The WebYeshiva Blog

Mazal Tov to Rabbi Yoel Dror who recently received semicha from WebYeshiva.org. Rabbi Dror has been a teacher of history and languages in an American school in Europe, where he has lived and worked for

Material success & spiritual failures By Rabbi Johnny Solomon Parshat Behar (see Vayikra 25:35-36) is one of the many parshiot in the Torah where the prohibition of taking interest is listed. Yet beyond addressing the

By Rabbi Johnny Solomon When it comes to the Omer, Parshat Emor states that we should count 50 days (see Vayikra 23:16). In contrast, later on in the Torah we are told to count seven

Respect for the elderly By Rabbi Johnny Solomon Among the various mitzvot listed in Parshat Kedoshim is the requirement to stand up and show respect for the elderly (see Vayikra 19:32). Significantly, this verse concludes

Mind and Body By Rabbi Johnny Solomon In his commentary to Parshat Tazria, the Netziv (Haemek Davar on Vayikra 13:44) explains that ‘the reasons for contracting Tzora’at on the body are not the same as

Total Inner Withdrawal By Rabbi Johnny Solomon Beyond the inauguration of the Mishkan, Parshat Shmini also describes the sudden death of Aharon’s two sons. Yet notwithstanding this incredible loss, Aharon is instructed not to adopt

Restoring Structure and Happiness By Rabbi Daniel Korobkin In what way is reading about the Mishkan’s inventory and construction relevant to us today? How do we gain any kind of education or inspiration from the

Moderation and the Half-Shekel By Rabbi Daniel Korobkin We have gone through a national tragedy, but the war seems to be abating. Should we be optimistic about the future, or have we gone from the

One Chosen People is Enough By Rabbi Daniel Korobkin Imagine an alternate universe where instead of there being one Chosen People, one nation who received the Torah in the Middle East 3300 years ago, there

The Spice of Life Makes Life Worth Living By Rabbi Daniel Korobkin The Torah ends our parsha with the commandment to make the golden Mizbach Ketoret, the Incense Altar. Many commentaries ask why this utensil’s

“Mishkan” vs. “Mikdash” By Rabbi Daniel Korobkin What is the correct Hebrew name for the Tabernacle that God commanded the Jews to construct in the desert? That’s easy: It’s called the “Mishkan.” However, the very

Community vs. Individual By Rabbi Daniel Korobkin Many commentaries ask why the Mishpatim, the civil laws presented in our parsha, come immediately after the giving of the Ten Commandments at Sinai. Some observe that the

Running Away and Running Towards By Rabbi Daniel Korobkin One of the most important theological divides among Jewish thinkers hinges on the answer to the following question: When God first introduced Himself to the Jewish

Glory Days and Boring Days By Rabbi Daniel Korobkin Think I’m going down to the well tonight, And I’m going to drink ’til I get my fill. And I hope when I get old I

Rubbernecking Others’ Tragedies By Rabbi Daniel Korobkin Have you ever been caught in freeway traffic, only to later discover that it was due to an auto accident down the road, and that all the drivers

“Chosenness” Revisited By Rabbi Daniel Korobkin The chosennes of the Jewish people has gotten us into trouble over the centuries. Both we and the rest of the world have misused and distorted the moniker, “Chosen

We All Ask, “Who Am I?” By Rabbi Daniel Korobkin Parents often ask their children, “What do you want to be when you group up?” They sometimes get the typical answer: nurse, doctor, fire fighter,

Fathers and Sons By Rabbi Daniel Korobkin In preparing his sons for his final words of wisdom and blessings, Yaakov summoned his sons. It’s quite curious that Yaakov presented a long monologue in inviting his

The Economics of Living Jewishly By Rabbi Daniel Korobkin By the time Yoseph had settled his family, the years of famine intensified in Egypt. Yoseph devised a system that would enable Egyptian society to pull

Envisioning Peace in the World By Rabbi Daniel Korobkin Before the war against Hamas, the Arab states were expressing more and more kinship with Israel. We anticipate that once the war ends, one of the