A Truly Correct Judgement – Your Clothes or Mine! 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) Parashat Yitro This Shabbat we shall read about Yitro, Moshe Rabbenu’s father-in-law, who saw his son-in-law, Moshe Rabbenu, adjudicating the people’s cases from morning until evening. He advised him how best to manage the judicial process for the people. In the Torah’s wo

Are we pioneers or latecomers? Commitment to Hashem or flaky belief? (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 Beshalach – Shabbat Shirah In our Parashah, we find two similar pesukim. One, “Am Yisrael entered the sea bed on dry land. The water was on their right and left like [two] walls” (Shemot 14:22). Meaning that the

How Moshe Rabbenu ensured that Paro freeing Am Yisrael had Halachic validity (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 It states in the Parashah concerning the plague of the Smiting of the Firstborns, “Paro stayed up that night [lit. got up that night (see further on)], along w

Moshe in the Basket - The potential impact of paying attention for just one moment 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 week we read about Paro’s decree against the Jewish children, to abort their lives as soon as they were born. In the Torah’s words, “The king of Egypt spoke to the [chief] Hebrew mid

Yoseph’s belief in Hashem’s Oversight of him, gave him the strength to forgive his brothers A Ma’amar From HaGaon Rav Yaakov Sasson Shlit”a, Head of Halachah Yomit(Translated by our dear friend Rav Daniel Levy Shlit”a, Leeds United Kingdom) Parashat Vayechi It states in the Parashah, “After he buried his father, Yoseph returned to Egypt along with his brothers and all those who went with him to his father’s burial. Yoseph’s brothers began to realise [the implications] of the

Taking an appropriate stand when things are wrong in our families, and ensuring our children attend school that educate Torah values (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 Miketz – Shabbat Rosh Chodesh Chanukah It the Haphtarah of Shabbat Chanukah we will read, “The He showed me Yehoshua, the Cohen Gadol, standing befo

Difficulties are facts of life, however, how we respond to them is our choice From HaGaon Rav Yaakov Sasson Shlit”a, a grandson of Maran zt”l(Translated by our dear friend Rav Daniel Levy Shlit”a, Leeds United Kingdom) From Christina Mattison Ebert’s D’rash Designs series It states in the Parashah, “Meanwhile, Yaakov settled in the area where his father had lived in the land of Canaan” (Bereshit 37:1). Our Chachamim say that Yaakov sought to live in tranquillity and then the

Loving Me, Loving You! Two Types of Love 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 We read in the Parashah Yaakov’s exit from Be’er Sheva to travel to Charan and his labour by Lavan for 20 years; 7 years for Leah, 7 for Rachel and 6 further years. During that time, he also married Zilpa and Bilha, and they bore

When may we and when should we, be economical with the truth 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) Image Source: My Jewish Learning (Click) This Shabbat we shall read that Yitzchak wished to bless Esav. However, Yaakov, with his mother Rivka’s assistance, succeeds in receiving the berachot instead of Esav. He wears Esav’s best clothing and places on his hands