Rabbi Benamozegh and Judaism for Non-Jews
I believe that one of Rabbi Benamozegh's greatest contributions to modern Judaism was his approach toward conversion to Judaism. At that time, from the...
Rabbi Eliyahu Benamozegh (1822-1900) and Conversion to Judaism
Rabbi Eliyahu Benamozegh was born in Livorno (Leghorn), Italy. The Jewish community of Livorno is one of the youngest in Italy. The first records...
JERUSALEM: If I ever forget you, Yerushalayim! (586-516 BCE)
וְאַף-גַּם-זֹאת בִּהְיוֹתָם בְּאֶרֶץ אֹיְבֵיהֶם לֹא-מְאַסְתִּים וְלֹא-גְעַלְתִּים לְכַלֹּתָם - לְהָפֵר בְּרִיתִי אִתָּם כִּי אֲנִי ה'אֱלֹקיהֶם. .
Vayiqra, Leviticus, 26:44.
In 586 BCE, the Bet HaMiqdash and the...
10 of TEBET: Why was Jerusalem destroyed? (589-586 BCE)
Tomorrow we will observe the fast of the 10 of Tebet, that reminds us of the beginning of the siege of Yerushalayim (Jerusalem). This...
JERUSALEM falls, and then rises (687-609 BCE)
KING MENASHE
Previously, we learned that in the time of King Hizqiyahu the city of Yerushalayim was miraculously saved from destruction. When Hizqiyahu dies, he...
¿The end of Jerusalem? (701 BCE)
YERUSHALAYIM UNDER SIEGE
The Assyrian Emperor Sanherib began the siege of Jerusalem in the year 701aec. Before attacking the city he recommended King Hizqiyahu to...
JERUSALEM, in the Times of King Hizqiyahu
וירא חזקיהו כי בא סנחריב ופניו למלחמה על-ירושלם
The city of Yerushalayim went through very difficult times. But we Jews always saw God’s direct intervention in...
Why is Jerusalem the Seat of the Government of Israel?
כי מציון תצא תורה ודבר השם מירושלים
The world continues to debate and criticize President Trump's decision to move the US embassy to Yerushalayim, recognizing...
Why is Jerusalem the Capital of Israel?
YERUSHALAYIM, OUR CAPITAL CITY
A capital city of a nation is usually the location of that nation’s government and where most of the nation’s leaders...
Jerusalem and the Pope’s desperation
EXAGGERATED OPTIMISM
Last week, while US President Donald Trump recognized Jerusalem as the capital of the State of Israel, Pope Francis made a desperate plea...
Did Albert Einstein Believe in God?
We explained previously that the second principle we learn from the Shema Israel is to accept HaShem, God, as the authority that teaches us...
How Do We Know God Exists?
שמע ישראל ה' אלוקינו ה' אחד
The first verse of the Shema Israel contains a very important message: the principles of our faith.
These principles are:
1....
The Meaning of the Name of God.
We are learning one of the most important verses of the Tora and Jewish prayers: Shema Israel, "Listen to Israel, HaShem is our God,...
The First Two Words
Previously, we explained why it is important to recite the Tefilot, prayers, in Hebrew, and at the same time it is necessary to understand what...
Lost in Translation
Previously we explained that although it was allowed by the Sages to pray in a language that one knows, many times when the Hebrew...
