21 May Does the Torah Lead to Happiness?
I. HAPPINESS ISN’T UNIVERSAL Many people feel that their lives are enriched by Judaism. Their rituals and holidays bring joy and meaning while deepening their marriage and family ties. The...
Shabbos Times for Jan 17, 2025 | 17 Tevet, 5785 | Parshas Shemos | Candle Lighting Time: 4:38 PM | Havdalah (72 min): 6:08 PM
14 May Barefoot in Shul
I. Rashbash and Chumra Religious life tends toward conservatism, retaining the practices and rhythms of prior years. New stringencies are often derided as fanaticism, an offensive rejection of earlier generations’ religiosity....
07 May Buying Clothes During Sefirah
The period between Pesach and Shavuos contains a mourning period–different days depending on one’s custom–during which certain joyous behaviors are forbidden (commonly called Sefirah because this period also includes the...
30 Apr Younger Sibling Marrying First
YOUNGER SIBLING MARRYING FIRST Is a woman allowed to marry before her older sister? This opens many emotional issues, as the anxiety over marriage grows as a single person ages. Perhaps...
16 Apr Were the Egyptians Right?
I. Enslaving the Jews Were the Egyptians right in enslaving the Jews? The question seems outrageous at first. However, Pharaoh and the Egyptians fulfilled G-d’s prophecy to Avraham that his descendants...
09 Apr What is Freedom?
I. Freedom of the Will Pesach is the holiday of freedom, when G-d redeemed us from slavery. But has that freedom continued with us, even after we subsequently were oppressed and...
03 Apr Kahanism and Vengeance Part 2
Last week we began discussing R. Meir Kahane’s approach to revenge in his Or Ha-Ra’ayon. I. GODLY REVENGE The Rambam (Moreh Nevukhim 1:54) writes that biblical descriptions of God›s anger and vengeance...
26 Mar Kahanism and Vengeance Part 1
Over the past few weeks, we have discussed R. Meir Kahane’s approach to democracy in his Or Ha-Ra’ayon, in comparison with Rishonim, Acharonim and contemporaries. Continuing this study of his...
19 Mar Kahanism & Democracy Part 3
I. DEMOCRACY IN JEWISH HISTORY For the past two weeks, we have discussed R. Meir Kahane’s view of democracy, as presented in his book, Or Ha-Ra’ayon. R. Kahane suggests of appointing...
12 Mar Kahanism and Democracy Part 2
I. COMMENTING ON THE BIBLE Last week, we began discussing R. Meir Kahane’s view of democracy, as presented in his book, Or Ha-Ra’ayon. As we noted, R. Kahane failed to discuss Shmuel’s...