Category: Torah.org

Torah is greater than priesthood and kingship, for kingship is acquired with 30 qualities, priesthood is acquired with 24, whereas the Torah is acquired with 48 ways. These are: … (26) making a fence for one’s words, (27) not taking credit for oneself… (26) Making a “fence” for one’s words: This expression means to limit…

MISHPATIMYirmiyahu 34:8–22, 33:25–26 We often wonder how far Hashem is willing to extend Himself for the sake of His people. Although we know that Hashem’s attributes of kindness and compassion are unlimited, we sometimes question what acts we must do to deserve His special grace and favor. This week’s Haftarah gives us some insight into…

BS”DVolume 39, No. 1824 Shevat 5785February 22, 2025 Sponsored by Martin and Michelle Swartz on the yahrzeit of his father Paul S. Swartz (Pesach Shmuel ben Mordechai a”h – 28 Shevat) Robert and Hannah Klein on the yahrzeit of his father Milton Klein (Meir ben Kalman a”h) Mr. and Mrs. Jules Meisler in memory of…

Posted on February 19, 2025 (5785) By Rabbi Pinchas Winston | Series: Perceptions | Chinuch is everything. Life is an educated guess, and the more educated you are, the less you have to guess what to do. It is certainly harder to get out of bed in the morning with any kind of bounce in…

These divrei Torah were adapted from the hashkafa portion of Rabbi Yissocher Frand’s Commuter Chavrusah Tapes on the weekly portion: # 1325 Finding a $20 Bill in Shul / Finding A Comb in a Mikvah: Can You Keep It? Good Shabbos! Parshas Misphatim begins with the eved Ivri (Hebrew slave). A person who stole, and…

“…and he shall provide for healing” (21:19) The Torah records that among the compensatory damages which a person who has inflicted bodily harm on another must pay, are the medical bills. The Talmud derives from this verse that “nitna reshus larofeh lerapos” – “The Torah grants permission to a doctor to heal.”[1] If Hashem has…

This week’s parsha, Mishpatim, begins “V’aileh hamishpatim–And these are the commandments.” Rashi explains that our parsha begins with the word ‘and’ in order to connect these laws to the aforementioned Aseres Hadibros {Ten Commandments}. This teaches that all of the commandments were from Sinai. Even the seemingly mundane laws have the raw power and energy…

The Story “I definitely want that chocolate bar!” “Look at those jaw breakers!” Chana and Naomi were standing by the candies at the local supermarket near their school. They had saved up money from their allowance and they were quite excited when they got permission from their parents to stop by the store on their…

Posted on February 18, 2025 (5785) By Rabbi Naftali Reich | Series: Legacy | Level: Beginner As a child, whenever I arrived at this week’s Parsha, I recall feeling something of a letdown. From the beginning of Bereishis, each Parsha had its own riveting narrative, the various strands culminating with the awesome climax of the…

Posted on February 18, 2025 (5785) By Rabbi Mordechai Kamenetzky | Series: Drasha | Level: Beginner This parsha is called Mishpatim. Simply translated it means ordinances. The portion entails laws that deal with various torts and property damages. It discusses laws of damages, of servitude, of lenders and borrowers, employers and laborers, laws of lost…