Torah message for Parshat Ki Tisa 5781. This week’s lesson is with Rabbi Reuven Spolter

Every one of us would rather be on the “giving” side than the “getting”. The Gaon of Vilna teaches us that a single word in the parshah, as well as the “trop” – the cantillation of that word, teaches us a critical lesson about both giving and receiving.

You can find the source sheets here if you’d like to print them out for the Shabbat table.

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Torah message for Parshat Mishpatim 5781. This week’s lesson is with Rabbi Reuven Spolter

Parshat Mishpatim teaches us about the prohibition of lending money to others with interest. In this brief lesson, Rashi teaches us that the language the Torah uses to convey this prohibition conveys a critical lesson about the danger of borrowing (or lending) with interest.

You can find the source sheets here if you’d like to print them out for the Shabbat table.

Know a family looking for an excellent Jewish learning option for their Middle School Children? Kitah for Home Plus is now running its Spring 2021 semester.

This week’s lesson is with Rabbi Reuven Spolter

As many look forward to the Super Bowl and the fun of the advertisements surrounding the game, we are reminded that the Torah teaches us that we may not “Covet.” How can we train ourselves not to want that which our heart desires? Ibn Ezara, in his commentary on the Ten Commandments, offers a suggstion.

You can find the source sheets here if you’d like to print them out for the Shabbat table.
Know a family looking for an excellent Jewish learning option for their Middle School Children? Kitah for Home Plus is now running its Spring 2021 semester.

This week’s lesson is with Rabbi Reuven Spolter

How do we have hope in such a challenging time? We must follow the example of the righteous women of Israel who demonstrated their faith in the future through their actions.

docs.google.com/document/d/1aU6X7rFTyZpmcTbraod9R3s08NinloAFFj6W6q1tpyU/edit?usp=sharing(opens in a new tab)

You can find the source sheets here if you’d like to print them out for the Shabbat table.
Know a family looking for an excellent Jewish learning option for their Middle School Children? Kitah for Home Plus is now running its Spring 2021 semester.

This week’s lesson is with Rabbi Reuven Spolter

How do we encourage children that are not the best or strongest or tallest? What words of encouragement can we give that will inspire them to do their best and achieve great things? The Midrash teaches us a powerful lesson from the Korban Pesach that tells us that greatness is often found in the smallest package.

You can find the source sheets here if you’d like to print them out for the Shabbat table.
Know a family looking for an excellent Jewish learning option for their Middle School Children? Kitah for Home Plus is now running its Spring 2021 semester.

This week’s lesson is with Rabbi Reuven Spolter

As vaccinations begin and we think that we can see the light at the end of the COVID-19 tunnel, we must also raise the complicated question of God’s role in the pandemic. As we see in the Parshah, the word “Magefah”, which is the Hebrew word for “pandemic”, implies the direct intervention of God in the world.

You can find the source sheets here if you’d like to print them out for the Shabbat table.
Know a family looking for an excellent Jewish learning option for their Middle School Children? Kitah for Home Plus is now running its Spring 2021 semester.

This week’s lesson is with Rabbi Reuven Spolter

Last night, President-elect Joe Biden told the world that, “The words of a president matter, no matter how good or bad that president,” the president-elect added. “At their best, the words of a president can inspire. At their worst, they can incite.” When Moshe meets God at the burning bush, one of his comments teaches us a great deal about how Moshe viewed himself, and how leaders can and should use their words.

You can find the source sheets here if you’d like to print them out for the Shabbat table.
Know a family looking for an excellent Jewish learning option for their Middle School Children? Kitah for Home Plus begins on January 4, 2021.

This week’s lesson is with Rabbi Reuven Spolter

What are fish doing in a blessing? Yaakov, in his blessing to Yosef’s children, makes a curious and seemingly strange choice of langauge connected to fish. Why does he choose this language? According to the Midrash, Yaakov teaches us a beautiful and powerful lesson about the importance of Torah and the blessings that we give to our children. In addition, he also reminded his grandchildren that their true home would always be the Land of Israel.

You can find the source sheets here if you’d like to print them out for the Shabbat table.
Know a family looking for an excellent Jewish learning option for their Middle School Children? Kitah for Home Plus begins on January 4, 2021.

This week’s lesson is with Rabbi Reuven Spolter

the “Yom Hakaddish Haklali” – the day of general kaddish that we recite for those whose yartzeit is not known, or who no longer has someone to say kaddish for them. As we read of the story in Vayigash of Yosef and Yaakov’s reunion, we encounter a different kind of mourning – one we should be mindful of as we fast this year.

You can find the source sheets here if you’d like to print them out for the Shabbat table.
Know a family looking for an excellent Jewish learning option for their Middle School Children? Kitah for Home Plus begins on January 4, 2021.