Judaism

Indeed, He Honored His Father ‘They Were Hired To Irrigate, But The River Dried Up’ (Bava Metzia 76b-77a)

Reb Yoel’s uniqueness was that not only did he have an exceptional memory, remembering everything that the Rebbe said, but he also understood what the Rebbe said.

Leaders often find themselves with down time and time that the are down.

Teshuva as well is a method of reengineering our will, rewiring our “wants”. It’s about the decision to be better, to be great, to become our best and truest self.

Understanding relationships leading to understanding the parsha

Rebbetzin Jungreis (ZT"L) shares a letter from a distraught wife/ mother whose family is facing serious financial setbacks causing them to consider drastic changes

All the suffering that has been our lot since the day the Temple was destroyed is a result of our exiled state. This is why we mourn the destruction of the Temples.

On July 7, 1919 the United States Army sent a caravan of 72 vehicles on a cross- country trip.

These PETA people are not Orthodox Jews. So, why would they so strongly criticize a kosher packing plant for what they believe to be violations of kosher practice?

I had suddenly grasped that I would have to change my whole attitude to Yitzhak, see him in a different guise from the irritating boy I had defined him as.

An Eventual Resolution 'May The Likes Of You Increase Manifold In Israel' (Bechoros 45b)

Faith is responding to demands that we wouldn’t think of taking on were we left to our own devices.

G-d, accordingly, is encouraging Moshe to not just focus on reaching the top of the spiritual mountain but remaining there as well, thus fully capitalizing on his gains.

Why should we rejoice on Shabbos like those who received the Torah?

The Gemara in Baba Basra 119b relays the following conversation that took place in this week’s parshah: Moshe Rabbeinu was teaching the halachos of yibum when the daughters of Tzelaphchad approached him with the following question: Our father died in the midbar and did not have any sons. Why then is our mother not required to fulfill the obligation of yibum? And if the fact that he had daughters is the reason that she is not obligated to fulfill this requirement, why then can we (his daughters) not receive an inheritance – just like sons would?

How could it be that the animals did not attack Noach and his family, or kill each other? They comprised all different rungs in the food chain.

How the "Broken Windows Theory" helped solve graffiti on NYC subways and led to a more orderly NYC.

Parshat Re’eh discusses our obligations upon entering Israel, Yerushalayim & our covenantal mission

Purim is the holiday of contradictions and tenacity-driven-optimism: Grief replaced by joy; Esther's concealment replaced by the disclosure of her national/religious identity; Haman's intended genocide of the Jews replaced by redemption; Haman replaced by Mordechai; national and personal pessimism replaced by optimism.

Throughout the year, many people feel they don’t belong – that they don’t measure up and therefore don’t deserve to be counted among certain other Jews.

Pray with great joy, even if this happiness is forced. Happiness is always a virtue, but it is especially so during prayer.

What all of these expressions share in common is Hashem’s careful attention to the detail in every matter, concerning every individual and community of individuals.

After many grave warnings against leaving the ways of the Torah, Moshe Rabbeinu tells Klal Yisrael that learning and keeping the Torah is within easy grasp of each of us. “Acquiring it doesn’t require wings to fly to the heavens, and studying it doesn’t demand crossing oceans.” Rather, Torah is well within the reach of each person.

QUESTION: I am intrigued by the fact that the New Year for trees is in the middle of the month and not at the beginning of a month, as all the other New Years. Even the gentiles begin their New Year at the start of a month. Do you have an explanation for this?

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

A bright idea...

It was about a week before Chanukah last year when I traveled to Israel to spend some time with my son, who was learning in Yeshiva there.

He points out that medieval Ashkenazic authorities never saw an olive. Olives do not grow that far north; they only grow in the Mediterranean region.

If we are dealing with the end of days and the knowledge of Hashem is abundantly clear to all, how could each nation think of deceiving Hashem?

Avraham Avinu was the leader of his generation and he guided all the souls of his time to recognize Hashem.