16 Lessons

Parashat Hashavua: Why Have the Attribute of Mercy, Judgment, and Again Mercy?
Rabbi Yossef Carmel | Cheshvan 5785

Who Were the Tower Builders? – part III
Rabbi Yossef Carmel | Cheshvan 15 5781

Ma’acha Spells Trouble
Our parasha ends with a list of the offspring of Avraham’s brother, Nachor, most important among them being Rivka, the daughter of his son, Betuel. While most of the children (eight) were from his wife, Milka, he also had four children from his concubine, Reuma (see Bereishit 22:23-24). Thus, there were twelve children, which certainly reminds us of the twelve tribes that were born to Yaakov from his wives (8) and servants (4). While some say that the reason for all this genealogy is to understand where Rivka came from (see Rashi ad loc.), we will try to figure out who the last person mentioned in the list, Ma’acha, was, and what Ma’acha’s connection to Bnei Yisrael was over time.
Rabbi Yossef Carmel | Cheshvan 16 5779

About Altars, Monument, and … Trees
In describing Avraham’s building of a spiritual legacy, the Torah says: “He planted an eshel in Be’er Sheva and called out there in the name of Hashem, the eternal G-d” (Bereishit 21:33). With the help of this pasuk and a difficult and extremely harsh one in Yeshaya, we will discover an unknown element of worship of Hashem practiced at the time of the forefathers.
Rabbi Yossef Carmel | Cheshvan 13 5777

Chazal Divluged; What About Us?
Rabbi Yossef Carmel | Cheshvan 12 5776

“Which I Neither Commanded, Nor Said, Nor Contemplated”
Rabbi Yossef Carmel | 5775

Mercy and Forgivingness
Rabbi Yossef Carmel | 5774

A Citizen’s Rights and Obligations
Rabbi Yossef Carmel | 5773

Another Covenant
Rabbi Yossef Carmel | 5772

To Criticize or to Ignore
Rabbi Yossef Carmel | 5771

Political Negotiations – Yes or No?
Rabbi Yossef Carmel | 17 CHESHVAN 5769

Forty Times Twelve
Rabbi Yossef Carmel | Sunday, 9 Cheshvan 5768

Giving More Than You Have?
Rabbi Yossef Carmel | 20 Cheshvan 5767

Justice and Charity
Parashat Vayera
Parashat Vayera
Rabbi Yossef Carmel | Heshvan 5766

For Lack of the Fear of G-d
Parashat Vayera
Parashat Vayera
Rabbi Yossef Carmel | 15 Cheshvan 5765
