CHOCHMAS NASHIM: THE BLESSING OF TRANQUILITY By: Suri Davis   I have started a new shiur on Shaar Habitachon/Gates of Trust, which meets every Wednesday evening via Zoom for a half hour.  This week, we started discussion on the Five Benefits of Bitachon which help us spiritually, and Five Benefits of Bitachon which help us…

A HALF MILLION ISRAELIS RALLY IN SUPPORT OF JUDICIAL REFORM SHOULD WE? By: Suri Davis   One of the seven Noahide laws is to establish a Judicial system.  We in America idealize our judicial system as a democratic source of communal justice, where two parties appear and there is no bias or favoritism and justice…

CHOCHMAS NASHIM: OURS IS NOT TO QUESTION WHY By: Suri Davis   This week’s two Torah portions are heavy on prohibitions and punishment for said prohibitions/sins. Why is it that the Torah sets forth the punishment for sins, but in only two instances, honoring mom and dad and the mitzvah/commandment of shooing a mother bird…

CHOCHMAS NASHIM: GREAT GIFT By:  Suri Davis This week we read two torah portions, Tazriah and Metzorah, which discusses those who were lepers as a result of sinning, and the process one has to go through to confirm a case of leprosy, and all of his belongings which have to be burned and his home…

CHOCHMAS NASHIM: TZAV:  THE ROAD TO HELL By: Suri Davis     They say:  The road to hell is paved with good intentions, i.e., he meant well, but the execution fell short, or he was sidetracked in his actions.   Intent:  Kavanah.   In this week torah’s portion, Tzav, Leviticus 7:18, there is a discussion…

CHOCHMAS NASHIM: VAYIKRA: GRATITUDE AND FORGIVENESS By: Suri Davis   We start with Leviticus/Vayikra this week which discusses the sacrifices in the Tabernacle and Temple.  There are sacrifices which are each person’s desire to thank G-d for his bounty, show gratitude, and the details of these sacrifices are written before the details of the sacrifices…

CHOCHMAS NASHIM: THREE YEARS WHICH WILL LIVE IN INFAMY By: Suri Davis   This month is the three year mark since a man was taken to St. Joseph hospital in Far Rockaway and brought Covid to our community.  We were in a position to deconstruct our shuls and figure out how to serve G-d individually.…

CHOCHMAS NASHIM: CREATING WITH G-D By: Suri Davis In this week’s torah portion, it discusses how G-d would bestow on Bezalel and Ahaliav chochmah/wisdom to build the vessels of the mishkan/travelling temple. Juxtaposed to this giving of wisdom to create the vessels of the Mishkan, is the commandment to keep the Shabbos.  What is the…

CHOCHMAS NASHIM:  MISHPATIM: OUR KIDS HAVE BEEN KIDNAPPED By:  Suri Davis In this week’s torah portion there is an unusual juxtaposition of three verses: Exodus 21: 15-17: If a person strikes his father or his mother he must be put to death. If a person kidnaps a man, and witnesses found him in his possession…

CHOCHMAS NASHIM: BINFOL OYVECHAH AL TISMACH By:  Suri Davis   On Tisha B’av, we read the book Lamentations, where Jeremiah states to our enemies, Lamentations 3:64:  Requite them, G-d, according to the work of their hands.” And 4:21 “ Unto you (our enemy) will pass the wine glass of retribution, become drunk and vomit.”  While…