Shabbat SHELACH Video Commentary...

Numbers 13:1 – 15:41 || Joshua 2 Commentary by Rabbi Chaim Richman for The Temple Institute, Jerusalem, Israel: «The generation of the desert paid a high price for their lack of belief in themselves, but received the sweetest and most profound affirmation of G-d’s belief in them: the promise that their children will indeed enter the land, build the Holy Temple, and share time and space in the promised land...

Shabbat Acharei Mot-Kedoshim Video Commentary...

Leviticus 16:1 – 20:27 || Amos 9:7-15 Commentary by Rabbi Chaim Richman for The Temple Institute, Jerusalem, Israel: «“You shall be holy, for I, HaShem, your G-d, am holy.“ What does it mean to be holy? How are we to achieve it as individuals? And how are we to achieve it as a nation?»…more: Shabbat Shalom

Parashat KI TAVO Video Commentary...

Deuteronomy 26:1 – 29:8 || Isaiah 60:1-22 click here « Rosh Hashanah greeting cards / picture postcards for free Commentary by Rabbi Chaim Richman for The Temple Institute, Jerusalem, Israel: «The bringing of the first-fruits to the Holy Temple is the supreme reality check by which we recognize G-d’s constant presence in our lives, and the undeniable fact that all we have is by virtue of His desire to bless...

Parashat Re’eh Video Commentary...

Deuteronomy 11:26 – 16,17; (Rosh Chodesh) Numbers 28:9-15 || Isaiah 66 Commentary by Rabbi Chaim Richman for The Temple Institute, Jerusalem, Israel: „Can G-d choose? Hasn’t G-d already decided how the world works and what He expects out of man? Yet parashat Re’eh keeps referring to „the place which G-d will choose… to rest His name.“ What makes Mount Moriah, the place of the...

Parashat EMOR Temple Institute Commentary...

Israel: Behar (Leviticus 25:1-26:2) Galut: Emor (Leviticus 21:1 – 24:23): Commentary by Rabbi Chaim Richman for The Temple Institute, Jerusalem, Israel: The Holy Temple is not simply a unique place and time within which G-d’s presence dwells and can be experienced by all who enter. The Holy Temple, within which G-d’s presence is overwhelmingly in the here and now, shapes for all humanity, near and far,...

Parashat TZAV Video Commentary...

Leviticus 6:1 – 8:36 || Jeremiah 7:21 – 8:3 & 9:22-23 Commentary by Rabbi Chaim Richman for The Temple Institute, Jerusalem, Israel: Confusion reigns in our modern world, and every aspect of modern society seems to feed on this confusion, fanning the flames of man’s existential disconnect with his own true self. The Holy Temple, and more specifically, the offering of animals on the stone altar in the...

Parashat TETZAVE Video Commentary...

Exodus 27:20 – 30:10 || Ezekiel 43:10–27 Commentary by Rabbi Chaim Richman for The Temple Institute, Jerusalem, Israel: „It’s a bird, it’s a plane…“ no, it’s just the Kohen Gadol, ordinary mortal but super-hero, nonetheless, serving G-d in the Holy Temple. With the powers vested in his priestly vestments, the integrity which fills his heart and his unfettered love for his brethren...

VAYEITZEI Video Commentary...

Genesis 28:10–32:3; Hosea 11:7 – 12:12   Commentary by Rabbi Chaim Richman for The Temple Institute, Jerusalem: „Avraham saw his appointed meeting place with G-d as a distant and foreboding mountain, (Mount Moriah), and Yitzchak envisioned the Holy Temple to be a field, accessible and alive. But it was Yaakov who understood the Holy Temple to be a home, a nurturing, loving center in which G-d and all...

Parashat NASO Readings and Video Commentary...

Numbers 4:21 – 7:89 || Judges 13:2-25   Commentary by Rabbi Chaim Richman, The Temple Institute, Jerusalem: „Out in the desert the nation of Israel is instructed to set up her encampments around all four sides of the Tabernacle. This is not merely to provide equal access for all the tribes to the Tabernacle, nor is it merely for the purpose of defending the Tabernacle from outside threats, as essential as...

Diaspora: Shmini – Israel: Tazria-Metzora Vi...

Diaspora/Galut Shabbat Shmini: Leviticus 9:1 – 11:47 || 1st Samuel 20,18-42 Video Commentary s. b. (Israel: Parashat Shabbat Tazria-Metzora)   Commentary by Rabbi Chaim Richman, The Temple Institute, Jerusalem: „Nadav and Avihu wanted to serve G-d in their own way, disregarding the way G-d wanted to be served, as clearly expressed in Torah. The sons of Aharon were righteous men and the arrogance they...