A contrast with the World vs Jewish community that is aware of its duty! Aכִּי לֹא־יֶחְדַּל אֶבְיוֹן מִקֶּרֶב הָאָרֶץ עַל־כֵּן אָנֹכִי מְצַוְּךָ לֵאמֹר פָּתֹחַ תִּפְתַּח אֶת־יָדְךָ לְאָחִיךָ לַעֲנִיֶּךָ וּלְאֶבְיֹנְךָ בְּאַרְצֶךָ׃For the needy will not cease from the earth; therefore I command you: Open, open your hand to your brother, to your poor and your needy…

A Contemporary Discussion on Ma’aser Kesafim, Business Income, and Personal Benefit Introduction The laws of tzedakah are among the most fundamental obligations in the Torah. Much has been written about who receives priority in charity, yet comparatively little attention is given to an equally important question: When does a person’s obligation to give actually begin?…

The Rambam’s Vision and Modern Predictions About Artificial IntelligenceFor centuries, skeptics have viewed the Torah as an ancient book disconnected from the modern world. Yet, from time to time, advances in science and technology reveal ideas that echo concepts described by our Sages many generations ago. One striking example is found in the closing chapter…

A Lesson from Ibn Ezra on Deuteronomy 11:26“See, this day I set before you blessing and curse.”(Deuteronomy 11:26)On the opening word of this verse, “Re’eh” (See), the Ibn Ezra makes a remarkably concise yet profound comment:“ראה – לכל אחד ידבר.”“See”—Moses speaks to each individual.Although the Torah is being given to the entire Jewish nation, the…

Modern Introduction“You shall surely open your hand to him, and shall surely lend him sufficient for his need, whatever he lacks.” (Devarim 15:8)This verse is the foundation of the Torah’s approach to tzedakah. Hashem commands us not merely to give charity, but to ensure that every Jew’s essential needs are met with dignity and compassion.…

Zmanim are critical! One of the profound insights of Rabbi Chaim of Volozhin in Nefesh HaChaim is that the yetzer hara rarely attacks Torah and mitzvos directly. Instead, it disguises itself as excessive spirituality. It whispers to a person that before performing a mitzvah or praying, he must first achieve perfect concentration, complete purity of…

From Devarim 15:7–8 The Verse  15:7כִּי־יִהְיֶה בְךָ אֶבְיוֹן מֵאַחַד אַחֶיךָ בְּאַחַד שְׁעָרֶיךָ בְּאַרְצְךָ אֲשֶׁר־יְהוָה אֱלֹקֶיךָ נֹתֵן לָךְ לֹא תְאַמֵּץ אֶת־לְבָבְךָ וְלֹא תִקְפֹּץ אֶת־יָדְךָ מֵאָחִיךָ הָאֶבְיוֹן.“If there will be among you a needy man, from among one of your brothers, within one of your gates, in the land that God, your God, is giving you, you…

Devarim 12:20“When Hashem your God enlarges your borders, as He has promised you, and you say, ‘I wish to eat meat,’ because your soul desires to eat meat, you may eat meat according to all the desire of your soul.” (Devarim 12:20)At first glance, this verse appears to be nothing more than a permission to…

1. The Visible World Is Not the Entire Reality Human beings naturally understand the world through their senses. We see objects, people, planets, stars, animals, buildings and movement. Because almost everything in ordinary experience has mass and occupies space, we instinctively associate reality with physical substance. If something cannot be seen, touched or weighed, it…

In this week’s parsha, the Torah begins its promise of blessing with a condition:וְהָיָה עֵקֶב תִּשְׁמְעוּן אֵת הַמִּשְׁפָּטִים הָאֵלֶּה וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם וַעֲשִׂיתֶם אֹתָם“If you listen to these laws, guard them, and perform them…”— Devarim 7:12A few pesukim later, the Torah gives an extraordinary blessing:בָּרוּךְ תִּהְיֶה מִכָּל הָעַמִּים לֹא־יִהְיֶה בְךָ עָקָר וַעֲקָרָה וּבִבְהֶמְתֶּךָ“You shall be blessed above…