Wisdom of the Longer Path
This is not to say that there is no such thing as a wrong turn. Though we can even learn from a mistaken path, we have good reason to want to avoid it.
TORAH SHORTS: Parshat Shelach: Choosing Yokes
The more you depend on forces outside yourself, the more you are dominated by them. -Harold Sherman
Pinchas: A Man Of Shalom And Kehuna (Part I)
A puzzling feature of the story of Pinchas and Zimri is the striking omission of Zimri’s name from the story as it is first told in Parashas Balak. Only afterwards, when recounting the story again in Parashas Pinchas, does the Torah name the perpetrator of this evil act. Why is this so?
The Shape Of The Menorah
The author of the essay asserts that David HaMelech had this mizmor in the shape of a menorah inscribed on his shield that he carried into war, and his enemies fled before him.
All Tied Up
The term asirah derives from another triliteral root, aleph-samech-reish, which appears close to ninety times in the Bible.
Are Hat And Jacket Required Dress Code For Prayer?
More recent halachic authorities, however, recognize that hats and jackets are no longer a component of standard dress, especially in warmer climates.
Ritual And Relationships: Aharon’s Dual Greatness
No doubt every one of us would follow the details of a Divine command directed specifically at us – does Aharon deserve to be singled out for this?
Is there anything wrong with taking animals from the wild and confining them to...
It could well be that their goal in visiting the zoo was not (only) for simple entertainment or leisure, but to be able there to marvel at the wondrous creation of Hashem’s world.
Rabbi’s Musings (& Amusings)
For best result, ensure plenty of good consistency.
Chance Encounters
It was a wretched situation for my father, my mother and me – an only child – who had left my job to look after my mother; we had no idea where to turn, what to do.
Confiscated Calculator Calculations
Mr. Berger is considered a shomer chinam since he has no gain, even incidental, from guarding the calculator.
Daf Yomi
Painting Tefillin Straps Black
“He May Go Over the Letters With a Pen”
(Gittin 20a)
Washing Hands – Parshat Behaalotecha
The minhag of washing the Cohen's hands for Birkat Kohanim is not arbitrary.
Our Need For Personal Growth
We are not created as a finished product, but, rather, with the need and responsibility to develop ourselves properly.
Q & A: Coins, Sculptures, And Graven Images (Part III)
Question: Is one allowed to go to Madam Tassaud’s Wax Museum? Is this not a violation of the Torah’s prohibition of graven images?
Ben Moseson
Via email
The Pintela Yid Never Dies
In front of me the story of Am Yisrael came alive. The world may proclaim our end but here we are. One must only kindle the flame. The spark is never extinguished.
Summertime, A Time For Yiddishkeit
The guiding factor is that Hashem did not make anything without a reason. If a certain reality exists, then it must be another opportunity to add in avodas Hashem – the service of G-d.
Nature, Nurture, And Human Effort
Some commentators state that it is simply a way of complimenting his fine character. Others connect the praise more directly to his mother. But why should his mother get the credit for his character?
The Return of Prophecy – Parshat B’haalotcha
Through Israel's returns home and national rebirth, we have already seen sparks of prophecy return.
The Dedication Of The Mishkan On The Day Of Its Anointing
Each of the leaders of the tribes brings a gift which is identical to the gifts of every other one. The Torah relates the gift of each and every tribe in detail, in spite of the fact that they are all the same.
From Despair To Hope
To be a Jew is to seek to make a difference, to change lives for the better, to heal some of the scars of our fractured world. But people don’t like change.
Berachos And Klalos: Bounty And Boundaries (Part II)
Only when we negate our egos and acknowledge that the goodness and beracha in our lives comes not from our own independent efforts but from Hashem, can we then receive more beracha.
Salvation
A person should walk in the ways of Hashem and accord mercy and kindness to people and other members of Creation.
Revitalizing Our Prayers (Part Ten)
It would seem to me that the controversy centers on why we should say ‘please’ or ‘now’ just by this blessing and not by the other requests in our Shemone Esrei, such as to forgive us, or to cure us.
Long, Long Thoughts
When we think of people who, in a healthy state, go through radical changes and stages, we know of whom we think, and it is not the middle aged or retirees.
The Meaning And Various Categories Of Semicha – Rabbinic Ordination (Part II)
It is noted that in past generations there were very few individuals who had semicha, let alone were practicing rabbis, while today everyone seems to have semicha.
Learning The Ropes
In this passage, three different words are used for “rope” or “string”: chevel, tikvah, and chut. This essay attempts to trace the etymology of those words, seeking to clarify exactly how they relate to one another.
Is it proper to give your children a phone/smartphone? If so, what age makes...
The more complicated question is whether we should give our children a smartphone at all or at a young age.
Honest Plea
When it comes to both parenting and teaching, we don’t like to watch children make mistakes. We also don’t like having to take the time and energy to enforce the consequences of those mistakes.