April 27, 2023
Published by Rabbi Yosef A. Cohen, MD at April 27, 2023
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HaChnassat Sefer Torah

Now that we have a ספר תורה, we should probably ask the question: did we just do a מצווה? The ספר החינוך counts the very last מצווה in the Torah as writing a ספר תורה. The רא”ש introduces the novel notion that writing other ספרים that we use more readily […]
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April 25, 2023
Published by Rabbi Yosef A. Cohen, MD at April 25, 2023
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Internal Pesach, External Sukkot

There is a puzzling distinction between Pesach and Sukkot. Pesach has a very clear reason for celebration, it commemorates the time we left Mitzrayim. Sukkot, while the Torah does provide a reason, the timing is not particularly clear. And yet, Pesach seems to be, externally at least, a much more […]
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April 25, 2023
Published by Rabbi Yosef A. Cohen, MD at April 25, 2023
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Vayakel Pekudi

Few times throughout the Jews’ journeys in the desert does Moshe Rabbenu gather the people to speak with them. We must therefore consider the purpose of such events each time they occur. Rav Aharon Lichtenstein proposes that each time such a gathering occurred it a momentous occasion where Moshe gathered […]
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April 25, 2023
Published by Rabbi Yosef A. Cohen, MD at April 25, 2023
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Matza, An Expression of Talmud Torah

Lomdus, the analytical explanation of Talmudic principles is a fascinating intellectual endeavor, that often allows for understanding and appreciating certain halachic principles. For example, as we’ve discussed in the past, there are two components of the mitzvat Talmud torah. One, the מצווה חיובית, that is the obligatory requirement to engage […]
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April 25, 2023
Published by Rabbi Yosef A. Cohen, MD at April 25, 2023
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Parshat Zachor

Three prominent enemies of the Jewish people appear throughout the Torah but only one bears the title of eternal enemy of the Jewish people. The מצרים enslaved us for hundreds of years. They drowned our babies and tormented our people. And yet, of them the Torah tells us לא תתעב […]
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April 24, 2023
Published by Rabbi Yosef A. Cohen, MD at April 24, 2023
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The Physical Informs the Spiritual (Tazria-Metzora)

In today’s פרשיות, we encounter intricate instructions regarding the procedure for identifying a מצורע. Various verses elaborate on the specific criteria, such as changes in color, size, and hair, that must be met to diagnose someone as a מצורע. However, the practical applications of these regulations are not explicitly mentioned. […]
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April 10, 2023
Published by Rabbi Yosef A. Cohen, MD at April 10, 2023
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The Anticlimactic Seder

The miracles were wonderous events that God performed for us. But they are not the point of the story. Now that He has redeemed us we must prepare to begin the next stage. We must discuss the technical details of the Seder so we understand the laws of how the celebration must be made. This is what we are entrusted to teach our children.
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March 12, 2023
Published by Rabbi Yosef A. Cohen, MD at March 12, 2023
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Parshat Ki Tisa

The elitism then of שבט לוי as opposed to the other שבטים is one of higher education. In a time when education was primarily a familial responsibility it was necessary to ensure one family retained the task of ensuring proper technical and detailed instructions were taught to future generations.
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