The Festival of Shavuot...

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...

TZAV – Video Commentary on this Shabbat...

Leviticus 6:1 – 8:36 || Jeremiah 7:21 – 8:3 & 9:22-23 Commentary by Rabbi Chaim Richman for The Temple Institute, Jerusalem, Israel: «The Shlamim (Peace offering) and the Todah (Thanksgiving offering) described in parashat Tzav, both free-will, voluntary offerings, are paralleled in their essence and intention to prayer and Torah study. The burst of energy which informs the Todah offering’s urgent...

VAYECHI – Video Commentary On This Shabbat...

Genesis 47:28 – 50:26 || 1 Kings 2:1-12 Commentary by Rabbi Chaim Richman for The Temple Institute, Jerusalem, Israel: «Shhhh! The Torah reading of Vayechi teaches us the importance of keeping silent. Not all information needs to be shared. Silence can be the best weapon against unnecessarily hurting someone, when employed thoughtfully. This is the unspoken message relayed to us by Binyamin and by Yosef»…more: Shabbat...

Chanuka Lights Across the World...

Chanukah News from Across the Globe » Download Hanukkah Greeting Card »   Once a year heavenly light will be close to us. Meant is not the Christ but in a very different way Jesus of whom a Jewish tradition says: “Now it was the Feast of Dedication [Hebrew: Hanukkah] in Jerusalem, and it was winter. And Jesus walked in the temple, in Solomon’s porch.” (Gospel of John 10:22). To make a long story short, Jesus...

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...

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...

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...

VaYakhel-Pekudai – Shabbat Video Commentary...

Exodus 35:1 – 40:38; Numbers 19 || Ezekiel 36:16-38 Commentary by Rabbi Chaim Richman for The Temple Institute, Jerusalem, Israel: «The Tabernacle, (whose work is brought to completion in this week’s double Torah reading of Vayakhel-Pekudei), and Shabbat, are the twin pillars of our existence. Sanctifying the dimensions of time and space in which we live, the Tabernacle/Holy Temple and the Shabbat grant us the...

SHEMOT – Shabbat Video Commentary...

Exodus 1:1 – 6:1 || Isaiah 27:6 – 28:13; 29:22-23; Jer. 1:1 – 2,3 Commentary by Rabbi Chaim Richman for The Temple Institute, Jerusalem, Israel: «What is truly chilling about Torah’s penetrating description of the Egyptian exile and descent into slavery is not in its revelation of the horrors and dangers that the children of Israel faced in those days, but in the shocking similarity between those days...