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...

Parashat Bereshith Video Commentary...

Genesis 1:1 – 6:8 || Isaiah 42:5 – 43:10 Video Commentary by Rabbi Chaim Richman for The Temple Institute, Jerusalem: „The yearly cycle of reading the Torah, which concludes and then begins again on Simchat Torah, is a never-ending mobius strip of ever increasing self knowledge and exploration. The Torah’s concluding words, „before the eyes of all Israel,“ point to an incident which occurred...

Diaspora: Tazria-Metzora – Israel: Acharei M...

Diaspora/Galut Shabbat Tazria-Metzora: Leviticus 12:1 – 15:33 || 2nd Kings 7,3-20 Click here: Video Commentary Weekly Torah Portion: Tazria-Metzora Israel: Acharei Mot-Kedoshim (Leviticus 16:1-20:27) Yom HaZikaron-Yom HaAtzmaut   Commentary by Rabbi Chaim Richman, The Temple Institute, Jerusalem: „We merit to live in the land of Israel, promised by G-d to His people, because of the supreme sacrifice...

Parashat Shabbat Mishpatim Video Commentary...

© Lencer, Wiki CommonsExodus 21:1 – 24:18 / 30:11-16; Kings II 12::1-17   Commentary by Rabbi Chaim Richman, The Temple Institute, Jerusalem: „Circle around G-d: Celebrate, honor and sanctify life by making Him your center. This is the message of Torah from Sinai, from the simplest of commandments to the joyful observance of the three pilgrimage festivals“ …more: Shabbat Shalom

Simchat Torah and Shabbat Bereshit Readings...

Shemini Atzeret: Hallel, Deuteronomy 14:22-16:17 , Numbers 29:35-30:1, Kings 1, 8:54-66 Simchat Torah: Hallel, Deuteronomy 33:1-34:12, Genesis 1:1-2:3, Numbers 29:35-30:1, Joshua 1:1-18 Shabbat Bereshit: Genesis 1:1-6:8; Haftara: Isaiah 42:5-43:10 Download the according picture postcard / greeting card here » » The Hallel, consisting of Psalms 113 – 118, is recited for Sukkot like for Pesach (or Passover, where the...

Parashat SHOFTIM Readings and Video Commentary...

© Lencer, Wiki CommonsDeuteronomy 16:18 – 21:9 || Isaiah 51:12 – 52:12 Video Commentary by Rabbi Chaim Richman, The Temple Institute, Jerusalem: „The great concern Torah evinces for an unsolved murder, as in the case of the ‚axed calf‘ is a harsh contrast to the laws of warfare which precede it and call upon all Israelite warriors to be fearless and merciless when fighting a divinely mandated...

Parashat Vaetchanan Readings and Video Commentary...

© Lencer, Wiki CommonsDeuteronomy 3:23 – 7:11 || Isaiah 40:1-26 Video Commentary by Rabbi Chaim Richman, The Temple Institute, Jerusalem: „How important is the land of Israel? How essential is it to the children of Israel and to the fulfilling of the Torah of Israel? How crucial is it to all mankind that the nation of Israel is sovereign in the land of Israel? How vital is the land of Israel to G-d that...