25:19 || Isaiah 54:1-10 Commentary by Rabbi Chaim Richman for The Temple Institute, Jerusalem, Israel: «74 of the Torah’s 613 commandments, which are, in fact, G-d’s sage suggestions for us to live life by, are found in parashat Ki Teitzei – „When you go out to war against your enemies… “ Living by this code keeps G-d close as we make our way through life...

SHOFTIM – Shabbat Video Commentary...

Deuteronomy 16:18 – 21:9 || (Rosh Ch.) Isaiah 51:12 – 52:12 Commentary by Rabbi Chaim Richman for The Temple Institute, Jerusalem, Israel: «“Be wholehearted with HaShem, your G-d,“ we are told. We need to be comfortable with our selves and confident that G-d has blessed us with all that we need for the moment that we are in. Tomorrow, when it arrives, will carry the same blessing we enjoyed today»…more: Shabbat...

Re’eh – Shabbat Video Commentary...

Hallel; Deuteronomy 11:26–16:17; Numbers 28:9-15 || (Rosh Ch.) Isaiah 66 Commentary by Rabbi Chaim Richman for The Temple Institute, Jerusalem, Israel: «As Moshe readies his people for their entry into the land of Israel and the establishment of a Torah-based just society, he introduces the concept of „the place which HaShem your G-d shall choose,“ suggesting that the location of the future Holy Temple...

EIKEV – Shabbat Video Commentary...

Deuteronomy 7:12 – 11:25 || Isaiah 49:14 – 51:3 Commentary by Rabbi Chaim Richman for The Temple Institute, Jerusalem, Israel: «The promised land – the land of Israel – the land where Torah, the covenant between G-d and His people Israel, is fulfilled in the deeds and the hearts of the people, in the soil and the rivers and the mountains and the valleys of the land, the only land where all this is...

Va’etchanan – Shabbat Video Commentary...

Deuteronomy 3:22 – 7:11 || Isaiah 40:1-26 Commentary by Rabbi Chaim Richman for The Temple Institute, Jerusalem, Israel: «Shema! The six word (in Hebrew) Jewish perception of Who G-d is to us is openly revealed for the first time in this week’s Torah reading of Va’etchanan, as Moshe continues to ready his people for their future in the land of Israel. What is the message behind Torah’s inclusion...

DEVARIM – Shabbat Video Commentary...

Deuteronomy 1:1 – 3:22 || Isaiah 1:1-27 Commentary by Rabbi Chaim Richman for The Temple Institute, Jerusalem, Israel: «The Book of Deuteronomy is made up entirely of Moshe’s own words, spoke directly from his heart, which itself was filled with the voice of HaShem. Moshe’s words of gentle rebuke and steadfast encouragement for his people still ring true and relevant today. It is our duty to open our...