Q: What is one of the causes of the tazria affliction? A: Rambam infers that lashon hara is the cause, citing a story in Parshat Nasso when Miriam is punished […]
An Oorah Holiday Guide Download Print Version We designed Oorah’s ten minute guides to help you find your way around the Yomim Tovim that mark the Jewish year. Our heritage […]
In the busy pre-Yom Tov rush, the master chefs at Oorah join together to bring you an epic evening of Pesach meal planning. Enjoy the whirlwind of cooking, planning, recipes […]
In this week’s Torah reading, Parshas Metzorah, the Torah details the process of purification of the “Metzorah” – someone who was afflicted with Tzara’as (a specific kind of skin disease) […]
Perhaps even before we open our eyes in the morning, still in bed, we declare quietly to ourselves what will be the texture of our consciousness for the day: “Modeh […]
In most years, the Torah Portions, Tazrai and Metzora are read together, as they are this week. In a Jewish leap year, they are read separately. We will indicate the […]
A PONY TALE This week’s Torah portion describes the different types of tzaraas, leprosy. Tzaraas was a punishment for speaking lashon hara, gossip or slander. What was unique about this […]
The main topic of the book of Vayikra (Leviticus) is the korbanos, sacrificial service. This is a topic that is generally poorly understood and one that is often surrounded by […]
The Spiritual Aspect of Food This week’s Torah reading dictates laws pertaining to the Kosher diet; which animals we may eat and which we may not eat. The Abarbanel explains […]
Morning Rituals: Connecting Across Time Zones With a daughter in Israel, catching up on the day can be challenging. You see, when she’s well into the main part of her […]
The Meaning of the Korban Todah (Todah Sacrifice) This week’s Torah reading discusses the Korban Todah. During the time that korbanot (sacrifices) were brought, the Korban Todah was offered by […]
Reflecting on Purim’s Lessons When Hashem taught Moshe the Torah, He gave Moshe time to pause and reflect on what he was told: these are manifested in the breaks and […]
The Purim Story On Purim, we read the Megillah – the Megillat Esther (Book of Esther). The Megillah tells the story about how the wicked Haman, who was second to […]
A Branded Seal If you recognize the title of this column as the name of a certain alcoholic product, you might find it quite appropriate for Purim time. However, I […]
< Lesson 11: Making Salad on Shabbos Lesson 12: Preparing Fruits and Vegetables for Serving on Shabbos This lesson’s topic was touched upon in the previous few lessons, but I […]
Watch this unbelievable moment between the mayor of Chevron, whose son is currently held hostage in Gaza, and Rabbi Chaim Mintz, Oorah’s Founder and Spiritual Leader. Can’t view YouTube videos? […]
An Edifice to House God’s Presence?! This week’s Torah reading concludes the description of the construction of the Mishkan (Tabernacle). The building of the Mishkan culminates with the Shechinah (God’s […]
Extra Time to Plan Ahead An extra Adar has got some of us planning for Pesach even earlier. With a few extra weeks to get things done, we can perhaps […]