Shalom Paltiel

The positive impact of “great is the righteous and great is his neighbor” is not proportionate to the negative effect of “woe is the wicked and woe is his neighbor”.

Our Sages say: “Woe to the wicked and woe to his neighbor” in reference to the tribe of Reuven being affected by Korach’s rebellion. A closer look at three different sources for this teaching, offers three ways to understand a neighbor’s impact.

The Torah addresses the logical question of how will we have food, if we observe Shemitah and don’t work or harvest the field that year. What’s curious is where in the Torah this question is raised.

In deviating from the standard order of the holidays, Rambam teaches a novel insight into how the holidays have a continual effect.

What is the Torah’s message in ‘Emor’, which simply means to say and speak? It sounds quite generic, yet the instruction is powerful.

Learn why Rashi interprets the mitzvah of not placing an obstacle before the blind, as a metaphor for not giving improper advice.

Talmudic style analysis of Rambam’s rulings on when a rich man vows to bring a poor man’s offering or vice versa. In resolving what appears as conflicting rulings in two sections of Rambam, we see how one’s monetary commitment to atone for another, enrich...

The name of the parsha Shemini, contains the primary theme of the entire Torah portion. The number eight represents Divine transcendence that is beyond nature. Yet eight denotes a continuation of the natural order of seven.

The Rebbe zooms in on key passages in the haggadah and asks many pointed questions. In classic Torah brilliance, he uncovers the overarching theme of the Passover liberation, which beautifully resolves all these questions.