Let us Dream of a Shining Am Yisrael as We Light the Chanukah Candles
We as Jews make sure to dream, but also help others dream! We care about the light, but we also care to shine for others!
Reconsidering The Aruch HaShulchan: How Rav Y.M. Epstein’s Masterwork Invites You Into a Generational...
The Aruch HaShulchan always had the role of a primary source of halacha for many poskim and roshei yeshiva. Although we must note that in most circles, the Mishnah Berurah, written by the beloved Chofetz Chaim has eclipsed it.
Ari Fuld on the Real Miracle of Chanukah
Ari Fuld uncovers and explores the real miracle and lessons of Chanukah.
The Prayer That Was A Gift
I had no need for my prayer book because, amazingly, my sincere heartfelt prayer came out spontaneously and instantly; I did not have to even think about what to say.
Passing Through
The fact that I allowed you passage in the past, does not require me to continue allowing you, countered Mr. Schwartz.
Chanukah In Hindsight
We became the people whose heroes were teachers, whose citadels were schools, and whose passion was learning and the life of the mind. The end result was that Judaism did survive and thrive throughout the centuries, whereas Ancient Greece … declined.
Chanukah: Re-Examining Our Ideological Battle Against the Greeks
Ideally,nthe physical wisdom of the Greeks and Yefes are to reside within the tent of Shem, for science and the wisdom of the world to be in harmony with Torah. The problem occurred when the Greeks tried to destroy the Torah, which contradicted their ideology, and the Jews were forced to fight for their beliefs. This was the battle of Chanukah.
Daf Yomi
A Siyum Validates It
‘… Thereupon The Decrees Were Annulled…’
(Ta’anis 18a)
Q & A: A ‘Minyan’ Minus Some (Part II)
Question: If the tefillah begins with an exact minyan – a quorum of ten – and some individuals insist they have to leave, what is to be done, may the tefillah continue as though there was still a minyan? Is there any solution?
Zelig Aronson
Via email
Yud Tes Kislev – Liberation Of The Alter Rebbe
The Maggid told his disciple, the Alter Rebbe, ‘This day is our Yom Tov.’
Yiddish Lingo In The (Yeshiva) Hood
For the app to be more effective, they should use words like geshmak, gefilte fish, heimishe, and gezunt.
THIS CHANUKAH SAVOR THE MOMENT
So many of us are caught in the hamster wheel of life--just get off for an instant to savor the moment
Finding The Greatness Within
You were given a taste of your own perfection, of what you could, should, and hopefully will become. And from this transcendent realm, you were birthed into the physical world.
A Guide To Modern Shemittah Observance – And How We Can Participate
The majority of the agricultural sector of the State of Israel as it exists in the present reality – with most kibbutzim and moshavim being non-religious – is not willing to fully abide by the Shemittah laws.
The Tailor-Made Path
Sometimes, the motivation to grow spiritually comes from our respect for someone else – a tzaddik, a talmid chocham, or the like. But this can also be a mistake if we seek to imitate a leader of this stature.
The Obfuscation Powers Of The Yetzer Hara
It is the job of the G-d-fearing person to combat the blinding attempts of the yetzer hara at every turn of our life.
Limits to ‘Chochmah beGoyim?’
the Chanukah season can serve as an impetus to think more deeply about the nature of our position and the importance of nuance.
TORAH SHORTS: Daily Seductions: Parshat Vayeshev
The most important of life's battles is the one we fight daily in the silent chambers of the soul. -David O. McKay
Chanukah: Public Menorah Lightings
Many halachic authorities opposed the custom of lighting the menorah in the synagogue. The Chatam Sofer would decline the "honor" of lighting the menorah in the synagogue for this reason.
The Heroism of Tamar: Covenant and Conversation: Parshat Vayeshev:
This moment is a turning-point in history: Judah is the first person in the Torah explicitly to admit he was wrong
Uptick In Terror Before Chanukah
There are messages that we are intended to take from any and every tragedy. The Gemara in Yevamos 63a says that purpose of any tragedy, even when it has nothing to do with Jews, is ultimately for the Jews to take a lesson and better themselves.
A Pile Of Shoes
This wanton disregard for the welfare of others is the epitome of chamas for which the world was already destroyed once and, the navi is warning, for which Israel will yet be exiled from her land.
On Sensitivity Training And Shoes
Why does the Torah find it necessary to tell us that they bought shoes with the money, ostensibly a trivial detail?
In Memory Of Eliyahu David Kay, z”l
Several days ago, Eliyahu told a friend that after years in the army, in yeshiva, and in agriculture, he felt that when working at the Kotel he was completely living his dream.
Should You Eat Garlic On Friday Night?
The Aruch HaShulchan’s suggestion is extremely difficult, since roasting garlic does not require any particular expertise. Furthermore, there is no indication whatsoever in the words of Chazal that raw garlic is fundamentally unacceptable for takkanat Ezra.
Vayeishev: Yosef & Yehuda
As internal conflict over the Hebrew clan's direction leads to tragic consequences for Yosef and Yehuda, each must discover his own messianic potential.
Seeking Salvation
Although the Rabbis tended to conform to biblical Hebrew in the phraseology of the prayers, here they used the word purkan because the root peh-reish-kuf already appears in the Torah in the context of “salvation.”
Is It Proper To Shun Traditional Fried Foods On Chanukah Because Of Health Concerns?
Wolfing down mass quantities is inadvisable and is gluttony masquerading as some sort of religious fulfillment.
Believing Without Knowing
When someone gets injured physically one can usually see the path ahead and see how many weeks or months it will take for them to recover. When there is a problem with mental health, the unknown is so vast.