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Acharei Mos – Biding the Time

Why is the concept of the Avodah-service of the High Priest on Yom Kippur sandwiched between the death of Nadav and Avihu and the forbidden relationships? What does the midrash mean when it says Nadav and Avihu wanted the 'old guys' to move on so they could take over? What is the concept of 'sustaining…

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Welcome to My Website

I’m thrilled to welcome you to my new website! This is an exciting and busy time with the release of A Cappella Soul 3, my new vocal album, and a brand new 'music' video as well. It’s my hope that this new site will allow friends and fans to keep up to date with my music,…

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Pesach 2 – Rewards of Challenge

Why do the Jewish people experience an awesome revelation in such a dangerous place – in the Sea of Reeds? Why is this the climax of the Exodus? Why does Israel's angel – Michael – step aside in the face of the challenge of Egypt's angel (uza)? What is the significance of Hashem Himself responding…

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Pesach – Ecstatic vs Measured Spirituality  

What is the connection between Pesach and Succos? Why do they both occur in the middle of the month? What is the difference between the respective mitzvos of each holiday? Why does Succos involve a lot of movement, while Pesach seems to be more static? Why does Shmini Atzeres come immediately after Succos, while Shavuos…

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Metzora – Pride and Humility

What are the seven sins that result in tzara'as – spiritual leprosy? What was the sin of the daughters of Zion? Why did they originally focus on the Jewish young men, and ultimately end up with the 'generals of the enemy?' Why did R' Yanai need the spiritual teaching of the 'peddler' if he was…

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Tazria – Levels of Appreciation

Why does the verse mention the conception of the child, why doesn't it skip straight to the birth, if that is the subject of the verses? What is the idea of the verse in Job which speaks of 'raising the intellect to afar to appreciate the righteousness of our Creator?' When do we 'sing' Hashem's…

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Sanhedrin 70 – Ben Sorer U'moreh

There are two fundamental questions in regards to the בן סורר ומורה. The first is, Don't we believe that every Jew has a chance to do Teshuva, and deep inside has the potential to climb out of whatever pit he has dug for himself? How can we kill a young man על שם סופו –…

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Sanhedrin 68 – R' Eliezer's final hours

The gemara brings the interesting story of R' Eliezer's death. The sages came to visit him as he was dying, but would not come within a certain distance of him. This was because they had placed a ban on him because he had been adamant in his opinion and had not submitted to the majority…

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Sanhedrin 2-3 Judges – Elohim

It is interesting that the Gemara understands that when the Torah says the word elohim in reference to judges, this teaches that the judges must be מוסמכים, having received their ordination in a line going back to Moshe Rabbenu. Generally speaking, the word elohim is most interesting, in that it is the name of Hashem,…

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