As We Start the Nine Days
How contemporary the Gemara rings when it says the destruction of Yerushalayim puzzled and perplexed the sages, prophets, and angels! It shouldn’t cause us any wonder that we are unable to explain the atrocities of the Holocaust when even prophets and angels were confounded by the similar disasters of yesteryear.
Halachic Living Wills During the 9 Days
We are guardians over our bodies, not their owners.
Trojan Dinasaurs
Psychologically and sociologically, a conspiracy need not involve maniacal villains plotting world control. It can be an unconscious collusion of interests.
Sight, But No Vision: The Sin of the Spies (Part II)
The meraglim not only misunderstood their experience, but they then reported this distortion back to Klal Yisrael.
How Best Should One Spend The Afternoon Of Tisha B’Av?
A central halachic and emotional theme of the day is to avoid diverting our minds from this national mourning.
Unnatural Living
There’s a limit to how long a person can survive when he is outside of his natural element. When the earthly provisions are depleted, it isn’t long before he will die, unless he returns to a natural earthly environment.
Shattered Mug
When the borrower refuses to return the borrowed item and continues to use it wrongly, he is considered sholei’ach yad, one who misuses an entrusted item, or sho’el shelo mida’as, one who borrows without permission, and is tantamount to a thief.
Daf Yomi
When Is Chalav Akum Allowed?
‘Milked By A Gentile’
(Avodah Zarah 39b)
Achieving Moral Clarity in a Confused World
Our justice and our morality are the truth. I’m learning Torah now – chassidut, parashat hashavua. How did I not know about this treasure until now? You shouldn’t have to lose a child, or turn 57, to begin asking who you are and why you’re here.
Q & A: The Blessing of Ha’Gomel (Part III)
Question: I recently returned from a trip abroad and wanted to say Ha'Gomel. When I mentioned this to the officers of my synagogue, however, they told me that I would have to wait until Shabbos to do so. I was not given any reason for this and did not wish to display my ignorance, so I quietly acquiesced. Can you please explain why I had to wait?
Name Withheld
Via E-mail
My, How Time Flies
Each time a phenomenon appears in units of forty in the Torah text, a new reality is about to be born.
The Winning Formula: Tillim and Tehillim
G-d instructs Moshe that before he dies he must wage war against the people of Midian for having enticed the leaders of Israel to behave immorally with the Midianite women. This event led to the plague that killed 24,000 Jews (Bamidbar 25:9).
The Longest Double & Tricky Taxations
The first notable number is 42. That’s the number of places in which Bnei Yisrael encamped, from the time they left Egypt until they stood poised at the threshold of Eretz Yisrael. If you count the places, you will need to include the place they left Egypt from (Ra-m’seis) among the 42 places.
Which Way to Pray? A Discussion With Rabbi Yosef Weisenfeld, Author Of The New...
The Gemara states that one should turn south during prayer if he wants wisdom, and north if he wants wealth. There is no explanation given in the Gemara...
Forty-Two Steps and the Flame That Never Goes Out
In every home I’ve lived in, one thing has remained constant, a quiet covenant. It’s a reminder of Hashem’s presence, much like a mezuzah, though not one in form.
One Long Journey – Matot-Masei
The fact that there are 42 journeys is not incidental, it corresponds to the name of HaKadosh Baruch Hu that has 42 letters.
Sustaining Peace
As opposed to the word “peace,” which is related to the word “appeasement,” the Hebrew word “shalom” means whole or complete.
The Value of a Neshama
The person who sinned and has now repented had to fight harder to conquer his Evil Inclination than the righteous individual.
A Three-Week Objective
Another way to get close to the Shechinah is by visiting the sick. As Rashi teaches us in Parshas Vayechi, The Shechinah always resides by the head of a choleh, an ill person.
Sight, but No Vision: The Sin of the Spies
There are two levels of reality: The first is how things appear on the physical surface; the second is the meaning that lies behind that exterior.
Home Forever
During the years that I was a division head, 98% of the campers in my division who were homesick were completely fine and enjoying camp within a week. But that first week can be gut wrenching.
Kiln Me With Teshuvah
In principle, certain sins indeed leave a mark and are absorbed so deeply that the body must be destroyed. Yet, if the internal actions and repentance reach a level that rationalizations peel away – or at least significantly weaken – the vessel is reformed without actual destruction.
Beneficiaries Or Halachic Heirs?
Even investments, which do belong to the person in his lifetime, should ideally be divided according to the beneficiaries. Although these investments are part of his estate, since the person designated beneficiaries, the principle of mitzvah lekayem divrei hames applies.
Daf Yomi
An Essential Agent
‘Set In The Skin Of The Rennet Of Nevela’
(Avodah Zarah 35a)
Absolutely Perfect
When someone makes shalom between rival parties, what does that mean?
Q & A: The Blessing of Ha’Gomel (Part II)
Question: I recently returned from a trip abroad. When I entered my synagogue early one weekday morning, I asked the officers for an aliyah so that I could bless Gomel. I was informed that I could receive an aliyah; however, as per the rabbi’s instruction, I would have to wait until the Sabbath to bless Gomel. I was not given any reason for this and did not wish to display my ignorance, so I quietly acquiesced. Can you please explain what was meant?
Name Withheld
Via E-mail
The Enduring Bond Of The Jewish People
We daven together in synagogues that feel familiar whether we’re in Toronto or Tel Aviv. We mourn together when tragedy strikes and we celebrate together when a lost hostage comes home or an aliyah flight lands in Ben-Gurion Airport.
Shattered Peace
Going out before the people and going in before them is one type of leadership. It is the leadership of the humble public servant who bends before the needs of his people.