Many people are not familiar with the halachos of shaimos. The problem with the volume of shaimos, only developed fairly recently with the advent of cheap, commonly utilized printing methods….
Why is mechirat chametz for a supermarket that continues to sell chametz during Pesach a valid sale? It isn’t. The regular mechiras chometz that you and I do does not…
Many times one is faced with different questions as to what requires tevilah. For example, glass, china, stoneware etc. The halachos of how to tovel were dealt with in a…
As we continue our travels through tefilla, we just finished the second bracha in the Shemone Esrei. At this point, when the chazzan says over for us the Shemone Esrei,…
ONE PAN, HONEY, LEMON, CHICKEN, AND POTATOES INGREDIENTS: 6 chicken thighs 6 chicken legs 1/3 cup olive oil Juice of 1 lemon 3 tsp honey 1 tsp each garlic, paprika,…
The recent collapse of two of the largest banks in America that cater to the tech industry, spurred panic around America and around the world, as everyone is on edge…
This Shabbos, we begin Sefer Vayikra, the third of the Chamisha Chumshei Torah. Vayikra is also known as Toras Kohanim, for it includes the laws of korbonos, the offerings brought…
The parashah begins (1:1), “Vaykira El Moshe Va’yidaber Hashem Eilav” He called to Moshe and Hashem said to him.” It would read easier had it , “Vayikra Hashem El Moshe…
The Biblical Four- Step Program to Refine Your Inner Beast Mom’s Perspective Two Jewish mothers met for coffee. “Well, Mildred,” asked one. “How are your son and daughter doing?” “To…
Earlier this month, the 20th of Adar, marked the yahrzeit of the great Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach zt”l. In a tribute written shortly after his passing, Rav Aharon Lichtenstein, who…
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,…
The Torah in Parashat Vayikra discusses the various kinds of sacrifices, including the sin-offering that one was required to bring after committing certain sins. In introducing this sin-offering, the Torah…
What is the real difference between hametz and matzah? When we bake hallah, the dough is left on the counter for a while to rise. In the meantime, the baker…
I. Checking for Chametz According to Torah law, we must get rid of all of our chametz, our leavened bread, before Pesach. However, this can be accomplished either by rendering…
Moshe Waited for the Call A verse in this week’s parsha says, “And G-d called to Moshe and He spoke to him…” [Vayikra 1:1]. The Medrash comments that we learn…
For over 40 years, Nachum Segal has been the host of the Jewish Moments in the Morning (JM in the AM) radio program and of the Nachum Segal Network (NSN)….
Dear Rabbi and Shira, Hi. I read your column all the time. I hope you can help me. I’m not sure what to do. I’ve gone out with this guy…
INGREDIENTS: 4 large eggs 2 cups sugar 1 cup oil 1/2 tsp salt 3/4 cup cocoa 1 cup potato starch 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips DIRECTIONS: Preheat oven to…
“HaChodesh hazeh lachem rosh chodoshim…, this month will be for you the beginning of the months…” (Shemos 12:2) Bnei Yisroel were about to leave Egypt and embark on a journey…
The Key To Success Is Initiative Parshas Vayakhel contains a verse describing the people who came forth in the construction of the Tabernacle: “Every man whose heart inspired him (asher…
I. Lashon Ha-Ra With Legs The idea that derogatory speech can go viral — a post, video or message can be forwarded thousands of times — should more than ever…
One of the features of the Mishkan which Beneh Yisrael built in the desert was the kiyor – the special faucet which stood by the entrance to the Mishkan.The kohanim…
Upon reading Parashat Vay-akhel, we cannot help but be struck – and perplexed – by the Torah’s ver-bosity. The Torah laboriously repeats all the details regarding the construc-tion of the…
The Gemara (Brachos 26:) teaches that Yitzchak established tefillas Minchah, as it states (Bereishis 24:63), “Yitzchak went to daven in the field towards evening.”Tur (232) writes, “One must be very…
