Explorations
By Raphael Davidovich
ExplorationsJun 16, 2023
Message to the Community
This is the message I sent to my community in response to the tragedy in the Holy Land this past week.
Elokai, Neshama
Exploring the words "Tehora Hee" in the brocha thanking Hashem for our neshama.
Exploring Bikkurim- We must start at the very beginning
Exploring the speech a Jew gives when he brings the first fruits in the Temple. Connected to Pesach Seder
Ki Seitzei and Pickup Sticks
Exploring the haphazard nature of this week's Mitzvos
Asher Yatzar Part 3 - Closing and opening
More on Asher Yatzar: Exploring the dangers of opening a closed door, or closing an open door.
Asher Yatzar: It is revealed and known
Exploring why we say that our body's functions are "revealed and known before Your Throne of Glory".
Judgment and Enforcement
Exploring the importance of a system that enforces the right thing
Ask the Rabbi - Hot topics
We explored several topics - from issues of tension and controversy in our community, to unzoned shuls, to Jewish Schools that don't teach secular studies, to Moshe hitting the rock etc. We hope you'll enjoy it.
Chukas: The advantage of now
Exploring the nature of the inconvenience that Edom would not let the Jews cut through their territory to enter the Promised Land. Where was Edom 39 years earlier?
Asher Yatzar
Exploring the Bracha a Jew makes after using the bathroom
Korach and the difference between Cohanim and Leviim
Exploring Korach's beef with Aharon - and how it influences the way we approach the Torah
Models of Spiritual Leadership - a thought by The Lubavitcher Rebbe
Exploring the Maamor: V'Ata Tetzaveh - An essay on Moshe and Mordechai's leadership
The Rebels' Wives
Exploring the sup-plot of the wives of Korach, Dasan and Aviram, and On ben Peles
Tanya Chapter 47
Exploring Tanya Chapter 47, and its connecting the Mitzvah of Krias Shema to the Mitzvah to recall the Exodus.
Wheat and Wine
Exploring why the Torah wants a side order of wheat and wine with each korban
Tanya Chapter 46
Exploring Tanya Chapter 46, which teaches us to use the tool of reflecting love back to Hashem. A great tool to appreciating saying Shema.
The Torah of Traveling
Exploring the shenanigans of being on the road in the Torah - comparing Parshas Behaalosecha and Parshas Beshalach
Acquire Me
Exploring how a possuk in Parshas Terumah, when repunctuated, redefines the purpose of Mitzvos.
Conflicts among Jews; ancient and current
Tanya Chapter 45
Exploring how having compassion for God leads to loving God
Mitzvah 47: Courts must impose capital punishment for certain crimes
Exploring the Mitzvah to impose capital punishment
Modeh Ani Part 4 - Melech Chai V'Kayam
Exploring the phrase "Melech Chai V'Kayam" in Modeh Ani.
Knowing Joseph and knowing God
Exploring Pharoah's failure to know Joseph and God.
Mitzvah 46 - Do not deprive your wife of food, clothing, shelter, and marriage time
Exploring a husband's mitzvah to provide for his wife
Tanya Chapter 44
Exploring two insights into loving God.
Raba Emunasecha - Modeh Ani Part Three
Exploring the last two words of Modeh Ani
Those who taste the upcoming Shabbos merit life
Exploring the minhag of partaking of some of the Shabbos food on Erev Shabbos
Vayechi - Yaakov asks Yoseph and all Jews to choose
Exploring Yaakov's demand that Yosef swear to commit to not bury Yaakov in Mitzrayim
Tanya Chapter 43
Exploring two fears and two loves
Modeh Ani - A concession speech
Exploring another facet of the Hebrew word "Modeh" in Modeh Ani
Mitzvah 45 - Not to sell a Jewish Maidservant
Exploring the Mitzvah not to resell a women you were meant to marry
Third time (famine) is a charm
Exploring the recurring famines and resulting departure from the Holy Land
Menorah on the left
An exploration into human nature as learned from the Halacha that the Chanukah Menorah should be placed on the left side of the doorway.
Tanya Chapter 42
Exploring Chapter 42 - How to achieve the trait of Yirah
Modeh Ani
Exploring a facet of the awakening prayer "Modeh Ani"
Mitzvah 44 - Redeeming a Jewish maidservant
Exploring the mitzvah to release a Jewish maidservant as soon as you have no intention of having her marry into the family.
Tanya Chapter 41
Exploring Tanya Chapter 41 - How to fear and love God when doing a Mitzvah.
Mitzvah 43 - To marry off a Jewish maidservant
Exploring the mitzvah that someone who has taken a Jewish maidservant should marry her or have his son marry her.
A facet of praying for rain
Exploring the inconvenience of rain and the prayer for rain
Shabbos is for the Jewish People
Exploring the Jewish particularism of Shabbos
Vayeitzei - Trust and Honesty
What does the brief story of Yaakov at the well tell us about trust?
What Leah teaches us about Tefilla
Exploring the rabbis' understanding of Leah Imeinu and her tefillos
Tanya Chapter 40
Exploring Tanya Chapter 40 - how Love of God and Awe of God elevate mitzvos
Mitzvah 42 - The Eved Ivri
Exploring the mitzvah of how to treat the Eved Ivri - A Jewish indentured servant.
Shabbos is for music
A brief exploration of the role of music in the Shabbos experience.
Tanya Review - Chapters 18-25
A half-hour review of Tanya Chapters 18-25.
Tanya Review - Chapters 1-17
A half-hour review shiur of the first seventeen chapters of Tanya.
Two kinds of tastiness
Exploring a deeper dimension to the tasty foods that Yitzchak requested.
Mitzvah 41 - Do not take steps to get up on the altar.
Exploring the mitzvah not to use a ladder or staircase to get up onto the altar, and the inferred mitzvah to build a ramp.
Umeivee Goeil - He brings a redeemer
Exploring the phrase in the first bracha of Shmoneh Esrei that Hashem in the present tense beings Moshiach.