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About Larry Tobin

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So far Larry Tobin has created 34 blog entries.

Balak 5781 – And You Thought Mister Ed Was Something Special

Parshat Balak, to say the least, is a very unusual and interesting Parsha. To summarize briefly, The B’nai Yisroel were having a field day destroying all of their enemies. Balak, king of Moab, feared that he was next. He could have made friends with the Jewish nation by simply offering them food and water during […]

Shelach 5781 – Fear of the Unknown

What an amazing opportunity. I had previously given a D’var to the Kehilla on Parshat Shelach where, among other things, I explored the sin of the ten spies who warned against entering Israel. I noted that they not only had sinned, but that the punishments handed out were Midah K’neged Midah (measure for measure). In […]

Shabbat Pesach Day 7 – Beshallah – Do Miracles Really Happen

Do you believe in miracles? Two things come to my mind when I think of miracles: Parsha Beshalach and Jacob Lefkovitz. This week’s Parsha is Beshalach. It mentions a number of purported miracles that occurred. The sea split to allow the Israelites to safely pass through and avoid the onslaught of the pursuing Egyptians. The […]

Pinchas: Hero or Villian

Over the years I have listened to countless speeches criticizing our Biblical ancestors. How could Abraham sacrifice his beloved son Isaac? How could Moses abandon his role as father and husband to take on the leadership of the B’nai Yisroel? How could Jacob cheat his brother Esau and trick his father Isaac? How could Pinchas […]

Shelach 5780 – No Good Deed Goes Unchallanged

Parshat Shelach. The story of the 12 spies. An oft told tale. Two good spies rewarded. Ten bad spies punished. Simple, right?

Let’s take a closer look at this intriguing story. What was the terrible wrong committed by ten of the spies? Didn’t they report what they saw? Maybe they exaggerated a little, but fear can […]

A Passover Lesson

Hello friends. Today I would like to share with you something I learned this Pesach and then add some parting thoughts. Before I do this, I would like to acknowledge the distinguished Rabbi of Shaare Tefilla in Dallas, Rabbi Rackovsky, who taught me a Passover lesson and who inspired this paper. Also, I would like […]

Vayikra 5780 – The Mysterious Parashat Vayikra

Today we will explore the mysteries of Parshat Vayikra. First, why the name? Please open up your Chumash to the Parsha. “Vayikra el Moshe” (and G-d spoke to Moses). Hence, the name Vayikra. Right? No, wrong! That would make seem to make sense, but upon careful examination it is clear that this explanation will not […]

Haazinu 5780 – He Sang The Song That Made The Young Girls Cry

Haazinu Hashamayim Va’adaberah: “Incline your ear, O Heaven, and I will speak.”  This begins the song  that Moshe is instructed by G-d to prepare for the children of Israel. Why Haazinu rather than Shema?  The word haazin connotes a greater readiness to perceive and accept that which is being spoken than  does the word shema […]

Rosh Hashanah Day 1 5780 – It Seems Like Only Yesterday

It seems like only yesterday. However, seventy-five, eighty years have passed since the Holocaust.  My  heart bleeds when I think about the loss of my ancestors. My soul cries out in pain for them and the millions who were slaughtered.  What was their sin to lead to such a terrible end?  Being Jewish? They were flesh and blood […]

Vaetchanan 5779 – Oy Such a Wonderful Parasha

Va’eschanan means and I pled. Who pled and to whom? Pled for what? What was the result? Before I delve further into this, allow me to briefly discuss a matter of interest. It is stated in a Midrash that Moshe offered 515 prayers to Hashem to beg to be allowed to enter the Promised Land. […]