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I have just returned from Israel, during one of the heaviest weeks in memory. I arrived on Tuesday, after the terrible news of the deaths of twenty-one soldiers. The very air felt heavy as I arrived.

Our guest this week is Moshe Weinger Yeshiva University. This week’s Torah portion – Parashat Yitro (Exodus 18:1-20:23) – begins with the advice given by Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, to the people of ...

The Torah portion Yitro is named after Moses’ father-in-law, who was a priest in Midian. When he heard about the exodus from Egypt and the miracles associated with it, he went to the desert where the ...

Our guest this week is Rabbi Benjamin Samuels, leader of Congregation Shaarei Tefillah of Newton, Massachusetts. Rabbi Samuels is the President of the Vaad Harabonim of Massachusetts and a member of ...

Throughout much of history, it was hard for the Jews have to find true friends. Facing a frequently hostile world, when they came across an unusually cooperative gentile, it came as a bit of a ...

Yitro witnessed his overwhelmed son in law judging the people, and letting them know statutes and laws (chukim and Torot) (Shmot 18:16). He then proposes a hierarchical system, whereby Moshe would let ...

Parashat Mishpatim is one of the most packed portions in the Torah. It details numerous mitzvot and laws that relate to almost every aspect of life. These laws appear between the section of Matan ...

Jethro priest of Midian, Moses’ father-in-law, heard all that God had done for Moses and for Israel, God’s people, how י-ה-וה had brought Israel out from Egypt. So Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law, took ...

In last week's Torah portion we were told, "Va-yavo Amalek": Amalek came upon the Israelites [Exodus 17:8]. Think of it. Mere weeks after their miraculous liberation from Egypt and release from ...

Watching Moshe (Moses) judge the Jews from morning to night, Yitro (Jethro), Moshe’s father-in-law, offers sound advice. He tells Moshe that if you continue trying to judge everyone, you surely will ...