The Wedding Of The Year
The sukkah, like the chupah, is pure and simple. It is symbolic of a strong spiritual connection.
Q & A: Should I Wear Tefillin On Chol HaMoed?
Question: My custom is not to don tefillin on Chol HaMoed. What should I do if I go to a shul that has the opposite custom?
M. Jakobowitz
Daf Yomi
Guarding The Temple – Even Today
‘Kohanim Stationed in Three Places’
(Tamid 25b)
Redeeming Relevance: Sukkot: When Shul is Meant to Be Annoying
Irritation leading to growth...
Far And Near
To my shock, you see, after 21 years of living and working in the U.K., Rivkie, Yossi, and family announced that they were returning to live in the U.S.
Terror Management Theory
The first person to die in Tanach is Hevel, who is killed by his brother Kayin. Kayin’s name comes from the concept of acquisition.
Why Don’t We Say ‘Al Netilas Esrog’?
Since the lulav’s special quality is expressed in the taste of its fruit (the date), why aren’t we required to take the fruit itself instead of its leaves?
Are Candles In The Sukkah A Fire Hazard?
Some people make the blessing over the candles in the sukkah and then bring the candles into the house to avoid the danger of fire. This is a non-kosher practice, however.
Perhaps The Chofetz Chaim Never Imagined; But He Did Predict
If the walls have ears (as the Midrash points out) then how much more so, human beings.
Why Do So Many People Not Sleep In A Sukkah?
Ashkenazic society for over 700 years has considered sleeping in the sukkah to be a chumrah, not a requirement.
The Universality Of Sukkot
It is almost as if Sukkot were two festivals, not one.
Power Of The Lulav
We see from this Midrash that the mitzvah of lulav is connected to the process of forgiveness of Yom Kippur. It is the final step that we must perform before Hashem can forgive all of our aveiros.
Making Money On Yom Tov
"Mrs. Stern plans to work on Yom Tov," Mrs. Alter said to her husband afterwards. "I tried to dissuade her, but she didn't pick up on it. Are we allowed to process the billing and keep our percentage?"
Peace At All Costs
In what manner was Aharon distinguished? Why were Klal Yisrael protected with Clouds of Glory in his merit?
Israel: G-d’s Gift To Our People
Each time, as I behold the majesty of our beautiful land of Israel, I wonder: How is it possible that some of our people cannot see what I see – the miracle of the existence of the State of Israel?
A Holiday Of Gathering
The Malbim argues that “asifah” connotes bringing inside what one has gathered, while “kovetz” connotes gathering without necessarily bringing inside.
‘Amen’ – Not A Simple Word
A person who responds “Amen” with all his might…has the power to open all the gates surrounding Gan Eden.
Q & A: Waving The Lulav
Question: In which direction should a person wave the lulav first?
Menachem
A Second Chance
And when the time finally comes to have the verdict read out loud, one can just imagine how tense and scared this person will be to find out if his life will now go back to normal, more or less, or be changed for the worse.
No, We’re Not Hypocrites
Our soul wants, to be better, different, true. Now the soul prevails over the body, and in the last moments of this journey, we must take something with us, some 'soul food' for the road ahead.
Is It Proper…? Should an Average Jew Spend A Lot of Money When Buying...
Should an average Jew spend a lot of money when buying an esrog?
Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Haazinu: Why Did Yehoshua Repeat Haazinu?
“If God only commanded Moshe to present Haazinu, what was the need for Yehoshua to join in?”
Too Close For Comfort
"I asked Rabbi Dayan and he said I shouldn't seat you near Mr. Fine," explained the gabbai. Mr. Gold approached Rabbi Dayan and asked him the reasoning behind his directive.
Yom Kippur Guide for the Perplexed
Yom Kippur aims at coalescing the entire Jewish public – not just observant Jews - around critical values
The Psychopath Inside: Yom Kippur, Free Will & Determinism
Our genetics deal us a set of cards. It remains up to us how to play them.
Want To Grow Closer To Hashem? Be Happy
Sin should be painful, not because of any punishment we’ll receive, says Chassidus, but because it separate us from Hashem.
Daf Yomi
Kishka – Stuffed Derma
‘Intestines Are Not Meat’
(Me’ilah 20b)
Hashem Is Closer Than You Think
Hashem’s love for us is like the love of parents for their young child; it’s an essential love not dependent upon the child’s conduct.
The Passing On of Leadership – Parshat Vayelech
We're going to talk about something that is probably one of the most practical pieces of advice for today. We're talking about handing over leadership.