Author: Shlomo Bar-Ayal

  • Why The Temple was Destroyed

    פרשת דברים / ח’ באב תשפ”ב

    The Talmud states that the Temple was destroyed because the Jews kept the letter of the law. This is understood that they were more worried about the minutia of the law and forgot about the spirit that the law was to imbue.

  • The 10 Martyrs & the Sale of Joseph

    פרשת דברים / ז’ באב תשפ”ב

    On the 9thof Av we recall the story of the 10 rabbis murdered by the Romans. The reason that the Romans give for why they murdered the 10 rabbis is the sale of Joseph by the brothers. What is interesting is that this was a sin of man against fellow man, not against God.

  • The Reason for the 9th of Av

    פרשת דברים / ו’ באב תשפ”ב

    When we look at the literature of the 9th of Av, we notice that the Romans and Babylonians are barely mentioned. The real reason for the disaster is placed on the bad moral and ethical behavior of the Jews.

  • Believe in God & Yourself

    פרשת דברים / ה’ באב תשפ”ב

    The sin of the spies is recounted in this week’s portion. The real sin that they committed was twofold. The lacked faith in God being able to help them in conquering the Land of Israel and they lacked faith in themselves.

  • Be Just in Your Judgements

    פרשת דברים / ד’ באב תשפ”ב

    The commandment to appoint judges is one of the most important for a just society. Moses commands the judges that they have to be just in their decisions. They cannot favor one party over the other, neither rich nor poor, neither the powerful nor the powerless,

  • From Theory to Reality

    פרשת דברים / ג’ באב תשפ”ב

    As we begin the Book of Deuteronomy, we see that Moses goes over those commandments that the Jews will have to carry out once they arrive in the Land of Israel. Up until now these commandments were taught in theory. Now they will have to be carried out in reality.

  • Obligations Not Rights

    פרשת מטות-מסעי / כ”ט בתמוז תשפ”ב

    In this week’s portion the tribes of Reuben and Gad express a desire to settle east of the Jordan. Moses gives them permission provided that they remember their obligation to help in conquering the land. That it is not just about them but the whole of the people.

  • The Importance of Good Neighbors

    פרשת מטות-מסעי / כ”ח בתמוז תשפ”ב

    In this week’s portion the Jews receive the command to expel the Canaanites from the Land of Israel. The reason is that they are considered to be bad people and their influence on the Jews would lead the Jews to sin.

  • To Stand Up to Evil

    פרשת מטות-מסעי / כ”ז תמוז תשפ”ב

    After the initial retaliation against Midian Moses reprimands the Jewish officers for allowing the women to live. To understand this, we have to remember that the women were willing participants in the sins committed by the Jewish men that led to the war. That is why they had to be punished like the men.

  • Why We Fight

    פרשת מטות-מסעי / כ”ו בתמוז תשפ”ב

    The reason that the Jews were commanded to destroy Midian was because Midian had declared war on God and morality. Personal insults are one thing. Insulting God and morality are another.