Dvarim

This week’s parsha teaches the prohibition against having one witness testify against someone, which is a violation of loshon hora.

The Torah prohibits planting trees in the Beit HaMikdash, the Holy Temple. Why?

How do we implement principles from this week's Parsha in our beit din network, “Eretz Hemdah- Gazit”?

Once when I was serving reserve duty (miluim) in the IDF, I was sitting in the synagogue tent learning some Torah, when I happened to overhear some tidbits of conversation between two of my buddies. One of them was Torah-observant, the other one not yet. Out of the corner of my ear I heard the latter ask, "Tell me, how do you live with the fact that I can enjoy the world to the hilt, while you're saddled with all those Torah restrictions?" The religious one gave him a quick, short answer: "You enjoy This World, while I'll enjoy the World to Come!" Cringe.

In the ancient world, when grieving for a dead person, idol worshippers would make a bald spot in their hair between the eyes. The Torah explicity forbids this practice in Parshat Re'eh. Why?

We will continue to delve into the matter of tefilla as it is practiced within a community of believers in Hashem. In that framework, let us ask: To what extent are we supposed to pray for our needs and to what extent are we to make practical efforts toward them? Also, where does belief in Hashem's providence fit in?