I. Secession and Authority On July 28, 1876 — 150 years ago — the Prussian parliament passed a law allowing secession from a Jewish community without formally renouncing affiliation with Judaism. Rav Samson Raphael Hirsch had lobbied heavily for this...
One of the prohibitions that apply on Tishah B’Av is that we do not wear normal shoes. In the olden days, people would walk about barefoot on Tishah B’Av, whereas nowadays we have non-leather shoes or slippers...
Once, as I was giving a class about the halachot of Tishah B’Av, I mentioned the law regarding work on this day – that Halachah permits working on Tishah B’Av, but the Rabbis teach that one who...
You shall not light a fire in all of your settlements on the Shabbos day. Shemos 35:3 Introduction Occasionally, one may find himself as a Shabbos guest in the home of someone who is not particularly knowledgeable regarding the...
It’s easy to accuse someone else of being defensive. It is no coincidence that Parshas Devarim is always read on the Shabbos before Tisha B’Av, as Moshe recounts the tragedy of the meraglim. Chazal teach that this episode...
The idea was good in my eyes. (1:23) Parashas Devarim begins with Moshe rabbeinu reviewing the main events that occurred in the 39 years since the Jewish People left Har Sinai. In recalling their request to send meraglim...
As we observe the traditional and sad routine of the Nine Days, abstaining from the pleasures of music, meat, wine and swimming, we remember the recent horrific destruction of the Second Temple because of sinas chinum, senseless and improper...
The Shabbos before Tisha b’Av is called Shabbos Chazon because the haftarah begins with the words Chazon Yeshayahu, “Yeshayahu’s vision.” Nevertheless, the name is surprising because why should we name the Shabbos after the haftarah that discusses the Churban? As the Kedushas Levi (Eichah) asks, “Why is...
Beginning Rosh Chodesh Av until after Tisha B’Av (the Nine Days) the custom of Ashkenazim is not to eat meat or drink wine, in remembrance of the destruction of the Beis Hamikdash. What about a food that was cooked...
In the famous Haftara of “Hazon Yeshayahu” (Yeshayahu, chapter 1) which is read on the Shabbat before Tisha B’Ab, the prophet bemoans the fact that although the people have been stricken with crises and calamities, they persisted in their...