Tzara’at And The Power Of Shame
According to the Sages’ interpretation, the law of tzara’at constitutes one of the rare instances in the Torah of punishment by shame rather than guilt.
Parshat R’eh – Taking Responsibility
The essence of Ahavat Yisrael is the willingness to take responsibility for Israel’s future. It is being prepared to sacrifice everything for the defense of the Jewish people and liberation of the homeland.
An Answer To Our Prayers
For the past 10 years, I have been privileged to be part of a women's Tehillim group in Jerusalem. Every Shabbat, we meet and divide Sefer Tehillim (the Book of Psalms). We pray for the safety of our soldiers, for Eretz Yisrael, and for those injured in terrorist attacks. We also bring our individual lists of people in need of Divine assistance. We pray for women waiting to become mothers, for singles waiting to meet their spouses, for sick people waiting for good health, and for soldiers waiting to come home.
The Status Of A Fetus In Halacha (Part II)
The reason one receives the death penalty for killing someone is because of middah k'neged middah, measure for measure. When one violates a prohibited act, they receive exactly that which they inflicted upon someone else.
Life Filled With Miracles
Something beautiful happened last summer while I was visiting my daughter and her family in Toronto.
I was shopping at Sears and did not realize that I had accidentally dropped my wallet on the floor. I only realized what had happened after returning home. It was upsetting when upon returning to the store to inquire, no one had turned it in. But I then had to return home to Montreal.
What Makes A Person Great?
What makes someone great, really great? Many commentators say the answer to this question is hidden in the following verses from this week's parshah
Boundless Love
Boundless love was something Rav Kook had for the nation of Israel. Just as one cannot question the boundless love of Hashem for Israel, one cannot question the boundless love of a Torah giant for his people.
Redeeming Relevance: Moshe’s Speech to Jews Living Today
While Moshe saw all the Jews as one whole, it was the ones in front of him who served as the representatives for all those who had lived and would live in the future.
The Rebbe Addresses The Upcoming Siyum HaRambam
The Rebbe stressed the advantage of making a tumult surrounding the siyumim, as this attracts additional people to join the study.
The Tragic Vacuum (Part Four)
In last week's column I began my response to the woman who wrote expressing her fears regarding the escalation of anti-Semitism and hatred of Israel throughout the world. I explained that our Sages and Prophets predicted it; they tell us that what we are witnessing today isikvesi d'Mashiach - a period in which we can hear the footsteps of the Messiah and experience the birth pangs that will precede the coming of that great day.
Time To Reach Out To Our Father (Conclusion)
Sadly, Jews refuse to embrace Torah & our unique role, and try to be like all the other nations
Is It Proper To Frequently Post Photos Of Your Life On Facebook Or Instagram...
I’m not sure what positive value there is in posting photos beyond one’s immediate circle of family and friends. To me, it smacks of inappropriate exhibitionism.
The Yetzer Hara’s Closed Hand
Worldly pleasures are like sunbeams in a dark room. They may actually seem solid, but he who tries to grasp a sunbeam finds nothing in his hand. The same is true of all worldly desires.
PARSHAS KI SEITZEI
When a person sins, he is not planning ahead for his ultimate future. This is behaving like an animal. As such, a sinner is demoted from "Adam" to "Biheimah." But, when a person decides to do Teshuvah (repent), he is thinking ahead. Once again, he regains his title of "Adam."
Sharing With My Extended Family
From time-to-time, I share my personal semachos with my extended family, you, my dear readers of The Jewish Press. So it is my zechus (privilege) to publish, in this column, an article that my daughter, Slovie Jungreis Wolff (Hineni lecturer and author of Raising a Child With Soul) wrote for Aish.com, on the occasion of the Bat Mitzvah of her daughter Aliza.
Salvation
A person should walk in the ways of Hashem and accord mercy and kindness to people and other members of Creation.
Gedolim Had It Easy
When Hashem made man, He created two worlds – this world and the World to Come. Each has its purpose.
Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Miketz: Yosef’s Descent
We generally assume that Yosef, as a victim of cruelty and not its perpetrator, had nothing to regret. Yet a careful reading shows he had a significant role in creating the tension with his brothers
The 10th Of Shevat – A Glorious Day
From the Rebbe’s absolute devotion to his father-in-law, chassidim have learned what the measure of their own devotion – what chassidim call hiskashrus – to their Rebbe should be.
How Checking The Kashrut Of Chewing Gum Helped Him Find A Partner For Life
How do we want to live our lives? Now that Hanukkah is over, the routine of work, study, and winter begins.
Taking Challah – A Cornerstone Of Creation – Parshat Shelach
The mitzvah of hafrashat challah is from the written Torah, and like all the mitzvot related to the Land of Israel, applies only in Eretz Yisrael and only when the majority of Am Yisrael resides there.
9/11 – Predicted In The Torah
The Torah completely blows us away with the statement that the enemy will come “ka’asher yideh hanesher – like the eagle sweeps,” a perfect description of the sudden attack of the two huge airliners.
A Job For The Kohen
After the kohanim, leviim and yisraelim lies the outermost circle, representing the nations of the world.
Ahava Mekalkel HaShura
Nadav and Avihu don’t only teach us about how to relate to God, but also how to relate to each other
The Decision Dilemma And Oscar The Cockroach
This was going to take motivation, so I called upon my best friend – my imagination. Presto! We had it.
Is it proper to tell a white lie?
Ultimately, it is through knowledge of and dedication to the truth that we draw closer to Hashem.
Avinu Malkeinu – A Prayer With A Variety Of Customs
It is taught that the power of this prayer lies in its dual declaration of G-d as both our Father and our King.
Happy 110th Birthday
Apparently, she is the oldest woman in Israel. So we came to celebrate with her, with the aunt who always fascinated us with stories about the pioneers, the different waves of immigration, and the beginning of modern settlement in our land.
Is It Proper…? Is being on time a Jewish value?
Is being on time a Jewish value?