Deuteronomy 11:26 – 16:17 || Isaiah 66:1-24

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 is unknown. Yet, from the days of Adam, Avraham and Yaakov, the location of the Holy Temple has been known. Has G-d really not yet chosen the place of His Chosen House? or is G-d simply waiting for Israel to choose likewise, and build the Holy Temple?»…more:

Shabbat Shalom

Deuteronomy 7:12 – 11:25 || Isaiah 49:14 – 51:3

Commentary by Rabbi Chaim Richman for The Temple Institute, Jerusalem, Israel:
«Moshe passionately describes the beauty and bounty of the land of Israel to his people. Moshe, himself, won’t be entering into the land with them, but he must make it clear to the children of Israel that the land of Israel is not just the final destination of their physical journey out of Egypt, but the place in which their dutiful and constant adherence to Torah will enable G-d to shower then with endless blessings»…more:

Shabbat Shalom

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 of the Shema each year in the Torah portion read immediately after the 9th of Av?»…more:

Shabbat Shalom

Please note that parashat MATOT is being read in the land of Israel this Shabbat.

Galut: „PINCHAS“: Numbers 25:10 – 30:1 || Jeremiah 1:1 – 2:3

Commentary by Rabbi Chaim Richman for The Temple Institute, Jerusalem, Israel:
«“A generation goes and a generation comes,“ said Kohelet, and that is exactly what we are witnessing in the meteoric rise of Pinchas, the history making appeal of the daughters of Tzelaphchad, and the appointment of Yehoshua bin Nun to lead Israel into the promised land. The generation of the desert, led and fed by G-d, with the help of Moshe, Aharon and Miriam, has given way to the generation of the land of Israel, whose new leaders will give voice and expression to the will of HaShem»…more:

Shabbat Shalom

Please note that parashat PINCHAS is being read in the land of Israel this Shabbat.

Galut: „BALAK“: Numbers 22:2 – 25:9 || Micha 5:6 – 6:8

Commentary by Rabbi Chaim Richman for The Temple Institute, Jerusalem, Israel:
«The heathen prophet Bilaam specialized in locating and channeling G-d’s momentary anger in order to achieve the curses by which he won his infamy. But what is G-d’s fleeting wrath compared to His abundant and overflowing love which the nation of Israel is commanded to cleave to, be nourished by, to live by and to bless all nations by? Confronted with Israel’s righteousness, Bilaam’s curse had no purchase, and his ’special ops‘ mission on Balak’s behest proved a total failure»…more:

Shabbat Shalom

Please note that parashat BALAK is being read in the land of Israel this Shabbat.

Galut: „CHUKAT“: Numbers 19:1 – 22:1 || Judges 11:1-33

Commentary by Rabbi Chaim Richman for The Temple Institute, Jerusalem, Israel:
«The Thin Red Line: Parashat Chukat describes so many seemingly unrelated events, yet it is the profound fundamental truth contained in the commandment of the red heifer – parah adumah – that ties all these events so tightly together»…more:

Shabbat Shalom

Please note that parashat CHUKAT is being read in the land of Israel this Shabbat.

Galut: „KORACH“: Numbers 16,1 – 18,32 || 1 Samuel 11:14 – 12:22

Commentary by Rabbi Chaim Richman for The Temple Institute, Jerusalem, Israel:
«Twas arrogance and jealousy, pride and a lack of faith in both Moshe and HaShem which swallowed up Korach, causing his precipitous demise. Brilliant and charismatic, he could have been a contender instead of a poster boy for the sin of self aggrandizement, which is his sole claim to fame to this very day»…more:

Shabbat Shalom

Please note that parashat KORACH is being read in the land of Israel this Shabbat.

Galut: „Shelach Lecha“: Numbers 13:1 – 15:41 || Joshua 2

Commentary by Rabbi Chaim Richman for The Temple Institute, Jerusalem, Israel:
«The reality which exists all around us reflects the reality that we create within our own selves, based on our trust in G-d and our openness to let Him into our hearts. A lesson learned the hard way by the spies who searched out the land of Israel»…more:

Shabbat Shalom

Please note that parashat NASO is being read in the land of Israel this Shabbat.
Galut: BEMIDBAR: Numbers 1:1 – 4:20 || Hosea 2:1-22

The Festival of Shavuot
Commentary by Rabbi Chaim Richman for The Temple Institute, Jerusalem, Israel:
«Like the Torah itself, Shavuot, the holiday which celebrates the receiving of Torah at Sinai, is multifaceted. Not only does Shavuot merit a multiple of names, its meaning and its observance incorporate a multitude of messages. But ultimately, the unified message of Shavuot is to celebrate the receiving of Torah everyday, by making it come to life, in our lives, and in this world. Chag Sameach – have a happy and meaningful Shavuot»…more:

Shabbat Shalom veShavuot Sameach

Please note that parashat EMOR is being read in the land of Israel this Shabbat.
Galut KEDOSHIM: Leviticus 19:1 – 20:27 || Amos 9:7-15 [Seph: Ezekiel 20:2-20]

Commentary by Rabbi Chaim Richman for The Temple Institute, Jerusalem, Israel:
«“Be holy!“ G-d commands us, „for I, HaShem your G-d, am holy.“ Just as G-d loves man, so are we to love our fellow man and treat him accordingly. This is how G-d expects us to fulfill His commandment to be holy. Not by stepping back away from the world, but by stepping in: be holy – be engaged»…more:

Shabbat Shalom