Torah Corner

The Torah blog of Rabbi Yosef A. Cohen, MD of the Fleetwood Synagogue

Below you can find links to blog posts covering a range of topics. Rabbi Cohen writes about the parsha, chagim, and halacha, as well as a range of medical questions and how these topics overlap. 

There are also posts available on YUTorah by both Rabbis Cohen and Dayan.

The top of the page displays the most recent posts, while the categories section below can connect you to summaries and posts on a particular topic. 

Recent Posts

  • The Fleetwood Synagogue SoundCloud Page

    In addition to the various blog posts directly on the Torah Corner here on the Fleetwood Synagogue website, there are a large number of audio files on the Fleetwood SoundCloud page. These are audio only, without written commentary beyond the file name. The entire page is embedded below, although only a […]

  • Parshat Netzavim: Accomplishment of Yamim Noraim

    The non clearly defined rules of Parshat Hakel have led to much debate among rishonim. Once every seven years on Sukkot, following Shmitta, some Torah portion is read in front of some number of people. One of the points of debate is why specifically on Sukkot. The Abarbanel makes the […]

  • Parshat Shoftim: Spheres of Prayer

    עגלה ערופה is a strange halacha. Instructions are given for a governing body, not directly related to the welfare of the people of the town to come atone for the sins of the members of the city. An unidentified cadaver was found within a short distance of the town. The […]

  • Parshat Ekev: Recipe for Love

    Love is complicated. Let us attempt to address what we really mean when we discuss loving someone. Some forms of love are much easier to explain than others. Some forms of love can cynically be simple biological imperatives or evolutionary developments: we love our children, we love our parents. It […]

  • Parshat Devarim: Menashe and Love of Eretz Yisrael

    On the list of events that are repeated in Sefer Devarim is the request of Reuvan and Gad to settle the land conquered by the Jewish people before they formally entered Israel proper. As we know, Moshe, assuming they sought to benefit from the war waged by their brothers without […]

  • Parshat Pinchas: Transition of Shevet Levi

    ספר במדבר is also titled ספר ספרות or the Book of Countings, referring to the two times the Jewish people were counted in the Book, once prior to the חט המרגלים where the דור יוצאי מצרים were counted and once after where their children, the generation that was imminently entering […]

  • Parshat Korach: The Journey

    This week I spent some time thinking about when do we commemorate events that happened to the Jewish people in contrast to American legal holidays. Juneteenth celebrates the last slaves in America learning that they were freed. Both holidays, quite logically, celebrate the conclusion of an event. We often don’t […]

  • Parshat Shelach

    When we ponder upon the legendary figures in military history, there are two exceptional commanders who come to mind. These extraordinary individuals possess the charm and brilliance to rally legions of followers, inspiring unwavering loyalty. Their troops would willingly lay down their lives for the chance to serve under their […]

  • Parshat Behaalotcha

    This week we started the beginning of a number of episodes featured throughout sefer bamidbar of rebellions against Moshe Rabbenu’s leadership. Unlike prior and subsequent episodes of the Jews sinning, these are not sins against God personally but are instead directly focused on Moshe Rabbenu. Today though, we read of […]

  • The Experience of Sukkot, The Experience of the Year

    The nature of the Chag of Sukkot is unique among the Chagim. It is unique in that there is no one mitzva that defines the day. It is unique in that it celebrates not one Chag but two, Simchat Torah and Sukkot. And it is unique in a full Hallel […]

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