Inherit The Torah
It is of interest, say the Sages, that Moshe’s request for a new leader immediately follows the inheritance of the daughters of Tzlofchad.
Piercing Spears
In this essay, we take a closer look at the Hebrew word used for Phineas’ weapon of choice and compare it with other Hebrew words like chanit and kidon that seem to refer to the same or very similar weapons.
How Good Is Your Sanctuary
When our own spiritual striving is met by the support of Hashem through His love for us, then we enter into His house.
Should A Parent Encourage A Child Who Wants To Join The U.S. Army?
We want our children to be deeply attached to our traditions, our family’s values and ideals. We also want them to grow into strong, healthy human beings who will live as responsible adults.
Decidedly Mixed Emotions
Instead of completing my online purchase within a few minutes once we arrived, I was dismayed to encounter any number of unfamiliar error messages, particularly the warning of potential credit card fraud.
Banishing The Evil Within
From ancient times, the idea that animals and people can affect their surroundings with their eyes was considered perfectly normal, and even to have a scientific basis.
Fee Vs. Fee
Even if she earns more than the required amount, the husband is entitled to the extra earnings in lieu of the additional money that he provides her for personal expenses, beyond her basic sustenance of food, shelter, and clothing (E.H. 70:3).
Daf Yomi
Splitting Grains?
“Mixed Untithed Produce”
(Gittin 47b)
Bilaam and Shema Yisrael
The connection between Bilaam and the Shema Yisrael prayer.
The Ultimate Decisor
As opposed to Yosef who saw Hashem’s Hand in determining the results of our decisions, Dovid saw Hashem as behind the decision itself!
Q & A: Kaddish Recited Properly (Part III)
Question: In the many shuls that I've attended, I observe that there are people who recite the Kaddish silently. Is this correct? I’ve also seen Kaddish recited by some at a cemetery without a minyan. Is there any reason to sanction this?
Charles Rosen
Via Email
A Visit To 770 In 1951
Their first Rebbe, Reb Schneur Zalman of Liadi, was a student of the Baal Shem Tov. He was able to blend the teachings of Chassidus from the Baal Shem Tov with the teachings of the “misnagdim” and the Vilna Gaon.
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.
I am More than Me, Myself, and I
The concept of “Beshert" in life
A Tale of Two Donkeys
With this in mind, let us contrast two iconic figures in the Torah, both with donkey-related incidents.
Healing The Trauma Of Loss
Moses at the rock was not so much a prophet as a man who had just lost his sister.
Filling The Void: The Spiritual Joy Of Wasting Words (Part II)
Destroying the yetzer for transcendence was like destroying a spiritual radio located within our consciousness. Once you destroy the radio, the transmitter and receiver no longer operate.
Revitalizing Our Prayers – Part Fourteen
We start the blessing asking Hashem to bless us with a profitable good year... Why are we praying for this every day when the Gemara teaches us -Mezonasov shel adam kitzuvin lo mei’Rosh Hashana – The livelihood of the person is fixed on the New Year and sealed on Yom Kippur.
The Eye Of The Beholder
There are many other halachos in Shulchan Aruch concerning the Evil Eye. We do not count people for a minyan, for example; and two brothers, or a son and a father, should not be called up consecutively to the Torah for an aliyah.
The Right Site
Instead of viewing atar and makom as pure synonyms, the aforementioned exegetes all make a point of noting that atar is actually an Aramaic word while makom is Hebrew.
Is it proper to make a large July 4th barbecue get-together?
It is a completely secular holiday... As such, it is acclaimed as a joyous day by those who reside in and appreciate the advantages of this land regardless of the religious or other belief system to which they may subscribe.
The Richer Fruit Of Mercy To Others
People can be cruel to people they perceive as different. A sense of difference can be easily translated into a malignant moral hierarchy.
Calling Out To G-d
Curiel has been researching his family tree for decades and has learned some astounding facts. There was a Rav Israel Ben Meir di Curiel, a Sage in Tzfat, who sat on the Beit Din in the 16th century along with Rav Yossef Caro. There were also 35 Jews named Curiel murdered in the Holocaust.
Anger Management
There is a philosophical debate as to whether it is possible to completely excise anger from our emotional repertoire. This debate plays out within the Jewish ethical literature as well, with Rambam, at least in one place, indicating that one should never feel anger.
Swapping, Borrowing Or Guarding At The Park
Suddenly, a ferocious-looking dog ran towards him, barking menacingly. Yitzi dodged as the dog grabbed one of the balls and ran off.
Daf Yomi
A Public Figure’s Commitment
‘A Matter That Does Not Yet Exist'
(Gittin 42b)
On Keeping Some Things To Ourselves
Perhaps you are familiar with this question: “If a tree fell in the forest and no one heard it, did it make a sound?”
Or,...
Raising Holiness – Parshat Korach
The coal pans of the rebels were used for the altar.