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Korach-Torah portion-The Social Classes of holiness-Rabbi Yakira

The Torah, was revealed to us 3,333 years ago, at Mount Sinai in the year 2448 from creation. Our sages tell us that G‑d’s six days of creation correspond to the six millennia of human endeavor that follow. According to Midrash: in the third millennium of the world’s existence, the element that resolves the conflicts created by diversity was introduced into our lives. The Torah. Indeed, the Talmud states that “The Torah was given to make peace in the world.”

Shlach-Torah portion-The Land of Milk and Honey-Rabbi Yakira

By Yakira / Shlach-D'var Torah

In a nutshell Parashat Shlach, שְׁלַח-לְךָ‎ “send to you”, Numbers 13:1–15:41 tells the story of the twelve spies ) one chieftain from each of the 12 tribes of Israel( to scout the land of Canaansent by Mosheh to assess the land of Canaan.Forty days later they return, carrying a huge cluster of grapes, a pomegranate …

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Behaalotecha-Torah portion-El Na Refa Na La-Rabbi Yakira

By Yakira / Behaalotecha-D'var Torah

“There are prayers that are answered after a hundred years . . . there are prayers that are answered after ninety years . . . and there are prayers that are answered after seven days.”-Midrash Yalkut Hamachiri. When Miriam was punished with leporsy, for lashon hara, evil speech, Mosheh cried to G‑d, saying: “I beseech You, O G‑d, heal her now!”
praying for her healing, with five powerful words “EL NA REFA NA LA”

Naso-The Priestly Blessing-Shavuot-Rabbi Yakira

By Yakira / Naso-D'var Torah-Rabbi Yakira

It is not a coincidence that we read the Kohanim’s commandment to bless the people with the threefold blessings: Yevarechecha (bless), Yaer (shine), and Yisa (lift), during the week of Shavuot, when Jews take it upon themselves to study Torah and practice its mitzvot. The Torah teaches us that by keeping the Torah, we receive G-d’s blessings.

BaMidbar-In the Wilderness-Rabbi Yakira

By Yakira / Bamidbar-D'var Torah-Rabbi Yakira

In the article “10 Things We All Need To Stop Counting In Life” By Kelcie Scott, she list 10 things we, as a culture, just need to stop counting; from iPhone Updates, Bed sheets Thread Counts, Wrinkles, Pounds, Years etc. Instead, making the things that matter count, like counting the number of times you did something that filled your heart with joy, and counting your blessings every day. In English, the book of BaMidbar, is called Numbers, as it begins with and contains a number of censuses of the Israelites in the opening chapters.

BeHar-BeChukotai-The Miracle of Shmitah-Yovel-Rabbi Yakira

By Yakira / BeHar-BeChukotai-D'var Torah-Rabbi Yakira

At the end of each book of the Torah we recite ancient words dating back to Talmudic times, “Chazak, chazak, v’nitchazeik.” “Let us be strong, let us be strong, let us strengthen one another.” Parashat Behar-Bechukotai, the 32nd and 33rd weekly Torah portions, are the concluding portions in the Book of Leviticus.

Emor-Sefirat HaOmer-Shimon Bar Yochai-Rabbi Yakira

By Yakira / Emor-D'var Torah-Rabbi Yakira

“The death of human empathy is one of the earliest and most telling signs of a culture about to fall into barbarism.”-Hannah Arendt. In Parashat Emor, we learn about the mitvah of Sefirat HaOmer (Counting 49 days of the Omer). On the 33rd day, called Lag BaOmer, we commemorate the passing of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, who lived in a cave with his son, in total isolation for twelve years, studying Torah, they both had to remain in the cave for an additional year, after realizing they are lacking empathy and hurting others, forgetting the golden rule VeAhavta Lereacha Kamocha, Love your fellow as yourself.

Acharei Mot-Kedoshim-Love your fellow as yourself-Rabbi Yakira

By Yakira / Acharei Mot-Kedoshim-D'var Torah-Rabbi Yakira

The Baal Shem Tov used to say: “Love your fellow man as yourself. You know that you have
many faults, nevertheless you still love yourself. That is how you should feel towards your
fellow man. Despite his faults, love him.” (Likutei Avraham, p.221). Easier said than done, as there are many tendencies of human nature that prevent us from loving our neighbors. The main impediment to this commandment is jealousy.

Tazria-Metzora-The laws of ritual impurity and purity-Rabbi Yakira

By Yakira / Tazria-Metzora-D'var Torah-Rabbi Yakira

To pronounce a fellow Jew as impure is an enormous responsibility only a Kohen, who is chosen to bless the people with love, can make such a declaration, as it will be accepted as the honest truth. In biblical times, Tzaraat, was a punishment for lashon hara (gossip), and had to be inspected by a Kohen. Tzaraat is a super-natural plague, which amazingly can also afflict garments.

Shemini-The 8th day of the Mishkan’s dedication-Rabbi Yakira

By Yakira / Acharei Mot-Kedoshim-D'var Torah-Rabbi Yakira

As a vegetarian since childhood and vegan for almost a decade, I was never too concerned with the laws of Kashroot. In our parashah, G‑d commands the kosher laws, the distinction between permissible and forbidden animal species, for consumption. Land animals may be eaten only if they have split hooves and also chew their cud; fish must have fins and scales; a list of non-kosher birds is given, and a list of kosher insects (four types of locusts). Why the Torah command us to eat only Kosher food? G-d put the people on a special diet. If they follow the kosher diet their souls, their neshamah will stay holy.