Parshas Vayikra: ‘The Call Of Humility’

Posted on: March 23rd, 2012

“At the time that my wife and I made aliyah, the Ministry of Interior required certification through the chief rabbinate that any new immigrants were Jews in order to qualify for citizenship and immigrant benefits. After an hour-long wait at the ministry to be interviewed, my wife and I sat before a hard-faced clerk. I did not have a letter from a rabbi certifying to my Jewishness, but I felt confident that since I was on the chief rabbinate's list of approved rabbis whose letter would be accepted to verify the Jewishness of others, I would suffer no problem.

Vayikra: The Sacrifice Of Thanksgiving

Posted on: March 22nd, 2012

To the modern mind, korbanos may seem foreign or hard to understand. Yet they were a key component of the service of Hashem. Rabbi Avigdor Miller, zt”l, explains that offerings served many purposes, including a primary purpose of expressing thanks to Hashem. Thus, following the book of Exodus comes the book dealing with sacrifices as an expression of thanks for the deliverance from slavery in Egypt.

Things I Do And Things I Don’t

Posted on: March 22nd, 2012

The Dos Zakainim explains that the reason every korban must be brought with salt is to remind us that just as salt is a preservative that allows food to last longer, so too the sacrifices are permanently ours to cleanse us from our sins.

Geneivah And Gezeilah

Posted on: March 22nd, 2012

At the conclusion of this week’s parshah, the Torah discusses the halachos of one who stole from another. The pasuk says, “veheishiv es hagezeilah asher gazal – and he shall return the stolen object that he stole.” We derive from this that there is a mitzvas assei to return a stolen object.

Do The Right Thing

Posted on: November 14th, 2011

In 2001, the year of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, my husband and I were both in mourning for close relatives. As a woman, I did not have the responsibility of attending a minyan to recite Kaddish. So I never realized how complicated it could get.

The Taxi Ride

Posted on: November 14th, 2011

I have been living in Israel for many years, yet there are still special moments that catch me by surprise. A series of such moments occurred recently, reminding me of how very lucky I am to call Yerushalayim my home.

Big Bang On Glenbrook

Posted on: November 2nd, 2011

For 10 years our front door was 35 feet from the busiest road leading in and out of Morristown, New Jersey. Zoom, zoom, zoom…one car after another going 40-50 miles per hour, not only during the morning and afternoon rush hours, but all week long. Even when we stood by our front door, we had to yell at the top of our lungs to call to our children who were playing in our tiny front yard.

What My Dog Taught Me About God

Posted on: October 26th, 2011

Two years ago Mrs. S. was divorced after an unhappy, childless marriage. Now in her mid-60s, she has no interest in finding a new husband. At this time, she told me, she is just beginning to discover herself as an independent adult, and she is reveling in the opportunity to make her own choices on everything from what to cook for dinner to what color to paint the bedroom.

But I’m A ‘Pretty Good’ Person

Posted on: August 24th, 2011

Last week I concluded my column with the story of a Jew who wanted to make changes in the world and inspire people to do teshuvah - to return to their roots, their Divine heritage.

No Coincidences

Posted on: August 17th, 2011

Last week I wrote that we are now at a very critical juncture in our long history. We have entered the period of ikvesie d'Mashiach - a time of travail when the footsteps of the Messiah can be discerned. We are receiving wake-up call after wake-up call, and they come in many shapes and forms. Hashemis sounding the alarm, but we remain deaf to its implications.

Again? Yes, Again

Posted on: August 10th, 2011

"Not again!" you may say. To which I respond, "Yes, again!" I say this as I write once again about the most heinous tragedy that could have befallen us, so even though it may not be popular - even though your reaction may be, "We heard it already" - I am nevertheless writing because I fear we have returned to business as usual.

Jews Weren’t The Only Ones Who Heard Leiby’s Cry

Posted on: August 3rd, 2011

In my last column I wrote about Leiby Kletzky and what I experienced when I made a shiva call to his family. My plan was to continue writing about this tragedy and focus on what we must learn from it and do. In the interim, I received a letter from a non-Jewish reader and felt I should share it.

This Week's Luach

Posted on: February 15th, 2002

New York City candle-lighting time and more.

Q & A: Moment Of Silence

Posted on: June 29th, 2001

QUESTION: I saw an item recently in the Jewish Press where a group of rabbis met with elected officials to promote a 'Moment of Silence' in public schools. What is the halachic basis for this type of prayer?Shlomo FeivelsonCoconut Creek, FL

Q & A: A Mohel’s Dilemma

Posted on: June 22nd, 2001

QUESTION: May a mohel perform a bris for a non-Orthodox couple who adopt a Gentile infant whom they wish to raise as Jewish?No name pleaseLos Angeles, CA

Q & A: Women Counting Sefirat Haomer (Conclusion)

Posted on: June 13th, 2001

QUESTION: In my wife's family, women count Sefirat Haomer. This is something that I have not seen in my own family, although they are quite observant. As a newly married couple, we are quite confused.Please discuss this matter and explain.No name pleaseToronto, Ontario

Q & A: Mourning In A Leap Year (Part I)

Posted on: February 27th, 2008

QUESTION: When does a mourner complete the year of mourning during a leap year?Zev Stern(Via e-mail)

Q & A: Yahrzeit And The Two Adars (Conclusion)

Posted on: March 9th, 2005

QUESTION: In a leap year when there are two months of Adar, during which month is a yahrzeit observed? Do the rules of yahrzeit precedence apply in regard to Kaddish? Finally, can you discuss the precedence regarding leading services during the year of mourning?M. BermanLos Angeles, CA

Q & A: The Fifth Yahrzeit Of HaRav Sholom Klass, zt”l

Posted on: January 26th, 2005

Last Thursday, the 10th of Shevat, marked the fifth yahrzeit of my dear uncle, HaRav Sholom ben R. Moshe Feivel, zt"l.

Q & A: A Sabbath Desecrator Leading Services (Conclusion)

Posted on: January 19th, 2005

QUESTION: What are the requirements for a sheliach tzibbur? May someone who desecrates the Sabbath lead the services? C.M. Siegel Rockland, NY

Shaking Hands With Women (Part II)

Posted on: February 22nd, 2012

Question: Is there any halachic rationale for men to shake hands with women?

No Landlords (Part II)

Posted on: February 22nd, 2012

Batei arei chomah are structures (of at least six to eight square feet) in towns consisting of at least three courtyards with two buildings each, with a predominantly Jewish population – provided that such towns were surrounded by a wall in the time of Joshua even though they may no longer be surrounded by a wall at the time of the sale or buyback.

Daf Yomi

Posted on: February 22nd, 2012

Permission Granted? ‘Lo Yachlifenu B’Shel Acheirim…’ (Temurah 9)

Halacha and…Shaking Hands (Part I)

Posted on: February 15th, 2012

Question: Is there any halachic rationale for men to shake hands with women?