Judaism

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.

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.

When we muffle our identity, He muffles his love and care for us. When we assert our true selves, He expresses his true love.

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

‘If you see countries bickering with one another, wait for the coming of Moshiach.’ – Bereishis Rabbah

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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.

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.

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.

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.

Other authorities disagree and insist that matanot la’evyonim should be performed first.

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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.

Wishing everyone a joyous Purim!

Rabbi Avraham Bedersi in Chotam Tochnit points out that in rabbinic usage, the term shechar clearly refers to some drink other than wine.

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.

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Ultimately, everyone should clarify their familial and communal custom and conduct themselves accordingly.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

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.

Being Overly Burdensome “My Sabbaths Shall You Observe” (Yevamos 6a)

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.

A person who identifies with Hashem’s will must use the unique abilities and circumstances Hashem created him with and places him in to appreciate how he is meant to best serve Him.

Israel must demonstrate confidence in ourselves and an iron determination to defy our antagonists. Mordechai teaches that it is not through appeasement that one achieves peace but rather through strength, self-assurance and unequivocally firm resistance to tyranny and injustice.

Dear Rabbi Klass, I have numerous questions that relate to the Jewish leap year by way of the full month that we add to our lunar year every couple of years. Why is Adar the month picked for this addition? Why do we call it Adar Alef? Why is Purim celebrated in the second Adar? It’s also obvious that even though both are named Adar that only one of them must be the real Adar – which one? Shea Aronovitch Via e-mail