To Be A Wise Guy (Part I)

Rabbi Pappenheim also argues that “cheich” [palate] comes from “chakah” because the open fish net resembles a person’s mouth opened wide in anticipation of food.

Matza’s Mixed Message: Are We Victors or Victims?

We have great difficulty accepting our role as Victor, rather than Victim. We apologize for how well our country functions, for our victories, and for our stubborn refusal to roll over and die.

Blood On The Mizbeach

In this week’s parshah the Torah discusses many different halachos that pertain to korbanos. Regarding the korban olah, the pasuk tells us that the entire animal must be brought on the mizbeach and is burned.

Shabbat Chol Hamoed Sukkot

Each year, amid the ebullient joy manifest during the holiday of Sukkot, we read the megillah of Kohelet. With its realistic perspective on the world, Kohelet provides us with the means to not only properly calibrate our joy, but to accurately understand the role of joy and happiness in the world.

Is It Proper…? Should a frum Jew believe the sun goes around Earth if...

Should a frum Jew believe the sun goes around Earth if the Rambam says it does?

Is It Proper To Make Up Your Own Simanim On Rosh Hashana (Such As...

In general, the simanim are not magical entities whose consumption on Rosh Hashana automatically transforms a sinner into a penitent. Rather, these foods are reminders of the kedushat hayom, the unique holiness of Rosh Hashana that reflects the Heavenly judgment that is the essence of the holiday.

Redeeming Relevance: Parshat Ekev: Making Gratitude Count

Is the source for saying Birkat HaMazon as obvious as we normally assume?

Q & A: Marrying A Girl With The Same Name As His Mother

Question: Please see my personal situation. If you have time to answer that would be great. I am seriously dating a girl who has a similar name to my mother. Would this present a problem? Name Withheld Via email

A Break In Mourning

Question: Why do we interrupt sefirah mourning on Lag B’Omer? When a person observes a personal mourning period (for the loss of a loved one), he never takes a “break” no matter what. Why should sefirah be different?

When Might Makes Right

Chazal relied on the presumption that the true owner will more likely succeed; he will make a stronger effort to secure the item or demonstrate his ownership.

We’re Talking Too Much

Some people are returning to shul after enjoying casual porch minyanim and are bringing the cavalier attitude they had on their porches with them.

The Fighting Light of Chanukah

As Israel experiences a national rebirth on our native soil, the forces of evil are gathering all of their strength to wage a final war to stamp out our light.

For The Sake Of His Name

When Rabbi Berel Wein began working for the O.U. kashrus division, he shared an office with Rabbi Alexander Rosenberg a’h, the founder of the kashrus division and its administrator for thirty years.

Going For The Jackpot

...G-d deals justly with all beings whereas we – because we have not always acted properly during the past year – have much to be embarrassed about.

Credit Card Loan – Is There A Ribbis Problem?

A month later, Mr. Leibowitz came to return the loan. I actually only got $4,900, he said to Mr. Oshri. I have a two percent processing fee whenever I swipe a credit card. I'm happy to pay you $5,000, though, if there's no ribbis prohibition.

Lesson: Always Get A Receipt

But I’m in possession of the money, Mr. Simon insisted, and your document doesn’t indicate anything.

Pesach Is The Jewish Festival Of Freedom

We perceive these moments to be filled with grace, and we might feel that our lives are worth even one such experience.

Two Types Of Community

A long drama had taken place. Moses had led the people from slavery to the beginning of the road to freedom. The people themselves had witnessed G-d at Mount Sinai, the only time in all history when an entire people became the recipients of revelation. Then came the disappearance of Moses for his long sojourn at the top of the mountain, an absence which led to the Israelites’ greatest collective sin, the making of the Golden Calf. Moses returned to the mountain to plead for forgiveness, which was granted.

The Secret of Bilaam’s Prophecy – Parshat Balak

While Moav & Midian championed a separation of 'religion' & state, Israel’s mission demands that spiritual ideals be materialized on a national level so that our Torah’s values be fully expressed on earth.

Pure Happiness

What did the absence of wine have to do with the nation’s ultimate understanding that Hashem is the true G-d?

Hashem Is In Charge

Originally, the brothers condemned Yosef for being a rodef, but in the end they were haggling over his clothing and extra shoes.

A Himmel Geshrai

“A himmel geshrai” is a Yiddish phrase that, loosely translated, means “a tragedy of such catastrophic proportions that the heavens themselves cry out.” Sadly, every one of the letters on family breakdowns I’ve featured these past several weeks can be summed up as “a himmel geshrai.”

Q & A: HaGomel And Air Travel (Part VIII)

Question: I am very appreciative and, if I might add, flattered that you answer and publish many of my questions. Due to your superior knowledge, I am always confident when I send in a question that I will receive a proper response. I wonder if you could address whether one should say Birkat HaGomel after flying even though flying is statistically safer than driving. Also, do women say HaGomel as well or only men? Menachem

The Necessity Of Asking Questions

Judaism is not a religion of blind obedience. Astonishingly of 613 commandments, there is no Hebrew word that means “to obey.” Judaism is the rarest of phenomena: a faith based on asking questions,

Are Finders Keepers?

The Torah requires us to return lost property to its owner. It follows that if the lost property has no owner, there is no duty to return it and the finder may keep it.

Vesein Tal U’Matar

If someone remembers during Minchah that he did not recite ya’aleh veyavo during Shacharis, he must similarly daven Shemoneh Esrei twice during Minchah.

Pekudei: a Giant Chiasm in Sefer Shmot

How do the pieces of this puzzle come together to help us understand how the Torah builds together?

Five Facts About The Life Of Rabbi Chaim Ben Attar

Most of you never heard of Kurt Rothschild who passed away last week at the age of 101, but it is reasonable to assume that most of you benefited from him in some way.

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