By Rabbi Avi Billet Issue of July 17, 2009 / 25 Tammuz 5769 As difficult as it is to comprehend warfare and the tactics required to ensure survival of your side, Biblical warfare is a … more

By Rabbi Avi Billet Issue of July 10, 2009 / 18 Tammuz 5769 A movie truism says that if you’re introduced to a character in the beginning of a film, even if the storyline does not seem to … more

By Rabbi Avi Billet Issue of July 3, 2009 / 11 Tammuz 5769 Imagine a group of strangers knock on your front door. They seem imposing. But they are nonetheless polite and assure you they mean … more

By Rabbi Avi Billet Issue of June 26, 2009 / 4 Tammuz 5769 There is a common theme in three verses at the beginning of the book of Bamidbar, which is echoed in our parsha: “V’ha’zar … more

By Rabbi Avi Billet Issue of June 19, 2009 / 27 Sivan 5769 In the midst of the crisis of the spies, a seeming throwaway line is almost completely ignored by the commentaries. As Kalev and … more

By Rabbi Avi Billet Issue of June 12, 2009 / 20 Sivan 5769 In a few instances, the Torah describes the very specific role clouds play within the Israelite encampment. In the last four … more

PARSHAT NASO By Rabbi Avi Billet Issue of June 5, 2009 / 13 Sivan 5769 As the aftershocks of Shavuot slowly wear off, I find myself thinking about the blessing the kohanim give to the … more

By Rabbi Avi Billet Issue of May 29, 2009 / 6 Sivan 5769 What significant moment from Jewish history is celebrated on Shavuot? The giving of the Torah, right? Wrong. Unlike other holidays … more

By Rabbi Avi Billet Issue of May 22, 2009 / 28 Iyar 5769 The book of Numbers (Bamidbar) begins with a series of countings of various segments of the population. Most of the tribes had their … more

By Rabbi Avi Billet Issue of May 15, 2009 / 21 Iyar 5769 As we close the book of Vayikra, a book with surprisingly sparse narrative, it is interesting to note the span of time that has passed … more