A Bribe for Your Professor A professor was giving a big test one day to his students. He handed out all of the tests and went back to his desk to wait. Once the test was over, the...
I have a confession to make. For most of my life, I bought into a stereotype. Supported by headlines and history, reinforced by wars, terror, and the chilling rhetoric that echoes from too many corners of the Middle East,...
How should a person act if he works in an office that holds a New Year’s Eve party? Is he permitted to attend if he eats only kosher food and drinks only kosher beverages? How should he respond...
Dear Rabbi and Shira, Hi, Thanks for your column, I enjoy reading it on Shabbos. I have a question for you. I recently “dropped the shadchan” and now am dating someone on...
The Purpose of Snow In many places around the world with cold climates, one will see snow falling from the sky. Many times these snowstorms occur during the week, and many times on Shabbos as well. The halachic questions surrounding snow...
I. The Spiritual Power of the Land of Israel Living in Israel is a religious ideal, even a mitzvah. But the Gemara goes even further, saying it has additional spiritual benefits. Living in Israel is good not only for...
INGREDIENTS: 2 pounds of colorful cherry tomatoes 1 dozen chopped Kalamata olives 2 tablespoons capers 2 pounds of trimmed green beans DIRECTIONS: Green beans are such a fantastic vegetable. Anyway you make them they come out delicious. These green beans with...
We read in Parashat Vayechi the special berachot that Yaakov gave to his sons just before his passing. He addressed each son individually, and delivered a specific blessing that was appropriate for each one. After telling us of...
In this week’s Parsha, the blessing given to Yehuda reads, [Bereishis 49:8] “Yehuda — your brothers will praise you...
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,...