Yom Kippur’s Final Call
While every tefillah of Yom Kippur is essential, Neilah (the last tefillah of Yom Kippur) is probably themost potent and…
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Rosh HaShanah and Shabbat: Sounding the Shofar in the Streets of Jerusalem
This year, on the first day of Rosh Hashanah, our shuls will be silent from the sound of the shofar.…
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Of Sticks and Bundles: Jerusalem’s Surprising Dispensation
In the times of the Second Temple, when we had the privilege of bringing sacrifices in Jerusalem and eating from…
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Mikdash Melekh: the Unsung Theme of Lecha Dodi
On the eve of Shabbat, in practically every Jewish community in the world, a beautiful piyyut is recited as part…
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Returning the Lost Jews to Jerusalem
Our parsha mentions the mitzvah of hashavat aveidah (returning a lost object): You shall not see your brother’s ox or…
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Jerusalem and the Jewish Army
It is natural for soldiers to be scared when they go out to battle. An overly frightened army, though, can…
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The Return to God’s Table
There are two ways for us to serve God: as slaves and as children. In multiple places the Torah declares…
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Feeling Awe In Jerusalem
In our parsha, Moshe highlights the importance of fearing God. In an important summary statement, Moshe delineates some of the…
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The City of Loyalty
This week’s haftorah consists of Yeshayahu’s haunting prophecy regarding the corruption and future punishment of the Jewish people. While most…
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Swearing By Jerusalem
Our parsha opens with a discussion of oaths and vows. To be a bonified vow, the person taking the vow…
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