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Author Archives: Rabbi Leib Zalesch
כמעט נטיו רגלי: Ye of Little Faith – Patriarchal Edition: Parshat Toldot
Is it possible that Avraham failed a test given to him by Hashem? That question has been on my mind and those of my Ninth Grade students, as we have explored Rashi’s selective use of a challenging Midrash. We’re up … Continue reading
Posted in Classroom Experiences, Parshat Hashavua
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מאבל לאור גדול: Preliminary Thoughts on Joy and Aveilut in Contemporary Jewish Worship
I confess, I am a Minyanaholic, even a bit of a Minyan-snob. I am one of those guys who not only, under normal circumstances, makes a point to be at Minyan, but notices and judges you (yes, you!) if you … Continue reading
Posted in Communal Matters, Halacha
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Kalev’s Prayer: Maintaining Integrity of Self in a World of Easy Associations
Proudly presenting another bit of Sixth Grade Torah … Shelach. The Spies. Rashi uses a textual ambiguity to derive that Kalev arrives in Chevron alone and prays at Me’arat HaMachpeila for Divine assistance from עצת מרגלים – the advice of … Continue reading
Shaul and the Roots of the Contemporary Leadership Vacuum
More 6th Grade Torah, from this past Friday, with an add-on related to the situation in Israel: Shmuel Aleph, Perek 15: Shaul’s latest blunder comes in his second war with Amalek. Despite Hashem’s explicit command to the contrary (15:3), Shaul … Continue reading
Posted in Classroom Experiences, Communal Matters
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On the Precipice of Beauty: Parshat Miketz and Chanukah
I have long marveled at a phrase tucked away in Parshat Miketz, the official sponsor of Shabbat Chanukah. The phrase appears at a critical juncture, with Viceroy Yosef finally meeting his one and only brother Binyamin, the second son of … Continue reading
Posted in Chanukah, Holidays, Parshat Hashavua
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Fruit For Thought, A Tree for Naught
When is a tree more than just a tree – and less? A careful examination of some of the early pesukim in Bereishit with my Ninth Grade Parshanut class yielded some tremendous fruit for thought, along with an eye-opening answer to … Continue reading
Posted in Classroom Experiences
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A Study in Contrasts: Thoughts at the Unveiling of Mrs. K.
I wanted to share some thoughts that were on my mind as I sat close to Mrs. K.’s unveiling, with perhaps more time than others to reflect as I was, being a Kohen, unable to enter the actual cemetery. Parshat Bereishit … Continue reading
Posted in Parshat Hashavua
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A Thought at 30
10:00 pm. I stand at a fork in the road: my “Hebrew birthday,” as the kids call it, began two hours ago; my “English birthday” begins in two hours. A fine moment for reflection, as much for the poignancy of … Continue reading
Posted in Classroom Experiences, Tefillah
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Audio and Sources – Shemini Atzeret – Hashkafa and Halacha
Below is audio (MP3) and sources (PDF) for a Shiur I gave at the high school today on Shemini Atzeret. The first half is a Hashkafic (Philosophical) perspective on what Shemini Atzeret is really all about; the second, more Halachic … Continue reading
Parsha Perspicacities 