Hal Miller

Shabbat Parashat Ki Tavo - 5786 Rabbi Hal Miller These shall stand to bless the people on Mount Gerizim, when you have crossed the Jordan: Shimon and Levi and Yehudah and Yissachar and Yosef and Binyamin. [Devarim 27:12] And these shall stand for the curse on Mount Eival: Reuven, Gad and Asher and Zevulun, Dan and Naphtali. [Devarim 27:13] It might seem that tribes would prefer to be assigned to Mount Gerizim, location of blessings, rather than Mount Eival, location o

Shabbat Parashat Ki Teitzei - 5786 Rabbi Hal Miller There shall not be a kli-gever on a woman nor shall a man wear a simlat-ishah for anyone who does so is an abomination to Hashem your God. [Devarim 22:5] What are kli-gever and simlat-ishah, and why should cross-dressing be an abomination? Gever means man, mighty, hero or overpower. Kli means vessel, tool or instrument. As a combined word, kli-milchamah means an instrument of war, or weapon, and kli-gever can mean somet

Shabbat Parashat Shoftim - 5786 Rabbi Hal Miller According to all that you asked of Hashem your God in Choreiv on the day of the assembly saying, I can no longer listen to the voice of Hashem my God, and this great fire I can no longer see, so that I shall not die. [Devarim 18:16] What did the people ask of God for which Moshe is now presenting them the results? And what are those results? Onkelos begins by translating it "as you asked before Hashem", leaving out the wo

Shabbat Parashat Re'eh - 5786 Rabbi Hal Miller However there shall be no destitute among you for blessing God will bless you in the land that Hashem your God will give you as an inheritance to take possession of it. [Devarim 15:4] For destitute people will not cease to exist within the land, because of this I command you saying, you shall surely open your hand to your brother, to your poor one, and to your destitute in your land. [Devarim 15:11] These two verses s