G-D IS A GREAT BUILDER; BUT IT’S MAN’S HANDIWORK THAT TAKES THE CAKEIn the BeginningAs a result of a near mutiny, the overbearing and arrogant captain was forced to see…
How exciting it is for me to be able to deepen my understanding of prayers and take you with me on my travels! In the mussar portion of the Chok…
In Yiddish a potato is called a kartufel. The reason why it is called a kartufel is because the potato which was meant to be a tufel food has been…
Soon after the new coalition government established after the recent elections in Israel came to power, the new Minister of Justice announced the government’s intention to quickly push through the…
Despite an MVP-like performance by quarterback Jalen Hurts, the Philadelphia Eagles lost this year’s Super Bowl. After the game, Hurts vowed to use the game as a “teachable moment.” “You…
Must I use wine for the four cups, or may I use grape juice instead? There are two schools of thought among the Poskim. R’ Moshe Feinstein (Hagaddah Kol Dodi…
INGREDIENTS: 8 chicken thighs 2 large onions, chopped 1 tablespoon oil 1 tablespoon salt 1/2 tablespoon onion powder 1/2 tablespoon paprika 1 cup water DIRECTIONS: Directions for the Chicken…
After the holiday of Purim, many of us are faced with Halachic dilemmas concerning the Kashrut status of the many Mishlochei Manot we have received, as well as those we…
We are all familiar with the customs of kitniyos on Pesach, but who does it apply to, what is included in the custom, and what about derivates or extracts from…
As I continue to take you with me on my journey of prayer discovery, let me share with you a sage idea from the Chachmei Chabad. In Krias Shema we…
Dear Rabbi and Shira, Thanks so much for your column. My family and I read it every week! Here’s my question. My husband and I agreed when we were engaged…
Now that Purim is behind us, the countdown to Pesach has official begun complete with its angst, anxiety, stress, and Sadly, many people associate Pesach with backbreaking work, exorbitant expenses,…
HOW DO YOU JUDGE YOUR WORTH? Counting the Jews The opening verses of this week’s Torah portion, Ki Sisa, convey G-d’s instruction to Moses on how to count the Jewish…
There was once a priest who was very ill with wounds all over his body, and he asked the Baal Shem Tov for a cure. The Baal Shem Tov told…
Parashat Ki-Tisa begins with the Misva of “Maha- sit Ha’shekel” – the mandatory half- shekel tax that was imposed upon all members of Beneh Yisrael. The first time this tax…
I was once speaking with somebody suffering from an eating disorder. After hearing about the terrible condition that this patient was going through, I observed that this person had “a…
I. Respecting Your Torah Teacher Calling a Torah scholar by his title is a matter of showing honor to the Torah. You must show respect to your mentor, your rebbe,…
The verse [pasuk] in Mishlei [Proverbs] says, “A person with generosity of spirit (Tov Ayin) he will blessed” [Mishlei 22:9]. The Yalkut identifies the subject of the pasuk as Moshe…
In this week’s parsha, Ki Sisa, we learn of Betzalel being designated as the “general contractor”, the man in charge of the construction of the Mishkan. Anyone who ever did…
A person is in the midst of his Purim seudah & his neighbor knocks on the door to say that they are having a minyan for ma’ariv. He leaves his…
Though the word “influencer” has been used in English since the mid-1600s, it has more recently taken on a new meaning. Though the term can apply to a wide variety…
Purim is a very exciting time, and some people spend a lot of time planning their costumes. What is the source of this custom? What are some of the reasons…
The Chasam Sofer (Drushim p.245) writes, “I received from Reb Mendele Lilig zt’l, the Rav of Frankfort, who received the tradition from the יעקב שב that who- ever studies Torah…
Dear Rabbi and Shira, My wife came from a frum household and prefers to cover her hair with a teichel, however she doesn’t cover all her hair and half of…
It is hard to believe that this Taanis Esther will already be the 37th yahrzeit of the Rosh Yeshiva, HaGaon, Rav Moshe Feinstein, Zt”l, Zy”a. There was a time that,…