The Maharal, zt”l, zy”a, questions a seeming contradiction between two Gemoras in Masechtas Shabbos. First, the Gemora states that the time of the mitzvah of lighting the menorah, is from when the sun sets until people cease to be around...
At this time of the year, when walking in the mall or other shopping areas, it is common to hear the jingle, “Tis the season to be jolly, Tra-la-la la-la, la-la, la-la.” We are so inundated by...
In the fourteenth blessing of the Shemone Esrei, we focus on the city of Yerushalayim. We must know as Jews that the most beautiful and important city in the world is not New York City, Los Angeles, Dubai,...
The bracha of Al HaTzadikim, where we pray for the welfare of the righteous ones, is the thirteenth blessing of the Shemone Esrei. Perhaps this is because thirteen is the gematria, the numeric value, of ahava, love, and...
As the scary, tumultuous events of the Israel- Hamas conflict unfold daily, we see before our eyes the fulfillment of many Biblical and Midrashic forecasts. About Yishmael, the Torah tells us, “Yado vakol v’yad kol bo – His hand...
There are many fascinating secrets hidden in Biblical Names and here are two intriguing examples from this week’s parsha Chayei Sorah. The Torah tells us about Efron HaChiti. Here was a man who made it into the Torah for...
In the 6th perek of Pirkei Avos, we are taught that there are 48 acquisitions that one needs to practice to truly acquire the Torah. The Tiferes Yisroel adds another angle: one who wears the crown of...
A hint to the upcoming geula, redemption has been making the rounds in virtual media. We know that when Moshe Rabbeinu came back from Midian to Mitzrayim, he uttered the prophecy, “Pakod yifkod,” that Hashem will surely remember you....
Since we heard the horrifying news at the close of Simchas Torah (some heard from gentile workers even on Simchas Torah), Klal Yisroel has been walking around in a daze of dismay, fear, sadness and dread. What is...
Chumash Bereishis is also known as Sefer HaYashar – the Book of the Upright. This is because one of the primary aims of studying it is to learn from the ways of the Yesharim, the Righteous Ones that...