Parashat Pinchas opens with a burst of divine proclamation: “Pinchas… has turned My wrath away from the children of Israel… therefore I grant him My covenant of peace” (Numbers 25:11–12). But to understand the weight of this moment, we must revisit the end of the previous portion, Balak. There, we…

One of the most enduring and unifying traditions of Jewish life is the public reading of the Torah. Week after week, Jewish communities gather on Shabbat to hear a portion of the Five Books of Moses read from a Torah scroll. The Torah is divided into fifty-four sections known as…

The human desire to alter consciousness is nearly as old as civilization itself. People have sought such experiences through wine, intoxicating plants, medicinal substances, ecstatic rituals, and, in the modern world, an expanding variety of recreational and synthetic drugs. Some seek pleasure, some relief from suffering, some escape from ordinary…

Here is the article rewritten from the Derekh HaTorah perspective, recognizing both the Written and authoritative Oral Torah while maintaining an open, nonjudgmental approach to Jewish observance. Hiddur Mitzvah: Beautifying the Service of God Hiddur mitzvah is one of the most beautiful principles in Jewish religious life. It teaches that…

A ba’al teshuvah—literally, a “master of return”—is a Jew who turns back toward God, Torah, and the life of mitzvot. The expression is often used for someone who was raised without religious observance and later adopted a more traditional Jewish life. Yet teshuvah is not limited to one type of…

The Hebrew word kiruv means “bringing near.” In contemporary Jewish life, it is commonly used to describe efforts to help Jews become more connected to Torah, mitzvot, prayer, community, and Jewish identity. At its best, kiruv is an expression of love for the Jewish people and a desire to share…

An Orthodox and Traditional Approach In many Orthodox communities, the eruv is almost invisible until it fails. A wire breaks, a utility pole is replaced, severe weather damages part of the boundary, and suddenly ordinary Shabbat routines become much more complicated. Parents cannot push strollers to synagogue. People must remember…

Intermarriage—the marriage of a Jew to someone who is not Jewish—has long been one of the most difficult and emotionally charged subjects in Jewish life. It touches questions of love, family, belonging, Jewish continuity, and the future of the covenant. For many people, it is not an abstract theological issue.…

The Hebrew word tzaddik (צדיק) is commonly translated as “a righteous person” or “a just person.” In contemporary Jewish conversation, the title is sometimes associated with revered rabbis, Hasidic leaders, miracle workers, or people believed to possess unusual spiritual insight. Yet the original meaning of the word is both simpler…

This is a common question that I get a lot and one that highlights the different approaches between Netzarim Judaism and Talmudic traditions. What Does “Kosher Wine” Mean? In Talmudic Judaism, wine must be produced under rabbinical supervision to be considered kosher. This is less about ingredients and more about…