Rashi brings a very famous Midrash in his commentary to Parashat Vayetzeh, about Yaakov’s experiences when he ran away from the Land of Israel. The Torah says that when the sun set, Yaakov went to sleep, and he...
The first Rashi in the parsha notes that the pasuk [verse] beginning “And Yaakov departed” appears to be a little out of place. At the end of Parshas Toldos, the pasuk already said, “So Yitzchak sent away Yaakov...
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...
Chazal (Pirkei Avos 3:16) say, “A trap is spread out before all people.” The Baal Shem Tov zt’l explains that the trap is the pursuit of parnassah. The Maor Einayim (Vaeschanan) clarifies that just as bate is used to catch animals,...
Free Plowing Back in the ‘40s, a Jewish guy was arrested for smuggling guns into Israel, then known as Palestine. He was taken into one of the British prisons. While there, his wife writes him a letter decrying...
As twins, Jack and Oskar shared the same DNA, the same nature, and yet, they emerged radically different people. Born in Trinidad in 1933, they were six months old when their parents divorced. Oskar went to Germany with his...
In this article, we will address the intriguing question of how two children—Yitzchak and Ishmael—both born to the same father, Avraham, manifested as polar opposites: one embodying the epitome of goodness and purity, while the other represented the pinnacle of...
Hi Rabbi and Shira, My wife is constantly late to literally everything in her life. She’s had trouble holding employment due to her tardiness. I’m so sick of being late to every...
Much has been dis- cussed over the years regarding Thanksgiv- ing dinner. We will discuss whether such a party is allowed, and if turkey may be served. The underlying point of the debate is whether Thanksgiving is con- sidered a...
Religious Jews violate Shabbos in response to even a life threatening situation. Religious soldiers fight war 24/7 in order to protect lives. This is widely understood nowadays. But was it always accepted that we may wage war on Shabbos?...