The WebYeshiva Blog

Moshe, Father of the Prophets By Rabbi Dr. Stuart Fischman Parashat VeZot HaBracha is the conclusion of the Torah. The parshah ends with God burying Moshe Rabbeinu and eulogizing him with these words: Never again

Studying History By Rabbi Dr. Stuart Fischman Parshat Ha’azinu is God’s review of our nation’s history. It describes our past, our present and future. The Ramban himself praises the parsha with these words: Now, if

A Future of Crises By Rabbi Dr. Stuart Fischman This week’s parsha contains God’s warning about the future of the Jewish people: God said to Moses: You are soon to lie with your ancestors.This people

Not in Heaven? Then Where? By Rabbi Dr. Stuart Fischman In this week’s parsha (Devarim 30:11-12) we learn one of the fundamental and remarkable concepts of Judaism. כי המצוה הזאת אשר אנכי מצוך היום לא־נפלאת

Is Everyone Happy? By Rabbi Dr. Stuart Fischman Anyone who has ever read even a most superficial work on Jewish history is familiar with the history of the Hassidic movement. Historians emphasize the aspect of

On Human Dignity By Rabbi Dr. Stuart Fischman One of the fundamental ideas in Halacha is kavod ha-beriyot which can be understood (if not actually literally translated) as human dignity. The Halacha views the protection

Mazal Tov to Rabbi Noah Tile who recently received semicha from Rabbi Brovender at WebYeshiva.org. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? My name is Noah Tile. I live in Toronto, Canada, with

Do You Believe in Magic? By Rabbi Dr. Stuart Fischman In this week’s parsha there is a long list of magical practices in which we are forbidden to engage (Devarim 18: 9-12). It is not

Permission to eat meat By Rabbi Dr. Stuart Fischman Elsewhere in the Torah we are taught the rules for eating meat as part of the system of animal sacrifices but in this week’s parsha the

Old, But Not in the Way By Rabbi Dr. Stuart Fischman One of my favorite musicians is Jerry Garcia. Jerry Garcia acquired his fame as the leader of the Grateful Dead, but he worked and

Divine Consolation – On Shabbat “Nachamu” By Rabbi Dr. Stuart Fischman This Shabbat is the Shabbat after the fast of Tisha b’Av. It is traditionally referred to as “Shabbat Nachamu”- the “Shabbat of Being Consoled.”

Elevated by words of Torah By Rabbi Dr. Stuart Fischman How Chasidut Studies the Chumash The weekly Torah portion can and ought to be studied on many levels. The Torah portion of the week (the

Cities of Refuge – Being Responsible for One Another By In this week’s Torah reading of Masei, Moshe is commanded to tell Yehoshua to set aside cities of refuge. Someone who kills another person unintentionally

Half the Tribe of Menashe PLEASE NOTE: Because of the timing of the end of Pesach, Matot is the Parasha this week in Israel and next week in the Diaspora. By Grazing land At the

Sin offering for God PLEASE NOTE: Because of the timing of the end of Pesach, Pinchas is the Parasha this week in Israel and next week in the Diaspora. By Parshat Pinchas lists the sacrifices

Moshe wrote the Torah PLEASE NOTE: Because of the timing of the end of Pesach, Balak is the Parasha this week in Israel and next week in the Diaspora. By The Talmud (Bava Batra 14b)

Red Heifer – a statute PLEASE NOTE: Because of the timing of the end of Pesach, Chukat is the Parasha this week in Israel and next week in the Diaspora. By Parshat Chukat begins with

Stubborn isn’t always right PLEASE NOTE: Because of the timing of the end of Pesach, Korach is the Parasha this week in Israel and next week in the Diaspora. By Having the grit to continue

Mazal Tov to Rabbi Brian Sopher who recently received semicha from Rabbi Brovender and Rabbi Fink at WebYeshiva.org. Can you tell us a little bit about yourself? I was born in 1954 in Glasgow, Scotland

Feelings of inadequacy PLEASE NOTE: Because of the timing of the end of Pesach, Shlach is the Parasha this week in Israel and next week in the Diaspora. By When I was a communal rabbi,