Welcome to the Nishma Insight Discussion Forum blog.


The NISHMA INSIGHT is our popular dvar Torah, distributed almost every week by e-mail, that touches upon an important concept in the Parsha, theme in a holiday or event in contemporary society.

Often, readers respond, via e-mail, with comments that initiate a further dialogue. Through this Discussion Forum, we now wish to open this dialogue to others. If you have a comment on the INSIGHT, we invite you place to your comments here; then we invite everyone to join the discussion.

(If you are not receiving the NISHMA INSIGHT, we invite you join our mailing/e-mail list through completing our sign-up form available at our website.)

Friday, March 29, 2013

Insight 5773-28: Another's Freedom

For Pesach
Not yet available on the Nishma website.

Study Questions

1) While I did not further discuss this issue in the Insight itself, it may be interesting to consider the impact of slavery on a master. How can we understand the perception of a master that frees his/her slaves? Pursuant to the idea developed in the Insight, this would also be freeing for a master -- how can we understan?

Friday, March 22, 2013

Insight 5773-27: Command

For Tzav
Not yet available on the Nishma website.

Study Questions

1) I believe that the idea presented in this Insight is very applicable to Pesach. I was actually hoping to express this in the Insight proper but ran out of room This is something, though, that you may wish to explore.

Friday, March 15, 2013

Insight 5773-26: Derech Eretz

For Vayikra
Not yet available on the Nishma website.

Study Questions

1) One may wish to consider how derech eretz compares to the concept of  mitzvot suchliyot [technically: rational commandments] or, in more general terms, natural morality.

2) In a similar vein, one may want to look at the relationship of derech eretz to the Noachide Code.

Friday, March 8, 2013

Insight 5773-25: Forging Unity

For Vayakhel
Not yet available on the Nishma website.

Study Questions

1) Within the Insight, the argument for unity is based upon the agreement of the collective in regard to specific, disparate action. The idea being that while one may not personally agree to such behaviour, as part of the collective this individual will agree to it as part of the collective. This touches upon the concept of Eilu v'Eilu which defines a behaviour as part of Torah even as one disagrees with it. The question is: how do we set such a standard?

Friday, March 1, 2013

Insight 5773-24: Aharon's Involvement

For Ki Tisa
Not yet available on the Nishma website.

Study Questions

1) With Rashi's reference to torture, this matter is now introduced into any discussion regarding the propriety of a person's response if forced to act because of torture. This question can be both personal and halachic. How culpable is someone for a transgression undertaken to avoid torture? An interesting starting point for such an investigation may be T.B. Ketubot 33b.