By Rabbi Avi Billet
Issue of Nov. 7, 2008 / 9 Cheshvan 5769
When we were first introduced to Noach last week, we were told that he was righteous and “Tamim,” perfect or complete. …
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11/5/08
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By Rabbi Avi Billet
Issue of Oct. 31, 2008 / 2 Cheshvan 5769
Reading the story of the dispersion at the beginning of chapter 11, it is hard to see where the people went wrong. In the words …
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10/29/08
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Sukkot/Shmini Atzeret/Simchat Torah 5769
By Rabbi Avi Billet
Issue of Oct. 17, 2008
There are few things in life that can elicit a collective gasp from everyone in a room. A real …
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10/16/08
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Resolutions for remarkable Jews
By Rabbi Avi Billet
Issue of Oct. 10, 2008
It is a bit of a challenge to reflect on Yom Kippur before it happens. This issue of The Jewish Star went to …
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10/8/08
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G-d’s clear indirect message
By Rabbi Avi Billet
Issue of Oct. 3, 2008
For the parsha with the fewest number of verses in the Torah, Vayelech is quite busy. (Nitzavim has 10 more …
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10/1/08
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Good old-fashioned pessimism? Not exactly.
By Rabbi Avi Billet
Issue of Sept. 26, 2008
Devarim 30:1 states: “And it will be when all these things come upon you, namely the blessing …
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9/25/08
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Heads we win, tails we lose
By Rabbi Avi Billet
Issue of Sept. 19, 2008
When my oldest child began to talk, she was two months shy of her second birthday. It occurred to me that I could …
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9/17/08
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By Matis Friedman
Issue of Sept. 12, 2008
Recently I picked up some new suits from being checked for Shatnez (wool and linen interwoven) and came away with quite a story.
When dropping …
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9/11/08
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Not being ‘cross’
By Rabbi Avi Billet
Issue of Sept. 12, 2008
Chapter 22 has a unique list of seemingly random commandments:
You may not forego returning a lost object you come …
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9/11/08
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Loving the ‘ger’
By Rabbi Avi Billet
Issue of August 22, 2008
The Torah commands us to love three entities: G-d, our neighbor, and the “ger.” The term “ger” is usually …
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8/21/08
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