Parashat Ki-Tisa begins with the Misva of “Maha- sit Ha’shekel” – the mandatory half- shekel tax that was imposed upon all members of Beneh Yisrael. The first time this tax was collected, the silver coins were used to make...
I was once speaking with somebody suffering from an eating disorder. After hearing about the terrible condition that this patient was going through, I observed that this person had “a backward switch” – something in the body’s system...
I. Respecting Your Torah Teacher Calling a Torah scholar by his title is a matter of showing honor to the Torah. You must show respect to your mentor, your rebbe, by, for example, rising when he enters a room...
The verse [pasuk] in Mishlei [Proverbs] says, “A person with generosity of spirit (Tov Ayin) he will blessed” [Mishlei 22:9]. The Yalkut identifies the subject of the pasuk as Moshe Rabbeinu. As support for the idea that Moshe...
In this week’s parsha, Ki Sisa, we learn of Betzalel being designated as the “general contractor”, the man in charge of the construction of the Mishkan. Anyone who ever did construction in their home knows...
A person is in the midst of his Purim seudah & his neighbor knocks on the door to say that they are having a minyan for ma’ariv. He leaves his seudah and davens ma’ariv for chol. When he gets...
Though the word “influencer” has been used in English since the mid-1600s, it has more recently taken on a new meaning. Though the term can apply to a wide variety of people, influencers, essentially, are people who engage their...
Purim is a very exciting time, and some people spend a lot of time planning their costumes. What is the source of this custom? What are some of the reasons for this practice? Is it permitted to daven...
The Chasam Sofer (Drushim p.245) writes, “I received from Reb Mendele Lilig zt’l, the Rav of Frankfort, who received the tradition from the יעקב שב that who- ever studies Torah be- tween the megillah reading at night and the megillah...
Dear Rabbi and Shira, My wife came from a frum household and prefers to cover her hair with a teichel, however she doesn’t cover all her hair and half of her...