When Suddenly…
The Talmud (Kritut 9a) states that “peta” connotes shogeg (by mistake), while “pitom” could connote oness (by accident), meizid (on purpose), or shogeg. The Midrash (Sifrei to Numbers 6:9) disagrees.
How Riots Are Setting The Stage for Mashiach
Hashem arranged that people should rely on human malchus in order for us to understand in human terms what malchus is all about, and subsequently develop the ability to appreciate His divine malchus.
First Follow, Then You Can Lead
When ten of the men came back with a demoralizing report and the people panicked, at least part of the blame lay with Moshe.
The Ninth Day Of Av
With this terrible virus in the world things sure seem to take on a new light... Today we suddenly feel G-d's presence more than ever. We feel something changing in the whole world, not just in our neighborhood or in our city or state.
One Small Deed
There was one guy in front of me in line, a thirties-looking man with an open-necked blue shirt. He’d seen the same scene I did, with an up close view right from the door. Like an angel to the rescue, he opened the door and stuck out a twenty.
The Religious Significance of Israel
Only in Israel can the Jewish people construct a political system, an economy, and an environment on the template of Jewish values.
Take A Breather (Part III)
The Shelah (1555-1630) writes that not everyone can be cognizant of their chayah and yechidah during their lifetimes. Only bnei aliyah (spiritually-elevated people) can connect with their chayah-yechidah.
Connections (Part II)
My dear son, you are still very young, only 18 years old. Life is ahead of you and you are just beginning your journey down the path of life.
View From Her Tent
Esther says that she’s had a few trials in her life and the key to her faith is looking at the positive and not harping on the bad. Something she’s worked on perfecting her whole life.
Everything Is Done For A Reason
The Jews told Yirmiyahu that they understood that they had to do teshuvah, but they did not believe that a churban was imminent.
Take A Breather (Part II)
Rabbeinu Yonah notes that the nefesh and ruach represent man’s instinct for thriving and surviving in a physical or material way.
Lessons From Pinchas For The Coronavirus
We have moral duties as individuals, and we make political decisions as nations. The two are different.
The Three Weeks Of Happiness
Going back to the history of our nation, we can clearly see how after each horrible event we received greatness and glory.
A Message From Moshe With Help From Above
For years I have been interested in stories about families that lost someone they loved, like the one I am compelled to write now.
Kohelet, Tolstoy, And The Parah Adumah
Science deals in causes and effects, not purpose and meaning. In the end, he concluded that only religious faith rescues life from meaninglessness.
Take A Breather (Part I)
Maimonides explains that “ruach” also means a life-giving spirit, which is what remains of a person after death (Ecclesiastes 12:7).
Do You Know Anyone Called Zvi?
They realized he must have got on a bus, but they had no idea which bus. They had no way of knowing whether it had been a bus to Ramot where we live.
Korach: Cancel Culture’s Precursor
Their aim was to discredit Moshe, damage his credibility, raise doubts among the people as to whether he really was receiving his instructions from G-d.
All About Hair
In another famous Talmudic passage, the rabbis speak about taming the force of the Evil Inclination for idolatry, which took on the form of a lion made of fire.
A Tribute To The Lubavitcher Rebbe
Throughout some of my hardest times, I always felt as if the Lubavitcher Rebbe, though I never met him, was always there for me.
To Life
I didn’t realize that the anecdotes I gave my offspring, and then grandchildren, would truly be heard and also remembered.
Spying On The Land – Or Touring?
They were about to enter a land they had not seen. They had no idea what they were fighting for.
Kneading The Dough
Rabbi Mecklenberg writes that “arisah” is related to “eres” (bed): Just as dough consists of a mixture of flour and water, so too a bed’s mattress rest on a mixture of interplaced beams or planks.
Chevron – Forever And Ever
The things that the meraglim saw were true, however, Hashem is always trying to see the good and to concentrate on what is positive.
The Shabbos Salad That Hashem Sent
I sat on the couch, surrounded by loved ones, so, so grateful for the beautiful Shabbos we would celebrate together, our first family gathering in many months, inspired by the upcoming occasion of one of our grandson’s upsherin on motzei Shabbos.
Loneliness And Faith
: I was not alone in feeling alone. Other people had been here before me.
The Big ‘Little’ Wedding
We live our lives in such fast motion with all the advancement of this generation, that we really get caught up in the moment and forget who is running the show.
Not Just For The Birds
The scene of thousands and thousands of cranes, as well as other birds, was awesome. I thought that would be the climax of our three-day trip up north.
Loneliness and Faith
I believe that isolation contains, within it, spiritual possibilities.
A Coriander Conundrum
Ultimately, when Antoninus pointed out that doing so would totally erase his progeny, Rebbe encouraged the Roman official to have mercy on his deviant daughter.