Spiritual growth and holiness are not automatic and there is no quick-fix for them, rather they are achieved through tenacity and prayer (From the teachings of Maran Rabbeinu Ovadia Yosef ztvk”l)(written by his grandson HaRav Yaakov Sasson Shlit”a)(translated by our dear friend Rav Daniel Levy Shlit”a, Leeds United Kingdom) Painting by Raphael Perez (Flickr)—not connected to the dvar Torah, but a beautiful work nonetheless It states in Parashat Kedoshim, “You shall be holy, s

Based on the words of Maran zt”l on Yom Ha’atzmaut, 5733 (1973) Israeli Independence Day (“Yom Ha’atzmaut”) The prophet Yeshaya states: “I greatly rejoice in Hashem, my whole being exults in my G-d; for He has clothed me in garments of triumph, wrapped me in a robe of victory, like a groom adorned with a turban, like a bride bedecked with her finery.” We must analyze this verse which likens the way the Jewish nation will one day rejoice in Hashem to the way a groom wears fine

The Severity of the Sin of Lashon Hara and the danger of being a journalist (From the teachings of Maran Rabbenu Ovadia Yosef ztvk”l)(written by his grandson HaRav Yaakov Sasson Shlit”a) (translated by our dear friend Rav Daniel Levy Shlit”a, Leeds United Kingdom) From Christina Mattison Ebert’s D’rash Designs series In the Parashah, our Holy Torah speaks at length about the leper. Our Chachamim in the Gemara (Erachin 17a) say, why does the leper deserve such a punishment? Du

The Midrash states (Midrash Rabba, Parashat Beshalach) that Pharaoh regretted having freed the Jewish people. Why was this so? From a Sermon of Maran zt”l for the Holiday of Pesach The Vines in Blossom Give off Fragrance We can use a parable to illustrate this point: Once, a man owned a field that, after a long period of time of not being maintained, fell into a state of disrepair and was no more than a mere pile of dirt and rubble. This man sold the field to another. The buy

The significance of Shabbat HaGadol – Preventing the “Final Solution” in Egypt (From the teachings of Maran Rabbeinu Ovadia Yosef ztvk”l)(written by his grandson HaRav Yaakov Sasson Shlit”a)(translated by our dear friend Rav Daniel Levy Shlit”a, Leeds, United Kingdom) Parashat Tzav – Shabbat HaGadol Our Chachamim z”l said (Tur and Shulchan Aruch siman 430), that the Shabbat prior to Chag HaPesach is called “Shabbat HaGadol” – “The Great Shabbat”, in commemoration of the great

Shiny Happy People – How Moshe Rabbenu’s humility led to his radiant complexion (From the teachings of Maran Rabbenu Ovadia Yosef ztvk”l)(written by his grandson HaRav Yaakov Sasson Shlit”a) (translated by our dear friend Rav Daniel Levy Shlit”a, Leeds United Kingdom) Parashat Vayikra Our Parashah opens with the Pasuk, “Hashem called to Moshe, speaking to him from the Communion Tent saying”” (Vayikra 1:1). In Parashat Ki Tissa it states, “Moshe came down from Mt. Sinai with t

Small aggravations gradually and accumulatively atone for our sins From HaGaon Rav Zevadia HaCohen Shlit”a, The Head of the Batei Din in Tel Aviv(translated by our dear friend Rav Daniel Levy Shlit”a, Leeds, United Kingdom) From Christina Mattison Ebert’s D’rash Designs series This Shabbat, we shall read, “These are the accounts of the Mishkan (the Mishkan of Testimony), which were calculated by Moshe’s order by the Levi’im under Itamar, son of Aron the Cohen” (Shemot 38:21).

A Person is Their Thoughts From HaGaon Rav Zevadia HaCohen Shlit”a, The Head of the Batei Din in Tel Aviv(translated by our dear friend Rav Daniel Levy Shlit”a, Leeds, United Kingdom) From Christina Mattison Ebert’s D’rash Designs series This Shabbat we shall read, “When you take a census of the Bnei Yisrael to determine their number” (Shemot 30:12). Rabbenu the Orach Chaim HaKadosh a”h (Rav Chaim ibn Attar or Rav Chaim ben Moshe ibn Attar c. 1696-1743) explains in his commen

The unity of Am Yisrael is an antidote to evil decrees (Based on the Ma’amar of HaRav HaGoan Rav David Shaltiel Shlit”a) (translated by our dear friend Rav Daniel Levy Shlit”a, Leeds, United Kingdom) Parashat Tetzaveh - Shabbat Zachor It states in the Parashah, “You, [Moshe], must command Bnei Yisrael to bring you clear illuminating oil, made from hand crushed olives, to keep the lamp constantly burning. Aharon and his sons shall arrange for [the lamps to burn] from evening u