How Much Do You Trust?
The Mechilta D’Rebbi Yishmael comments that the Torah can only be elucidated by those who ate from the mahn.
Looking Up
Look down at the difficulties and you can give way to despair. The only way to sustain energy, individual or collective, is to turn our gaze up toward the far horizon of hope.
Were The Jews Being Greedy?
After such a miracle, how could the Jews possibly think about accumulating material wealth?
Through The Looking Window
We now turn our attention to “eshnav.” This rather obscure word only appears twice in the entire Bible.
Tu B’Shevat: Annual Reminder to Appreciate the Beauty of the Land of Israel
One can only marvel at the transformation of the landscape described by Mark Twain to that of today and look forward to a future when the native forest species described in the Bible dominate the landscape.
Is It Proper…? Is it ever appropriate to get drunk?
Is it ever appropriate to get drunk?
10 Things you didn’t Know About Tu B’Shevat
From almond trees and veganism to ancient languages and Middle Ages sources, Tu B’Shevat is one fascinating festival.
When We Have A Test
So here he was – a devout rabbi who had traveled far on a mission to save the life of a fellow Jew, and the wife of the only person who could change the accused man's sentence wanted to shake his hand.
Daf Yomi
Blood On His Hands!
‘It’s Praiseworthy for the Sons of Aaron That They Walk in Blood…’
(Pesachim 65b)
Can A Person Change His Will?
Ohr Chadash could very much use the additional funds, replied Mr. Klein. But I’m not sure it would be ethical to change the will at the expense of Toras Yisrael. I think it best for you to consult a halachic authority.
Hearing Another’s Cry
In the parshah we just read, G-d says to Moshe Rabbeinu: 'And I, too, heard the groans of the children of Israel, whom the Egyptians are holding in bondage, and I remembered My covenant.'
Q & A: Why Does Hallel Come Before Keriat HaTorah? (Part II)
On days that we recite Hallel, why do we do so before Keriat HaTorah? Shouldn’t the Torah reading come first based on the rule that whenever two matters face us, we do the more frequent one first (tadir v’she’eino tadir, tadir kodem)?
Menachem
Bo: Israel’s Internal Transformation
What were the necessary steps for Israel to develop a national consciousness ahead of leaving Egypt?
You Can Change Your Nature
The Rebbe refused to accept his mishloach manos until he promised to control his temper.
Learning By Teaching
He could have stressed the evilness of slavery or underscored the responsibilities of freedom... Instead, though, Moshe spoke about children and education. At that moment, in Rabbi Jonathan Sacks’s words, “the Israelites were told that they had to become a nation of educators.”
The Far Horizon
Moses’ insight was profound. He knew that you cannot change the world by externalities alone, by monumental architecture, or armies and empires, or the use of force and power.
Let’s Copy Yisro (Part One)
Clearly, the plagues weren’t the result of chance; they pointed to the hand of Hashem.
Making Every Jew An Activist
He thus encouraged everyone to utilize their talents and natural abilities to influence Jews to reinforce and advance their level of Torah observance.
Coming And Going
The Zohar interestingly seems to echo this idea (Bo 34a), stating that “Bo el Pharaoh” teaches us that G-d brought Moses into some sort of heavenly inner chamber that was somehow associated with the sea-creature that characterizes Egypt.
Is It Proper…? Should a Jew avoid living in Germany? What about doing business...
Should a Jew avoid living in Germany? What about doing business there?
Coming Home
Human nature is to get used to things and not wanting change.
How BAD Was the Slavery in Egypt?
Rashi and Hazal are telling us Egypt was much closer to current diasporas than we think
The Gift Of My Daughter’s Wedding
In the grand room where the chuppah would be held, chairs were spaced apart. In spite of this needed distance, we felt only closeness from our guests.
Daf Yomi
Mazal Tov!
‘They Recited Shema Yisrael’
(Pesachim 56a)
A Successive Tribute For The Lion Of Justice, Norman Rosenbaum, z”l (Part 4)
Norman responded, “Captain, nobody is going to storm City Hall, but go and tell the mayor that he’s got to come out and see all of us.”
Advice From Rav Hirsch and Rabbanit Mizrahi
Advice for this stressful time: Rav Shlomo Wolbe said that we should pray at the start of the day over crises that we know will come.
Q & A: Why Does Hallel Come Before Keriat HaTorah? (Part I)
On those days that we recite Hallel, why do we do so before Keriat HaTorah? Shouldn’t the Torah reading come first based on the rule that whenever two matters face us, we do the more frequent one first (tadir v’she’eino tadir, tadir kodem)?
Menachem