The Torah in Parashat Vayechi tells us of the special blessings that Yaakob Abinu pronounced to each of his sons just before his passing. In his blessing to Yosef, Yaakob declared, “Me’Kel Avicha Ve’yazreka” – literally, “From the G-d...
At just 23 years old, Mendel “Reggie” Richter, better known online as Reggie Torah Shorts, has already made waves in the world of Jewish comedy. Growing up in Queens, New...
If one happens to be in a place where songs or melodies associated with idolatrous worship are played, as is customary during the holiday season, he does not need to leave the place or block his ears, since there...
And Yisrael traveled with all that he had to Be’er Sheva, and he offered korbanos to the G-d of his father Yitzchak. Rashi One is obligated to honor his father more than his grandfather. He therefore ascribed (his korbanos)...
Does the Torah know how to count? It might not seem so, as Parshas Vayigash lists the 69 people in Yaakov’s family who came down to Egypt and then refers to them as “the 70 people”...
Dear Rabbi and Shira, Thanks for your column, I read it every week. Maybe you can help me with a problem that I’m having. Since I came home from Yeshiva, I have...
ASARA B’TEVES IS THIS TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30TH Many people feel that a fast day is a day to sleep and relax. However, a fast day is really a time for retrospecting and doing teshuva. Many different halachos are...
Is it proper to enjoy good food or should we avoid worldly pleasures and focus on spiritual success? The Talmud contains a plethora of seemingly contradictory indications on whether it is morally proper for a Torah scholar, someone striving for...
Parashat Vayigash tells of how Yaakov and his sons moved from Eretz Yisrael to Egypt. A terrible famine struck the region, and the only country which had food was Egypt, where Yosef was the ruler. After Yosef...
Yosef sent gifts to his father upon wagons (agalos). When Yaakov saw the wagons, his spirit was rejuvenated because he was convinced that Yosef was still alive. Rashi cites the Medrash that by sending wagons (agalos), Yosef was sending...