“May G-d, the Lord of your fathers, add a thousandfold more like you and bless you, as He spoke to you.” (Devarim 1:11) The Jewish people, Rashi informs us, were not very happy with the blessing Moshe gave them....
As we head to Tisha b’Av, we are acutely aware that all the tragedies connected to the saddest day of the year have their root in the lashon hara spoken by the meraglim, the spies, who maligned Eretz...
A group of people spoke with the Brisker Rav zt’l about the tzaros the Jewish nation was suffering, and someone said, “We need Moshiach to come quickly to save us.” One of the men present whispered, “Moshiach isn’t coming so...
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...
On Tisha B’Ab, as we know, we observe a fast and mourn the destruction of the Bet Ha’mikdash. Although this calamity occurred many generations after the Torah was given, nevertheless, the day of Tisha B’Ab – like everything...
I recently received a clip featuring Rabbi Moshe Weinberger, who shared a story of the Baal Shem Tov’s childhood. The Baal Shem, whose given name was Yisroel, was tragically orphaned at the young age of...
WILLPOWER A woman is leaving her multimillion dollar mansion in Beverly Hills when a poor man approaches her and cries, “Oh ma’am, I haven’t eaten in three days.” To which the woman responds: “I am so envious of...
Of course, we daven from the bottom of our hearts that by Tisha B’Av the hostages will all be home, our soldiers will all be with their families, and our enemies will all be defeated. But if...
Seudah Shlishit (Third Meal): This year, Tisha B’Av falls on Sunday and begins immediately after Shabbat ends. Since it is forbidden to display any signs of mourning on Shabbat, there are several halachot relating to the pre-fast meal (Seudah Mafseket)...
Dear Rabbi and Shira, I’m not sure what to do. I’ve been married for a year and a half. When we dated, I felt like we had better communication, but now,...