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Parashas ha'Shavua (Weekly Torah Portion)

Bereishis: (How) Did Hashem Speak to Kayin?
In lieu of an article on Chayei Sarah, I've decided to publish an article on Bereishis which is a sequel to last week's article on Vayeira. If you…
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Rabbi Matt Schneeweiss
2
Vayeira: Vox Intellectus Vox Dei (The Voice of the Intellect is the Voice of God)
Avimelech clearly sinned against Avraham and Sarah, but in what sense did he sin against God? Radak's answer expresses what it truly means to be a…
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Rabbi Matt Schneeweiss
2
Lech Lecha: Avraham Avinu – a Vial of Perfume in a Cemetery
This week's article is part Mishlei, part midrash, and part insight into the pshat of the parashah - all thanks to Rabbeinu Bachya's introductory…
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Rabbi Matt Schneeweiss
4
Noach: Why Was Noach’s Family Saved?
I've always assumed they were saved because of Noach's righteousness, or for the sake of repopulating the world. According to Sforno, neither is true.
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Rabbi Matt Schneeweiss
Nitzavim / Vayeilech: Teshuvah as a Ledge
We're about to enter the Aseres Ymei Teshuvah (Ten days of Repentance) once again, and I find myself asking the same question I ask every year: Is…
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Rabbi Matt Schneeweiss
2
Ki Tavo: How We Know It’s a Mitzvah to Have Good Middos (and Why We Should Care)
Is it a mitzvah to be a nice person? Yes. But how do we know? In this article we examine Rambam and R' Avraham ben ha'Rambam's answer to this question…
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Rabbi Matt Schneeweiss
1
Ki Teitzei: Should We Be Polite to ChatGPT?
In this article I argue that the answer to this question emerges from a machlokess (disagreement) between the Ramban and the Rambam, with Shadal…
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Rabbi Matt Schneeweiss
10
Shofetim: Three Philosophies of Bal Tashchis (Wasteful Destruction)
Some mitzvos have well-hidden reasons. Others suffer the opposite fate: everyone assumes they understand their reasons without bothering to learn what…
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Rabbi Matt Schneeweiss
2
Re’eh: MEAT IS MURDER!!!
P.E.T.A. (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) equates slaughtering animals for food with murder. Does Judaism agree? The answer may surprise…
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Rabbi Matt Schneeweiss
2
Eikev: When to Disregard Tznius (Modesty) and Act Like an Animal
Yes, this is an article about a case in which Chazal permit us to totally disregard the laws of tznius and explicitly encourage us to behave like…
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Rabbi Matt Schneeweiss
7
Vaeschanan: Ayn Rand, Art, and Avodah Zarah
Like her or hate her, Ayn Rand's definition of art sheds light on why the Torah prohibits the making of representative statues even for aesthetic…
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Rabbi Matt Schneeweiss
Mattos / Masei Round-up (2013-2022)
No new Mattos / Masei article this year. Instead, here are eleven divrei Torah articles from 2013-2022, all available as PDFs and the more recent ones…
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Rabbi Matt Schneeweiss
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