06 Jan THE ALL-IMPORTANT EAR
Let me ask you a question, my dear readers. What would you consider to be the core limb of the body? I was greatly surprised when I saw in the Sifra d’Tzniyusa of the Vilna Gaon, zt”l, zy”a,...
30 Dec ACT FIRST?
This Shabbos we will be completing Chumash Bereishis. Bereishis is also called Sefer Yesharim, the Book of Upright. This is because of the great men and women such as Avraham, Yitzchak, Yaakov, Sarah, Rivka, Rachel, Leah, the Holy Shevatim,...
23 Dec HOW SWEET ISN’T REVENGE
The Gemora teaches us, “Smuchin min HaTorah.” There is significance when two subjects are juxtaposed by Hashem in our Torah. The Birchas Ish therefore wonders why the laws not to take revenge and not to bear a grudge are...
16 Dec BIGGER ISN’T ALWAYS BETTER
At this time of the year, many American homes are lit-up in a sea of brilliantly colored lights. When our children pass by these homes they are likely to comment enchantingly, “How pretty they are.” A precocious child might...
09 Dec RECOGNIZING THE YEITZER HARA
In parshas Ki Teitzei, the Or HaChaim HaKodesh, zt”l, zy”a, tells us that the true enemy of every person is the Yeitzer Hara, the evil inclination. As the Gemara informs us, “Yitzro shel adam misgabeir alav b’chol yom um’vakeish...
02 Dec PICKING THE RIGHT FIGHT
The revered and holy Mashgiach of Lakewood, Rav Nosson Vachtfogel, zt”l, zy”a, pondered an interesting contemporary phenomenon. In his sefer, Likutei Reshimos, he wonders why millions of people across the globe have a fascination with soccer. He bluntly depicts it...
25 Nov A MENTCH TRACHT UN G-T LACHT
Last week, I had a much anticipated family wedding to attend. My cousins, Dr. Sharon and Eric Rosen, were marrying off a child and, having already missed some of their weddings, I made a heroic effort to ensure that...
18 Nov THE DANGEROUS SIDE OF HOLINESS
When Leah had her third child, she explained, “Hapa’am yilave ishi eilai – This time my husband will walk alongside of me.” And the Torah concludes, “Al kein, kara sh’mo Levi – Therefore, she called her son Levi...
11 Nov A MOST IMPORTANT PRAYER TO SAVE US FROM THE SATAN
In our Maariv prayers, we make a very important request of Hashem. “V’haseir Satan mil’faneinu u’mei’achareinu – Remove the Satan from in front of us and from behind us.” The simplest explanation of this petition is that we ask...
04 Nov WHAT IS BHA”B
Last Monday, the very significant yet little known days called BHA”B ended. In two locations (Masechtos Kiddushin [81a] and Bava Kama [82a]), Tosefos mentions the minhag of fasting on the first Monday, Thursday, and following Monday of the months...