Strange Donkey In this week’s Torah reading, Bilam the prophet decided to curse the Jews, despite God expressing disapproval of him doing so. On the way, God sent an angel […]
Should Bilaam Go? In this week’s Torah reading, King Balak sent messengers to summon Bilaam the prophet to curse the Jews, who were camping out in the desert nearby. When […]
In the beginning of this week’s Torah reading, Balak sent messengers to Bilam to request that he curse the Jewish Nation. Bilam told them that he cannot go without permission […]
The stage was set. The man of G-d traveled along the lonely mountain road on the way to his destination. He was about to achieve immortality – he would go […]
This week’s Torah portion, Parshat Balak, takes place just after the Jewish People conquered Emor and Bashan. The king of Moav, Balak, gets nervous that his nation will be conquered […]
In Parshas Balak we encounter the enigmatic case of the wicked prophet Balaam. The very idea of a wicked prophet raises obvious questions. Perhaps the most basic question is how […]
The Enigmatic Ritual of the Red Heifer The beginning of this week’s Torah reading discusses the laws of the Red Heifer. One who became impure from a deceased person must […]
Ask the Rabbi with Rabbi Chaim Mintz Should Jews living in the United States celebrate Independence Day on the Fourth of July, and if so, what is the appropriate way […]
A Miracle Beyond Imagination The mahn (manna) was a miracle beyond our imagination! It poured down straight from heaven without any effort and could taste like whatever the Jews wanted […]
Ask the Rabbi with Rabbi Chaim Mintz What is the Torah view on being a vegan or a vegetarian? I have heard a claim that killing animals is cruel and […]
Ask the Rabbi with Rabbi Chaim Mintz The idea of animal sacrifice seems so cruel and outdated. Yet, I hear that this practice will resume after the Temple (Beit HaMikdash) […]
When Plans Change—and So Does the World If you’re a regular reader, you know that I recently planned a short trip to Israel to visit my daughter. If you’re not […]
Q. Where is the first source for the mitzvah of Bikur Cholim? God Visits Avraham The first encounter with Bikur Cholim in Jewish tradition is actually with God Himself! The […]
Ask the Rabbi with Rabbi Chaim Mintz We are constantly being told to feel the pain of Jews who are suffering, whether it’s during the current war in Israel or […]
From Miriam to the Meraglim At the end of last week’s Torah reading, an episode transpired in which Miriam spoke disparagingly about her brother Moshe (Moses), and was subsequently punished […]
Ask the Rabbi with Rabbi Chaim Mintz You have said that the world was created to exist for 6,000 years. What will happen at that time? Will the world just […]
