Messages from August 2017

Rabbi O’s Weekly Parsha: Shoftim (Deuteronomy 16:18-21:9) 5777-2017 Jewish Environmentalism

August 25, 2017
Deuteronomy
Shoftim

One of the little known mitzvot in the Torah is the prohibition to unnecessarily destroy organic or inorganic matter. This prohibition is learned from the following verse. When you besiege a city for many days to wage war against it to seize it, do not destroy its trees by swinging an ax against them, for […]

Rabbi O’s Weekly Parsha: Re’eh (Deuteronomy 11:26-16:17) Leading a Jew in the right Path

August 18, 2017
Deuteronomy
Re'eh

Leading The Jewish high court has a rule when judging a defendant for a capital crime: the judges always look for some reason why the defendant shouldn’t get the death penalty. Perhaps he wasn’t aware of the severity of his crime, maybe it was inadvertent or a host of other reasons. When vote is taken, […]

Rabbi O’s Weekly Parsha: Eikav (Deuteronomy 7:12-11:25) The Most Valuable Tool

August 11, 2017
Deuteronomy
Eikev

Prayer is a prominent topic is this week’s Parsha and its effects can never be overstated. We have no idea of its power, whether to alter a decree, to incur favor, or simply to demonstrate our love for the Almighty in recognizing all the goodness we-friends and family-receive. Emotionally healthy people pray for positive things; […]

Rabbi O’s Weekly Parsha: V’etchanan (Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11) Torah is a Fact; Don’t Add or Subtract

August 4, 2017
Deuteronomy
Vaetchanan

Rabbi O’s Weekly Parsha: V’etchanan (Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11) Torah is a Fact; Don’t Add or Subtract Do not add to the word which I command you, nor diminish from it, to observe the commandments of the Lord your G-d which I command you. Your eyes have seen what G-d did at Baal Peor…(Deuteronomy 4:2-3) The verse […]