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The Ever-Amazing Reb Elimelech (Part XVI)
Posted on: January 3rd, 2013
Judaism → Columns → Chodesh Tov/Rabbi Hanoch TellerIt was when Reb Elimelech assumed the leadership of the chassidic movement that the Austrian Kaiser decreed that before a woman may wed, a tax of 400 golden coins must be paid to the government. This tax was far too exorbitant for the commoner to pay and many feared that they would never be able to marry off their daughters.
Posted on: January 3rd, 2013
Judaism → Halacha & HashkafaQuestion: What is the purpose of reciting korbanot in the morning?
Posted on: January 3rd, 2013
Judaism → ParshaThe Gemara in Kiddushin 71a says that when Hashem told Moshe Rabbeinu (in this week’s parshah), “zeh shemi l’olam, v’zeh zichri l’dor dor – this is my name forever, and this is my name for every generation” (Shemos 3:15), he was teaching Moshe two separate names of Hashem. Rashi explains there that this is derived from the fact that the pasuk does not say “zeh shemi v’zichri.” The Gemara says that Hashem told Moshe that He has both a name that is written and a name that is pronounced. Hashem’s written name is spelled “yud, kei, vav, kei” and His pronounced name is spelled alef, daled, vav, nun. (We will refer to this name as Adnus.)
Posted on: January 3rd, 2013
Judaism → Halacha & HashkafaSatisfaction Guaranteed ‘The Divine Presence Rests Only On One Who Is Wise, Strong…’ (Shabbos 92a)
Posted on: January 3rd, 2013
Judaism → Ask the RabbiQuestion: I was at a brit where the father and grandfather of the boy argued over who should be sandak. The grandfather had served as sandak once before, but he persisted and, as they say, “might makes right.” I am curious as to your view on this matter. M. Renkin (Via E-Mail)
We Weep For The Beautiful Children Of Newtown (Part Two)
Posted on: January 3rd, 2013
Judaism → Rebbetzin's ViewpointAs I wrote last week, who among us can find the words to console the tragically stricken parents of Newtown, Connecticut whose lives have been forever shattered? There are no words of consolation that can bring relief to their bleeding hearts. There are no magic words that can give these stricken parents even a moment of relief, and if anyone knows this it is we, the Jewish people; our blood-drenched history testifies to it.
Posted on: January 3rd, 2013
Judaism → Columns → Rabbi Lord Jonathan SacksThe sedra of Shemot, in a series of finely etched vignettes, paints a portrait of the life of Moses, culminating in the moment at which G-d appears to him in the bush that burns without being consumed. It is a key text of the Torah view of leadership, and every detail is significant. I want here to focus on just one passage in the long dialogue in which G-d summons Moses to undertake the mission of leading the Israelites to freedom – a challenge which, no less than four times, Moses declines. I am unworthy, he says. I am not a man of words. Send someone else. It is the second refusal, however, which attracted special attention from the sages and led them to formulate one of their most radical interpretations.
Posted on: January 3rd, 2013
Judaism → Columns → Lessons In EmunahOnce a week or so some of my friends and I get together for activities and a little socializing. Over time I have gone through some personal changes and growth, and I sometimes feel out of place with these girls, some of whom I have known for years. I experienced a real struggle during a recent get-together that will surely have a long-lasting impact on me.
Posted on: December 27th, 2012
Judaism → ParshaDuring my formative years, one of my rabbeim once told our class that he wished to tell us something very profound, something we may have a hard time believing: “I want you all to know that every student in this room has the capability to become one of the gedolei hador.” I recall that at first that comment encouraged and inspired me. But within a short time, I began to feel very dejected. In fact, I have thought of that comment many times since then and it took me a long time to understand what bothered me about it.
Parshas VaYechi: The Yaakov and Dovid Connection
Posted on: December 27th, 2012
Judaism → ParshaParshas VaYechi describes the last days of Yaakov Avinu’s life and it is therefore appropriate that the haftorah is a description of the last days of Dovid HaMelech’s life (the beginning of Sefer Melochim). But is that the only association? The last days of someone’s life? If so, there are other examples of the last days of someone’s life in Navi that could have been chosen. There must be deeper connections between the lives of Yaakov and Dovid.
Posted on: December 27th, 2012
Judaism → Halacha & HashkafaMr. Farber looked out his kitchen window and admired the snow all around. It had piled up during the night, covering everything with a beautiful blanket of white. While he was eating breakfast, Yaakov and Elisha knocked on his door. "Do you want your snow shoveled?" asked Yaakov.
Posted on: December 27th, 2012
Judaism → Halacha & HashkafaSize Is Indicative Of Importance ‘He Took Out Wood to Cook an Egg…’ (Shabbos 89b)
Posted on: December 27th, 2012
Judaism → Ask the RabbiQuestion: I was at a brit where the father and grandfather of the boy argued over who should be sandak. The grandfather had served as sandak once before, but he persisted and, as they say, “might makes right.” I am curious as to your view on this matter. M. Renkin (Via E-Mail)
Posted on: December 27th, 2012
Judaism → ParshaThis week’s parshah opens up with the statement “Vayechi Yaakov b’eretz Mitzrayim shevah esreh shanah – “And Yaakov lived in Egypt for seventeen years.” The Bal HaTurim explains that the gematria of vayichi (lived) is seventeen. The Torah is telling us that the life of Yaakov was seventeen years. Up until that point, he had suffered so much that his years couldn’t rightfully be called a life. The sum total of the years that he spent without torment was the seventeen years that he lived in Mitzraim. That was his life.
Who Were Yosef’s Eidei Kiddushin?
Posted on: December 26th, 2012
Judaism → ParshaIn this week’s parshah Yosef brings his two sons to his father Yaakov to receive blessings before his death. Rashi tells us that when Yaakov was about to bless Yosef’s sons the shechinah left him as a result of some of Yosef’s sons’ evil descendants.
Posted on: December 26th, 2012
Judaism → Halacha & HashkafaQuestion: Must a bar mitzvah boy buy a mirror to ensure that his tefillin are perfectly center on his head?
1Posted on: December 26th, 2012
Judaism → Columns → Lessons In EmunahHaving faith is often difficult, especially when having to deal with more than one life challenge.
We Weep For The Beautiful Children Of Newtown
Posted on: December 26th, 2012
Judaism → Rebbetzin's ViewpointI am interrupting my series of columns on the power of prayer to focus, this week and next, on the atrocity that occurred two weeks ago in Newtown, Connecticut, and its repercussions.
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Jerusalem, Divided or United?
