Combating Assimilation
Is it possible to stem the tide of assimilation that is ravaging Diaspora Jewry?
The Many Names Of Moshe Rabbeinu
Rabbi Chaim Shmuelevitz (1902-1979) explains that each of Moses’ ten names reflects a different facet of his personality and teaches us something different about his greatness.
A Sword Over One’s Neck Grief And The Care That Eases It
How do we take that first step when, for the mourner, the immediacy of loss is such an unbearable, paralyzing weight?
Parshas Shemos: The True Meaning of Greatness
As Einstein famously said, "if you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree, it will spend its whole life believing it's foolish". We cannot compare ourselves to someone else, as we are completely different people.
Of Prayer, Watches, And The Mitzvah Of Not Doing
Alex was the best camper in the camp. He was deeply motivated and loved davening and learning . . . But Alex didn’t have a bris milah.
A Tribute To Rabbi Waldman
He personified a gentle, soft spoken soul who cared so much about every one, and especially about the land of Israel.
Daf Yomi
Hallel On Purim?
“Its Reading Is Its Praise”
(Megilla 14a)
Tenant Improvements
Despite efforts to reach an agreement, Rabbi Gross and the landlord remained at odds. They came before Rabbi Dayan and asked: Does the landlord have to pay? Alternatively, can the yeshiva remove what it installed?
Q & A: The Attack On Shichita (Part II)
Dear Rabbi Klass,
It has been a while now that a number of countries, where Jews reside, have outlawed shechita – Jewish ritual slaughter. Especially disturbing is what is happening now in Greece and Belgium, since they portray shechita as being cruel. What are we as Jews to do? Is there any recourse for us in this matter so fundamental to our people?
M. Goldblum
Via e-mail
Hey Teves: The Victory Of The Seforim
‘The knowledge we derive from a new text amplifies the knowledge we previously had received from other texts. It will also cause a further increase when we study those other texts again.’
The Happiness Mitzvah
Before his downfall, however, Napoleon's armies were legendary for their fighting ability. They seemed to be invincible. His soldiers were brave and disciplined.
Search Engine
My wonderful machateinista, hearing my tale of woe, took it upon herself to assist in the apartment quest, contacting every realtor she knew and requesting leads.
To Each, His Appropriate Blessing
Intellectually we appreciate that everyone is different. But in our daily interactions we lump our children, our students, even entire communities together as if they are a single entity.
Vayehi: Demystifying The Tribes Of Israel
What are the individual contributions of each Hebrew tribe to Israel's national collective?
The Way Of All The World
What is the way of all the world? Naturally, we live and then, after a while, we die, leaving this world behind.
The Goal Of Olam Haba (Part II) – Actualizing The Afterlife
When the wicked Bilaam asked a request for himself, he said, “May my soul die the death of the righteous and may my Afterlife be like theirs.” Even the wicked Bilaam knew the reality of the Afterlife.
TORAH SHORTS: Parshat Vayechi: Jewish Grand Unified Theory
What ever disunites man from God, also disunites man from man. -Edmund Burke
A Moment In Gan Eden
What is that great good that is accrued in Gan Eden? The Ramban notes that if one would collect all the physical enjoyments of a lifetime, it would not compare to one minute of pleasure and satisfaction in the World-to-Come.
The Tzava’a of Rabbi Yehuda HaChassid
As a result of the difficulties with many of his rulings, it has been widely suggested that Rabbi Yehuda HaChassid wrote the tzava’a specifically for his own family and future descendants to follow and that it was never intended to be observed by the masses.
Anger Management: Avoid The Volcano
When the Chofetz Chaim felt the slightest tinge of anger welling up within him, he would excuse himself, walk away, and would talk to himself: “Yisroel Meir, why are you becoming angry? Calm yourself.”
Parshas Vayechi: Finding Your Role Within the Cosmic Symphony of Life
If we analyze them closely, we begin to realize that Yaakov wasn't simply blessing his children, he was showing each of them their unique purpose, their unique mission.
Through The Grapevine
Rabbi Pappenheim argues that gefen connotes the wing-like shoots and buds that protrude from a grapevine.
Vayechi – So We Shall Live
It's Hashem's beautiful and merciful way to always ensure that we know where we are heading and what to expect. Hashem never leaves us and is constantly there guiding us every step of the way.
The Meaning of Today’s 10th of Tevet Fast
Asara B’Teves, the 10th of Teves, commemorates the beginning of the siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonian ruler Nebuchadnezzar that ultimately culminated with the First Temple’s destruction on the 9th of Av the following year.
The 10th of Tevet & The Forgotten Kaddish
On this day we learn to not only look at tragic events, but also on what led up to them. This is all the more important when talking about the Holocaust
Purchase Robbed – Who Loses?
In our case, Izzy asked Chaim to buy the laptop for him, so it was Izzy's from the time of purchase. Chaim was only a guardian of it.
The Other Side Of The Coin
My husband was stalling before calling a professional. Ever since he lost his job, we were tight, financially speaking, and a house visit would be an extra burden on our faltering budget. As it was, I was finding it challenging to keep my spirits up.
The Holy Brigand and Rabbi Yochanan’s New Beit Midrash
The alchemy of teshuva: Turning lead into GOLD.