The Korbanos Of Noach

Posted on: October 3rd, 2013

The Rambam writes in Hilchos Melachim 9:1 that Adam HaRishon was commanded in six mitzvos, and Noach was commanded in a seventh. Adam was commanded to not do the following: worship avodah zarah, curse Hashem, kill, gilui arayos, and steal. He was also commanded to set up a court system. In addition to those commands, Noach was commanded not to eat from ever min hachai (a limb detached from a live animal).

Looking Back II

Posted on: October 3rd, 2013

When we give to others we are only returning that which He gave us.

The Challot Segulah

Posted on: October 2nd, 2013

Meital and Aharon, married for several years, were thrilled to discover that Meital was pregnant. But within a few hours of their son’s birth, it was painfully apparent that things were far from all right medically.

1

Parshas Noach

Posted on: October 2nd, 2013

.

Pasul Esrog

Posted on: September 25th, 2013

After davening on Hoshana Rabbah, Mr. Hadar fondly packed away his esrog. "Maybe I'll fill it with cloves and use it for spices at Havdalah," he thought. "Or maybe I'll make jelly out of it."

Q & A: Attack On Shechitah

Posted on: September 25th, 2013

Over the last several years, a number of European countries have outlawed shechitah (Jewish ritual slaughter). The latest, disturbingly, is Poland where shechitah opponents portray it as being cruel. Is there anything that we in the Jewish community can do to counter this trend? Jay Alt (Via E-Mail)

Naming Children (Part I)

Posted on: September 25th, 2013

Designating proper names for one’s children is not always easy. When my wife, Shoshana, gave birth to our first child in Chicago – a girl – she informed me that according to tradition, the wife is entitled to name the first child. I didn’t agree, but recognizing that this was her tradition and not wishing to cause any controversy or anguish, I readily submitted.

Daf Yomi

Posted on: September 25th, 2013

He Might Extinguish It ‘A Torch Is The Best Way Of Performing The Mitzvah’ (Pesachim 103b)

Looking Back

Posted on: September 25th, 2013

We really are a bunch of schnorrers.

The Almighty’s Supreme Call to Man

Posted on: September 25th, 2013

Could we understand the history of Israel without its prehistory, the stories of Abraham and Sarah and their children?

3

The Breakfast Of Champions (Conclusion)

Posted on: September 24th, 2013

Overtime proved to be as tense and white-knuckled as the fourth quarter. Halfway through, New London grabbed a defensive rebound and charging toward their basket when Monona’s forward poked away the ball and broke away. In a slick maneuver he managed to split the defense and went up virtually slamming it to give Monona Grove the lead.

Only In Israel: The Donkey And The Car

Posted on: September 24th, 2013

The incessant loud knocking on the door startled me from my brief reverie. My husband had left to attend a chassanah in Yerushalayim just moments earlier, the kids were comfortably tucked into bed, and I was spending a quiet evening at home tackling sundry neglected tasks. The sudden pounding and muffled voices soon interrupted my plans for the lonely hours that beckoned. I hurried to answer the door while drying my hands on a kitchen towel haphazardly draped over my shoulder.

Parshas Bereshis

Posted on: September 24th, 2013

.

Should We Really Care What The World Thinks About Us?

Posted on: September 18th, 2013

While we wish the nations of the world success and prosperity, we realize that this feeling has not always been reciprocated.

Believe It

Posted on: September 18th, 2013

He was known as one of the most successful and wealthy individuals in the country, and his fame seemed to grow as quickly as his profits. He was the envy of his acquaintances, the bane of his competition. So when the accusations were leveled against him it was an absolute shock. He was accused of murdering a seventeen-year-old girl and the evidence against him was incriminating.

Q & A: L’David Hashem Ori (Part III)

Posted on: September 18th, 2013

Question: In L’David Hashem Ori – which we recite from the beginning of Elul until Shemini Atzeret – we read the following: “Bikrov alay me’re’im le’echol et besarai – When evildoers approach me to devour my flesh.” Why does the verse use the word “me’re’im”? Why not use “resha’im” or “anashim ra’im” instead? Tzila Kleinbart Brooklyn, NY

Daf Yomi

Posted on: September 18th, 2013

The Letter Of The Law? ‘If He Was…Unable to Enter Because of the Camels’ (Pesachim 94a)

The Forbidden Esrog

Posted on: September 18th, 2013

The Mishnah in Sukkah 34b says that an esrog of urla (fruit from the first three years after the tree was planted) and that of terumah temeiah are unfit for use in fulfilling the mitzvah. The Gemara (35a) explains that this is because one of the requirements of the mitzvah is that one must be able to eat the esrog. Since one may not eat urla or terumah temeiah they are unfit for the mitzvah.

1

Open Parking Lots On Shabbat (Part II)

Posted on: September 18th, 2013

Question: Is it proper for Orthodox synagogues to have their parking lots open on Shabbat?

Mixed Tzedakah

Posted on: September 18th, 2013

Mr. Sender was the gabbai of Congregation Tiferes Yisrael. He was in change of aliyahs, would organize the siddurim after davening, and make the announcements. His special joy, though, was walking around the shul on weekdays with the pushka (tzedakah box). "Tzedakah tatzil mimavess," he would quietly declare. "Charity saves from death."