Can Money Intended For Matanos La’evyonim Be Used Differently?
Can I give the delivery man $5 from money that I intended for matanos la'evyonim?
It is a Sign – Shmini
HKB”H created most of the human body with redundancy. We have two eyes, ears, nostrils, arms, legs, hemispheres in the brain, chambers in the heart, lungs, kidneys, reproductive organs, etc., the logic being – “if one fails, we have a spare.”
Daf Yomi
For Appearance’s Sake
‘Shammai Did Not Follow Their Own Ruling’
(Yevamos 13b 14a)
The Seder and Teshuvah
Since Hashem despises the evil person as He is, so to speak, nauseated from the praise of the wicked, it is a good idea to preface our Seder with teshuvah.
The Olah That Stays on the Flame – Parshat Tzav
Israel has dramatically returned to the world stage in what has so far been merely the introduction to a revolutionary process destined to free humankind from a global order that promotes injustice.
Purim – Reconnecting With Our True Selves
When we muffle our identity, He muffles his love and care for us. When we assert our true selves, He expresses his true love.
Will The Real Adar Please Stand Up? (Part II)
Question: I have numerous questions that relate to the Jewish leap year when a full month is added to our lunar year every couple of years. Why is Adar the month that is picked for this addition? Why do we call it Adar Alef? Why is Purim celebrated in the second Adar? Also, while both are named Adar, only of them one must be the real Adar – which one?
Shea Aronovitch
Via e-mail
The War In Ukraine – Let’s Be Focused
‘If you see countries bickering with one another, wait for the coming of Moshiach.’ – Bereishis Rabbah
Those Who Choose Death Over Life
When our haftara was designated for a week such as this, thousands of years ago, the sages saw fit to add another couple of verses to the end, spoken by Yirmiyahu almost a thousand years before that.
Down To Earth Seeing: The Holiness Of Empathy
The intent of the commandment to clean the ashes was to bring his thoughts down to the people on earth, for him to ‘see’ the hard-working people who were involved in everyday life.
The Place Of Return
There is a spiritual principle that when any creature is in a state of distress, it will feel a powerful impulse to return to its source.
Finding Your Role Within Life’s Cosmic Symphony
The world we live in is exquisitely structured and ordered down to the finest details. Anyone who has studied physics, biology, or chemistry, or any form of science for that matter, has gotten a taste of the beauty and sophistication of our world’s order.
Portions Of Food Or Gifts To The Poor: Which Mitzvah Comes First?
Other authorities disagree and insist that matanot la’evyonim should be performed first.
Ode To The Beholder
We may look at a pair of tefillin and admire how beautiful they are, while a non-Jew will try to figure out what’s so beautiful about leather straps connected to black leather boxes.
Purim Guide for the Perplexed 2022
Wishing everyone a joyous Purim!
Purim: Words For Wine (Part II)
Rabbi Avraham Bedersi in Chotam Tochnit points out that in rabbinic usage, the term shechar clearly refers to some drink other than wine.
Violence And The Sacred
Had G-d not told the first humans: ‘Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves in the ground’? That is why Abel brought an animal sacrifice.
Is It Proper To Learn During Chazaras Hashatz?
Ultimately, everyone should clarify their familial and communal custom and conduct themselves accordingly.
Writing Our Megillah
The Holy Torah is full of stories and examples of how we must conduct our lives as Jewish people. However, we aren’t always successful at implementing what we know and learn, especially when push comes to shove.
Thanksgiving Matzo – Tzav
I know very few who enjoy matzo year round. Most people can’t wait for Pesach to end, to get rid of all their leftover matzo.
A Look At The Halachos Of A Bas Mitzvah Celebration – 100 Years After...
Although there is no custom to make a banquet when a girl reaches maturity (on her 12th birthday), she should nevertheless rejoice on that day, and wear her Shabbos clothes.
Assimilation is Not the Answer to Antisemitism
Mordechai understood the antidote: To stand firm, to stand strong, and to stand as a proud Jew, a Torah Jew. BE AN ISH YEHUDI, A PROUD JEW!
My Father’s Last Day
My next test was booked for Thursday, August 17, 1967. I couldn’t have known when I was given this date, and not one later in the month, what siyata dishmaya I had received.
Letting Them Shine: Purim As Experienced By A New Shver
I am front and center for better or worse. And although I am naturally more comfortable sitting in the crowd than being up front, such is the role Hashem gave me, for better or worse. However, at the aufruf, wedding, and Sheva Brachos, I found myself primarily in a new role.
Problems ‘Hiring’ A Minyan For Zachor Reading
On Shabbos afternoon, Yehoshua said to Mordechai: If Rabbi Shpiel wants to pay us after Shabbos, I don't think we can take the money. In the end, we didn't make the minyan.
Daf Yomi
Being Overly Burdensome
“My Sabbaths Shall You Observe”
(Yevamos 6a)
The War in Ukraine – What Can We Do?
The Rebbe asked that we strengthen the tefillin campaign – not only to put on tefillin ourselves, but also with whomever else we can – and this will help our brethren all over the world.