Aaron L. Raskin

A closer look at the topic of dreams, and more specifically the prayer regarding bad dreams, which is recited during the Priestly Blessings.

Why was our matriarch Rachel buried at the roadside? This comes up in the dialogue between Yaakov and Yosef shortly before his passing, and sheds light on the great virtues of Rachel.

Yaakov encountered two groups of angels to escort him in his travels, which symbolize two modes of divine service for us as well.

What’s the deeper meaning of Yitzchok’s wells and their correlation to the three Holy Temples?

The Torah describes in great detail the mission of Avraham’s trusted servant Eliezer to find a bride for Yitzchak, his master’s son. Explore the precise role of Eliezer, the greater significance of this mission and how this relates to all of us in our own...

Explore the deeper significance of a Brit Milah specifically as an infant as illuminated with the circumcision of Yitzckak.

The bulk of the tractate of Sotah discusses the laws of a married woman suspected by her husband – with strong circumstantial evidence – of infidelity. She is brought to the Temple and given to drink from the "bitter waters," and if she was indeed unfaith...

Exploring the weekly reading from the Prophets for the Shabbat prior to Tisha b’Av.

Exploring the weekly reading from the Prophets and its connection the Torah portion of the week.

Run to an easy mitzvah, and flee from a transgression. For a mitzvah brings another mitzvah, and a transgression brings another transgression. For the reward of a mitzvah is a mitzvah, and the reward of transgression is transgression. (Ethics of Our Fathe...