Shabbos Nachamu is even more special for me than most people as it’s my Bar Mitzvah parsha. I remember how 55 years ago my parents hosted a magnificent kiddush in Saltzman’s bungalow colony even though two weeks later...
As we observe the traditional and sad routine of the Nine Days, abstaining from the pleasures of music, meat, wine and swimming, we remember the recent horrific destruction of the Second Temple because of sinas chinum, senseless and improper...
We are now in the middle of the period called Bein HaMetzarim, known more commonly as the Three Weeks. As a nation, we mourn the destruction of our two Holy Temples during this time. This loss is more...
In the fifth Perek of Pirkei Avos [5:9], we are introduced to a type of person described as a golem. Laterally, this is a very derogatory word which means a ‘clod.’ However, I do not believe this is...
In Pirkei Avos, Ben Zoma gives the famous definition, “Eizehu chacham? Halomeid mikol adam – Who is wise? He who can learn from every person.” This immediately begs the question: What can we learn from the rasha, the wicked...
All married men wear a tallis gadol in the morning when they pray and most people have a special and exclusive tallis they wear in honor of the Shabbos. Many people, especially among the Chassidim, wear an atarah,...
As we continue to enjoy the wisdom of Pirkei Avos through the spring and the summer, we experience an exercise of mining the pearls and diamonds from the familiar words of these mishnayos. Here’s an example of something that...
Here, on the eastern coast, early summer finally seems to be here. As the plants start to bloom and the temperatures rise, Klal Yisroel continues to collectively learn Pirkei Avos and continue our spiritual blooming as well. During the...
At this time of the year, Klal Yisroel breaks out one of its national treasures: the Mishnayos of Pirkei Avos. This anthology of select ethical teaching, transmitted to us by our gigantic teachers, presents us with a truly...
As we celebrate the wonderful Yomtov of Shavous, one of the things that we recall is the historical and admirable proclamation of Klal Yisroel, “Na’aseh v’Nishmah – We will do and we will listen.” This was such a monumental...