Torah Insights

Was the victory of the Maccabees really so conclusive? What are we celebrating?

Why does the Torah dedicate so much space to the story of finding a wife for Yitzchak?

Examines the 4 opinions identifying the tree and consider what they mean

What is our challenge on Yom Kippur? What is Hashem's role?

What are the messages of the Shofar and how do they relate to the Creation on Rosh Hashana?

Given all the blessings of Jewish life in modern times, what is there to feel mournful about?

Why do our mourning practices build as we approach Tisha Be'Av? A powerful message

Why does the Midrash tell us that Hashem shrunk the moon? What is the deep message behind the Midrash?

Is it a coincidence that Bilam and Avraham are total opposites in character?

What is the significance of Moshe and Aharon's sin of hitting the rock? How does it relate to today's educational and leadership models?

Where did the Meraglim (spies) and the Jewish people go wrong? How could a situation that seemed so promising have turned out so badly? An important lesson in life from a careful reading of Rashi

After the Nesi'im (Princes of Tribes) contribute to the Mishkan, the Torah brings a very random comment about Moshe hearing Hashem's voice from between the Keruvim. What does it mean and why is it there?

On the surface, the parsha proposes to tell us what the goal of Torah and the world is all about, but then it seems to be a bit of an anticlimax. But if we read it carefully, a very powerful message emerges...

Is Shemitta just about giving the land a rest? What deeper significance lies behind this mitzva?

Is Chametz a good or bad thing? On Pesach it seems bad, but on Shavuot - the opposite! What's going on?

"Be holy" - but what does that mean?

How does one commemorate the Shoah without becoming desensitized to the horrors of our past? We offer 4 suggestions.

How did the Shabbat before Pesach get this mysterious title?

How do we come to terms with this mysterious illness associated with sin?

What were Nadav and Avihu thinking? And what was so bad about their sin?

What are Korbanot really about? What do they have to do with Adam HaRishon?

What is the mysterious connection between the Mishkan and Creation?

What is the message behind the seeming repetition of detail with the construction of the Mishkan? And why does generosity feature so centrally?

Was there any difference between the first luchot that the Jewish people received and the second? How has our relationship with Hashem and Torah changed as a result?

Why does the parasha start with discussing the Menora and its oil? Shouldn't that have been discussed in last week's parasha?

Why does the Mishkan have 3 different names?

At first glance, the legalistic, civil law focus of Parashat Mishpatim seems totally inconsistent with the powerful transcendent experience of Mount Sinai that immediately preceded it. What was Hashem thinking?

Why does honouring one's parents feature in the first 5 dibrot, which are generally between man and God?

What was the mysterious manna (מן) from Heaven all about? What happened to it once it stopped falling? Our answer might surprise you.

Why is the Jewish people's first mitzva to set up a calendar?

Why does the Torah interrupt Hashem's conversation with Moshe to tell us about the Jewish tribal leadership structure? What does this have to tell us about Moshe and Aharon's leadership?

Did Yaakov actually bless all his sons as the Torah states? Didn't he criticise some? What is the depth behind Yaakov's blessings?

What we learn from the confrontation of Yehuda and Yosef and how it will shape Jewish history

When we feel Hashem is sending us a message, what does He want from us?

Why did the Jews have to confront Greece? The Maharal has a fascinating analysis...

This encounter is completely unexpected and perplexing. What does it mean?

Why did Hashem let Yaakov be tricked into marrying two wives? Was it a punishment? Or the secret of Yaakov's new destiny? And what does it mean for us today?

Why does so much of Yitzchak's life revolve around digging wells and dealing with land disputes with his neighbours? Do we really need to hear all the ins and outs of this seemingly mundane activity? Listen to hear the powerful secret behind it all.

Do Jewish men purchase their wives? Why does the Torah derive the laws of marriage from Avraham's purchase of Me'arat Hamachpela? This teaches us something new and profound about Jewish marriage and about the Land of Israel.

Why test people if Hashem already knows what they're going to do? If we understand this concept we can feel empowered to deal with the challenges in our lives.

Why does Hashem leave Avraham in the dark? Why not tell him where he's going or give him guidance with the challenges he faces? This embodies an important lesson for us in how we must live our lives.

What did the people do wrong? What was Hashem worried about? What lessons can we learn from this episode in our times?

Why did Hashem created the world? Why are we here? What is our purpose in this world? What does the parasha have to say about these questions?

We know the Torah describes Sukkot as Chag Ha-asif - the Festival of Gathering. It also commemorates the protection Hashem afforded the Jewish people in the desert. Is there a relationship between these 2 descriptions? Our answer might surprise you.

Yom Kippur is a time for great optimism if you understand it properly.

Why do we need to ask Hashem to forgive us so much? Is it so hard for someone to forgive another who apologises?

Doing teshuva seems to be such an enormous undertaking. But is that what it's meant to be like?

What a depressing parsha! Is there anything positive we can get out of it?

What is the unifying message behind this pot pourri of mitzvot? What lessons can we take from it this Elul?

Why does the Torah discuss planting ashera trees and setting up monuments in the middle of a parasha otherwise focused on affairs of state? The implications of the message for our lives as Jews are huge.

Why is it so important to serve Hashem in the "place that He shall choose"? What is the secret connection of the Beit Hamikdash and joy? Why must we never forget the Levi?