Parashat Shemot begins by listing the names of Yaakov Avinu’s sons who had come to live in Egypt. At first glance, this list is entirely unnecessary. We just read several parashiyot about the story of Yaakov’s family,...
The Difference Between ‘Melacha’ and ‘Avodah’ We are told that after Moshe Rabbeinu came to Pharoah and asked him to free the Jews, Pharoah reacted negatively. The King of Egypt commanded the taskmasters to withhold the straw necessary for...
The Gemora teaches us, “Im ein daas, havdala minayin – Without knowledge, how does one differentiate?” This is the reason why on Motzoi Shabbos we say the havdala the insertion of Atah chonantonu within the blessing of Atah chonein,...
The Rayatz of Lubavitch zt’l says, “People think that all they need to do is wait for Moshiach, but they forget that in Mitzrayim, they needed tefillah, too, and only then they were saved.” This is perhaps surprising. Hashem promised Avraham...
Taking ozempic, wegovy, and the new wave of weight loss treatments. Is it allowed halachically? Those of us who are learning Daf Yomi are now learning Mesechata Bava Kama and the premise of Mesechta Bava Kama is that you’re...
INGREDIENTS: Quarter Cup Butter Quarter Cup Flour 1 chopped onion 2 cups half-and-half 6 cups vegetable stock 3 pounds chopped broccoli 8 ounce bag shredded carrots 8 ounce bag of shredded cheddar cheese DIRECTIONS: It’s a comfort food on a rainy day...
When G-d spoke to Moshe for the first time, and instructed him to return to Egypt and lead Beneh Yisrael to freedom, He mentioned that when the people will leave Egypt, “they will not leave empty-handed. Each...
Sefer Shemos, the making of our nation. Shemos is also known as Sefer HaGeula, the Book of Redemption. Shemos takes us from the brutal, bitter slave camps of Egypt, through the miraculous Exodus, to...
Irritation, Aggravation, and Misery A boy asks his father to explain the differences between irritation, aggravation, and misery. Dad picks up the phone and dials a number at random. When the phone is answered he asks, “Can I speak to Ralph,...
During these extraordinary times for the Jewish people, there have been extraordinary stories, videos, and vignettes emerging. The challenge is to not only watch them, marvel at them, cry with them or forward them, but to be changed by...