Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz

Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz is rabbi of the Western Wall and Holy Sites.

Shining: Moon rises behind the Mount of Olives, Jerusalem.

Parashat Pinchas: What Joshua learned from Moses about true leadership

An ultra-Orthodox jew prays at the Westen Wall July 17, 2002 on Tisha B'Av

The breached walls we must rebuild this Seventeenth of Tamuz - opinion

ONE SHOULD NOT intrude into the life of his neighbor.

Parashat Balak: Guarding our eyes


Parashat Hukat: A life of meaning

The Torah teaches that genuine values require commitment and effort. A person who remains connected to their values only when it is convenient will struggle to maintain them over time.

‘MESIRUT NEFESH’: Willingness to give up comfort, time, money, and personal interests for a greater value.

Parashat Korah: The story of the almond – and of diligence

When Korach questions Moses’ authority, a simple staff becomes a powerful symbol of divine choice and enduring leadership.

Almond trees bloom near the border with Lebanon.

Parashat Shlah: The absolute truth

When fear overrides faith, even truth becomes distorted; this is the lesson of the spies in the desert.

Truth

Parashat Beha'alotcha: Know your place

After Pharaoh intensified the Jewish slaves' work, Moses felt that his mission had failed. Out of deep pain, he turned to God and said, “Why have You done evil to these people? Why did You send me?

Reading a torah scroll

Shavuot 2026: Why the Torah still matters in the age of AI and technology

One of the fundamental principles of Jewish faith is that the Torah is eternal and will never be replaced.

TECHNOLOGY KNOWS how to make life easier, but it does not know how to make a person better.

Parashat Bamidbar: The individual within the collective

When the Torah counts the people by tribes and families, it teaches the art of integration: Each individual is counted on his or her own, yet as part of a larger structure.

THE PURSUIT of individuality is one of modern culture’s most prominent trends.

Jerusalem Day: The Israeli capital's eternal bond with the Jewish people - opinion

As Jerusalem Day approaches, the Western Wall stands once again as a symbol of Jewish longing, prayer, and togetherness.

A general view of Jerusalem's Old City shows the Western Wall, Judaism's holiest site, in the foreground as the Dome of the Rock, located on the compound known to Muslims as Noble Sanctuary and to Jews as Temple Mount, is seen in the background.

Parashat Behar-Behukotai: Quality vs quantity

Shmita teaches that true blessing is found not in abundance, but in satisfaction, faith, and learning to focus on what truly matters.

‘YOU ARE growing up in a generation with dozens of types of dairy desserts in the refrigerator.’

Parashat Emor: The social revolution

This portion is read during the days of the Counting of the Omer, when Judaism emphasizes mutual respect and love between people as preparation for receiving the Torah on the festival of Shavuot.

GOODWILL: PROVIDING volunteer massage therapy to soldiers at an IDF outpost in Samaria, March 12.

Parashat Acharei Mot-Kedoshim: Love your neighbor as yourself

The days between Pesach and Shavuot invite reflection, as Rabbi Akiva teaches that loving others is central to receiving the Torah.

These are also days of great light.