Judaism

Question: A number of years back, when I was still unmarried, I had yahrzeit, but in the shul where I davened they wouldn’t let me serve as shaliach tzibbur as they had a rule that no one unmarried was allowed to daven from the amud. Obviously, I could still say Kaddish, but I wanted to lead the services for the sake of the neshama. My question is: Did they have the right to deny me what I felt was my yahrzeit obligation to my departed parent? Mark Halberstam Esq. Brooklyn, N.Y. Via email

They are telling us something about special sights and sounds, flavors and fragrances, about tradition and family, about identity and longing, about an attempt at destruction and the triumph of the living.

Rebbe Nachman says, According to how holy and important the act is, the more barriers there will be in order to ensure that the act is done with the right level of desire.

The Torah teaches us eternal heavenly truth, wisdom and direction. Its study gives us the ability to free ourselves from contemporary fleeting perspectives.

The Alter Rebbe founded the Chabad movement stressing the requirement of Da es Elokei Avichoh, Know the G-d of your Father, with your intellectual faculties and abilities.

When slavery runs deep into the psychology of a person, it becomes difficult to express the crucial courage and self-sacrifice necessary to break the chains of mental bondage.

All events in history are driven by a chain of events dictated from Above.

There is a famous lesson taught regarding B’nei Yisrael in Mitzrayim that they had, over the course of their exile, descended to the 49th and penultimate level of corruption. Had they not been redeemed at that time they would have become irredeemable.

Great doubts deep wisdom. Small doubts little wisdom. -Chinese Proverb

Applying this ability to spiritual wisdom allows one to enter the gateway into the infinite, gaining access to the deepest and most powerful truths of existence.

Where did it come from, this Jewish ability to turn weakness into strength, adversity into advantage, darkness into light?

Although the Torah strictly forbids taking revenge and bearing a grudge, these are not transgressions that are punishable in a beit din

Apparently, God is only actively engaged when man is conscious of Him

As we explained earlier, “drawing water” and “lifting up” can actually be seen as one act.

Moshe became great because he went out of his palatial comfort zone and identified with this persecuted brothers.

There are some people who don’t easily cry. So, if they are motivated by a moving play or a poignant novel to cry, they should utilize those cries and extend them for the Temple.

When surrounded on all sides and too coddled, one becomes too stifled to grow and produce.

What is the major theme of this book? Why does it not conclude with the major event that changed all of history, the revelation at Sinai?

There's always something that we want from G-d. And Hashem wants something from us.

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This fact seems to indicate that we did not build the pyramids, as it is unlikely the Egyptians would have fed enormous amounts of meat to their slaves.

The pandemic might mean these celebrations will be shared on Zoom, and hugs will be virtual, but we will pretend we are together for milestones. And, maybe, sometime during 2023, the pandemic will be history.

The borrower carries the greatest liability, even if the borrowed item died or broke due to uncontrollable circumstances, oness.

The Most Favorable Of …Times “Annulling Vows For The Sake Of Shabbos” (Nedarim 77a)

Question: Why, if on Rosh Hashana the shofar is blown during Musaf, is Hallel on the festivals and Rosh Chodesh read during Shacharit? L. Freund Via Email

Only as a “kingdom of priests and holy nation” that reveals HaShem’s Oneness over all spheres of life can Israel fully express His Ideal and lead mankind to experience a world of total blessing.

How does a person who accepts the yoke of Torah have other responsibilities removed from him?

To be a Maccabi today means that you stand with pride for your people and your land. You live inspired. You refuse to allow the world to crush your spirit.

Although their ancestor earned the throne because of a certain good deed, the inheritors cannot use similar merit to remain.

How do we want to live our lives? Now that Hanukkah is over, the routine of work, study, and winter begins.